Jinn BLADE
Chapter 134 | Prelude To Decision

Chapter 134: Chapter 134 | Prelude To Decision

*vrrr...

The ship whirred subtly through the air as it pierced through the atmosphere, leaving behind the cursed world where chaos and death had nearly consumed them.

The scenery of the dark and corrupted planet grew smaller and smaller in the distance as the ship broke through the thick clouds, the fiery streaks of atmospheric entry slowly fading as they soared higher.

Then, in an instant, it was behind them.

The corrupted world, now just a marble speck beneath them, vanished into the dark as the ship finally reached space—into the sea of stars, where silence reigned and the void stretched in all directions.

Jinn sat quietly by the window, his hands still gripping the sword tightly across his lap, the very blade that had ended Malgareth... the same blade that now pulsed with a soft warmth, its white light dimmed yet still alive.

He hadn’t let go of it ever since the battle ended.

He stared outside, his light blue eyes reflecting the stars that glittered far away, unmoving.

The quiet was strange.

After everything that happened—the noise, the fighting, the screams, the burning of corrupted flesh—this moment felt so distant.

Yet his mind kept replaying everything, especially that final moment when light burst from Malgareth’s cracked armor and scattered darkness into nothing.

Biyo, who was seated beside him, noticed the long silence and how Jinn’s eyes remained glued to the stars.

He tilted his head slightly before speaking, his voice calm and soft.

"Jerinkeren und Vayan," Biyo said, tracing the direction of Jinn’s gaze, understanding what the boy was looking at.

Jinn blinked but didn’t reply, only shifted his eyes slightly as he listened.

"The Endless Voyage. The Sea of Wonders. The Silent Expanse... whatever you call it, it truly is beautiful despite its dangers," Biyo added, a faint smile forming on his lips as he leaned back slightly.

"The universe... it looks so calm," Jinn finally whispered, his voice low.

"But it hides things... terrible things."

Biyo nodded slowly.

"It does. But it also holds answers. And perhaps... it holds a future for you, one you’ve yet to see."

Jinn’s eyes lingered for a moment longer on the sea of stars before he looked down at the sword in his hands, the light from it softly illuminating his fingers.

"I don’t know what’s ahead," he murmured.

"But I won’t run—Never"

Jinn shifted his gaze toward Biyo, then back at the window before parting his lips to speak, his voice quiet, almost hesitant.

"Have you... travelled to dozens of planets already?" he asked, his eyes shifting once again onto the sea of stars that sprawled endlessly outside the ship, his tone carrying a faint trace of longing and curiosity.

Biyo smirked, a hint of pride on his face as he crossed his arms and leaned comfortably on his seat, his back sinking into the cushion with ease.

"Hundreds already, kid," he replied firmly, with no hint of exaggeration.

"Each one having its own wonders, beauty, and danger. You’d be surprised how different they all are—and yet, they all share something in common. Something familiar."

Jinn nodded slowly, letting the silence return for a second.

"Mhm," he muttered, a slight curl forming on the corner of his mouth.

It wasn’t a full smile, but it showed he was clearly interested, though subtle in his own way.

Biyo noticed it too.

He glanced at Jinn, his smirk growing a bit wider.

There was something in the boy’s eyes now—something more than the weight of pain and survival.

Curiosity.

Wonder.

That sense of reaching forward... of chasing something.

"Stick with your wits and strength long enough," Biyo added, "and you’ll get to see those places. And more."

Jinn didn’t answer.

He just kept staring into the stars, but this time, with more intent.

And so, in that moment of silence and fleeting peace, the two sat side by side, watching the endless horizon of space, while the ship whisked through the void at speed.

Seconds passed, minutes formed, until a few hours had already whisked away into the silence of space.

*Vrrrrrm...!

The engine of the ship began to hum louder, its deep mechanical rhythm growing in intensity as if awakening for something greater.

The vibrations crept through the floor, subtly crawling up Jinn’s boots and into his legs.

He could feel it—the power of the ship preparing to break through the speed of light itself.

The tension was almost tangible now, humming through the hull.

"Prepare yourselves," Venedix commanded, her voice sharp and unwavering as she stood at the helm.

With swift, precise movements, she began pressing buttons and flipping various switches on the control panel,

*click! *click! *clack!

her fingers dancing across the interface.

And then it came.

*VRRRRR!!!

The ship screamed—not in pain, but with sheer power—as a thunderous

*BANG!

tore through the air, and in a flash of blinding starlight, the vessel launched forward, piercing the voidless sea of space faster than the eye could comprehend.

The stars stretched into lines.

The universe bent around them.

The blackness of space shifted into a tunnel of brilliance, streaks of distant galaxies flying past the windows in an awe-striking spectacle.

It lasted seconds... then minutes.

And just as quickly as it began, it ended with a sharp, resounding

*Snap!

followed by a low, echoing hum as the ship emerged from hyperspeed.

Through the glass, a vast network of ships, stations, and shimmering constructs hovered in perfect orbit.

They had arrived at the bustling heart of the empire—Sector of Juggernot, the place where the homeworld of the Zerafhon resided.

From the windows, Jinn peered out once again, his eyes widening at the breathtaking sight before him.

Countless lights shimmered in the darkness of space, not stars—but ships, hundreds, maybe thousands, moving in coordinated patterns across the void.

They flowed in and out like schools of fish weaving through a black sea, traveling between nearby planets and encircling what appeared to be a truly colossal structure floating at the heart of it all.

A space station.

No... something far larger.

It loomed like a god in the void, an immense monolith adorned with gold accents that shimmered against the soft, atmospheric hue of the surrounding sector. _{freew\e bnovel.com}

The entire region was tinted with a subtle light-blue glow, a serene contrast to the stark and proud imperial golds lining the station’s hull.

Spires stretched high above its central ring, defensive towers rotated slowly with steady rhythm, and beneath it all, engines the size of cities glowed faintly as if asleep, waiting.

Jinn leaned closer to the window, barely blinking.

"That... that’s a star fortress! Isn’t that a star fortress!?"

Vox suddenly burst out, excitement erupting in his voice as he pressed his face against the glass, eyes wide with wonder.

"Mhm. Indeed, child," came Troy’s calm voice. He didn’t look up, simply resting both hands on his staff, which stood balanced between his knees.

"That is Bekrix, the imperial Myrmidon."

"The very fortress that houses countless imperial ships," he continued, a trace of pride in his tone.

"And yes, even our dreadnoughts. The strongest of them sleep within its belly, waiting for war."

A moment of silence followed, the awe hanging heavy in the air as the ship drifted closer.

The image of Bekrix—its spires, turrets, and hulls—all glimmered like a crown of dominion in the dark.

Jinn looked at Troy, then slowly turned his gaze back toward the massive infrastructure that loomed over their ship like a sleeping titan.

It was unlike anything he had ever seen up close.

Gigantic cylindrical pillars—at least a dozen of them—floated steadily around the fortress in every cardinal direction, slowly rotating like celestial guardians.

From each one pulsed a golden aura, strands of luminous energy weaving together to form a massive shield around the entire star fortress.

It looked almost alive, like a protective cocoon forged from pure eidra.

Jinn watched in silence as ships flew in and out of the golden barrier, passing through effortlessly, the shield parting like water for each authorized vessel.

The entire sector buzzed with movement and energy—vessels docking, leaving, patrolling—yet the entire operation moved like a well-oiled machine.

No chaos.

No collision.

Just silent efficiency.

To Jinn, it was a technological marvel beyond anything he had seen.

The first time he had ever laid eyes on a star fortress.

He had only ever heard about them in passing, mentioned in the bedtime stories Nevi would tell during their orphanage days.

Back before everything changed.

Back before Venedix’s assault on their city—when fire rained from the sky, and they were forced into chains and servitude.

And now, here he was... aboard her ship, flying straight into the heart of the empire.

*Bzzt!

A sudden chime echoed from the ship’s comms, pulling Jinn from his thoughts.

"This is Bastion IV. You are heading directly toward Juggernaut’s atmosphere. State your business."

"It is me. Let me through," Venedix responded calmly, not even glancing at the controls.

Her voice was sharp, commanding, and unquestionable.

There was a moment of pause.

.

.

.

Then the voice replied again, this time more formal.

"Ah—Lady Venedix. Your entrance is permitted. Welcome back."

The radio buzzed off.

Outside, the ship’s engines roared louder as they began their final descent.

The dark curve of Juggernaut XII’s atmosphere rose to meet them.

The clouds below shimmered faintly under the light of the nearby star, and the imperial planet looked as vast and intimidating as Jinn remembered it.

His eyes narrowed.

His body leaned slightly forward.

He gripped his sword tighter.

The weight of memory pressed down on his chest—he was now back.

Back on Juggernaut XII.

The planet where everything started... and now, where his path would continue.