bookbashuk Chapter 299: Interstellar Trial
Chapter 299: Interstellar Trial
The weavers of fate have been defeated, the cracks in the universe begin to heal, and the laws of time and space gradually return to stability. However, Ares, Selena, and Wagner all understand that this does not mean it is over. Unknown dangers still lurk in the depths of the universe, and the threads of fate have not yet been fully unraveled.
The spaceship slowly glided through interstellar space, finally allowing the three a brief respite. However, just as they thought they could catch their breath, the spaceship's communication system suddenly received an unfamiliar signal.
"What...is this?" Selena frowned, quickly operating the control panel. "The signal encryption strength is extremely high. I need a few minutes to decode it."
Wagner leaned against the side, watching Selena's actions with great interest: "Is this another distress signal? We just finished a tough battle, and we don't want to go through that again."
Ares stood by the window, his sharp eyes fixed on the depths of the starry sky: "This is not just a distress signal, Wagner. I can sense that there is something deeper hidden behind it."
A few minutes later, Selena finally deciphered the signal encryption, and a string of ancient runes appeared on the screen. It was a language they had never seen before, but it carried a chilling power.
“This is no ordinary signal,” Selena’s voice was low and solemn. “It is a summons from the Interstellar Tribunal.”
Ares's brow furrowed immediately: "The Interstellar Tribunal? Didn't they disappear a thousand years ago?"
Wagner's smile froze on his face: "The Interstellar Tribunal? Don't be ridiculous, they're legendary beings! Their appearance means the universe is about to face a new catastrophe!"
Selena continued analyzing the signal: "This is not an ordinary summons, but... a notification of judgment."
A cold glint flashed in Ares's eyes: "We're being watched."
The atmosphere on the spaceship instantly became tense. Ares, Selena, and Wagner all understood that the appearance of the Interstellar Tribunal was no accident. This organization, which had left a deep mark on cosmic history, was known for its ruthlessness and absolute power.
Selena quickly projected the signal onto the center of the spaceship's cabin, where a short, cold line of text appeared on the screen:
"Guardians Ares, Selena, and Wagner, you have interfered with the laws of the universe and disrupted the weaving of destiny. You are hereby summoned to the Interstellar Court to be judged."
"Interfering with the laws of the universe?" Wagner shook his head with a sneer. "We saved the entire universe! And these guys treat us like criminals?"
Selena's expression, however, was not as relaxed as Wagner's: "The logic of the Interstellar Tribunal is different from ours. They don't care about motives, only results. In their view, any act that changes the laws of the universe is a threat to the cosmic order."
Ares's eyes were cold and sharp: "We cannot avoid this trial. If we don't go, they will send their enforcers, and things will only get worse."
Wagner sighed heavily and patted Ares on the shoulder: "Alright, since we can't avoid it, let's face it. But I warn you, if they dare to make baseless accusations, I won't hold back."
Selena nodded in agreement: "We have to face them, but at the same time, we have to be prepared for the worst."
Ares's gaze swept over the two of them, his voice low but firm: "Regardless of the outcome of the trial, we must ensure that the balance of the universe is not broken again."
The spaceship activated its warp drive and sped towards the coordinates of the Interstellar Court. The Interstellar Court was located at the dimensional boundary on the outermost edge of the universe, a hidden space almost unknown to anyone. Legend has it that the Court was composed of beings transcending time and space, who wielded the most ancient cosmic laws, and any life before them was as insignificant as dust.
As the spaceship approached the courtroom, the surrounding space gradually distorted, as if entering another dimension. The light of the stars dimmed here, and the flow of time began to become unstable.
“We have entered the Tribunal’s defensive zone.” Selena checked the instrument data, her voice tinged with tension. “The energy fluctuations here are beyond the scope of known physics, even more complex than what we encountered in the Void Core.”
Ares gazed ahead, and the enormous black structure floating in the void finally came into view. It resembled an ancient temple, radiating a suffocating pressure, as if the entire plane of existence had submitted to it.
“This is the Interstellar Tribunal,” Ares said in a low voice, his eyes piercing. “Let us go in and face them.”
The spaceship slowly landed at the entrance to the courtroom. The three stepped out of the hatch and were greeted by a group of judges clad in black robes with indistinct faces. These judges seemed to lack physical form, and their presence was chilling.
“Guardians Ares, Selena, and Wagner,” the lead judge began, his voice low and cold. “You are accused of violating the laws of the universe and interfering with the weaving of fate. You will now stand trial.”
Ares calmly stepped forward, his voice firm: "We are not acting out of personal greed, but to save the universe. If this is considered a crime, then aren't your laws far too cruel?"
The judge's voice was unwavering: "The universe needs no emotions, only order. Your actions have disrupted that order, and you must pay the price."
The three were led into the main hall of the court, a vast and cold space surrounded by countless floating orbs of light, each containing a soul that had been judged. In the center of the hall floated a colossal book of laws, recording all the rules and history of the universe.
"Guardians Ares, Selena, and Wagner." The chief judge stood before the Book of Laws, his voice as cold as a death sentence. "You have arbitrarily destroyed the End Protocol, causing the Code of Fate to be reconstructed. You must now face the final judgment of the universe. Do you have any defense?"
Ares stood tall, his gaze piercing: "We destroyed the End Protocol to stop the Void from devouring the universe. Everything we did was to protect the balance of the universe, not to destroy it."
Selena continued, "The existence of nothingness is a loophole in the laws of the universe. If we hadn't intervened, the universe would have collapsed long ago. Your so-called order is nothing but an escape from reality."
Wagner scoffed, his battle axe twitching slightly in his hand: "Words are useless. If all you do is criticize, then let's have a good fight!"
Silence fell over the courtroom. After a moment, the presiding judge's voice rang out again: "Guardians, your defenses have been recorded. But the laws of the universe cannot be broken. Now, we will begin the trial, and your fate will be in your own hands."
The presiding judge waved his hand, and a massive vortex of energy appeared before the three. They were drawn into the vortex and entered a completely unfamiliar space. Here, there was no flow of time, no spatial boundaries, only endless darkness and oppression.
“This is the space for trial.” Selena quickly analyzed her surroundings. “We must pass the trials they have set to prove our innocence.”
Ares gripped the rune sword tightly, his gaze resolute: "No matter how difficult the trial, we must pass it."
The first trial was to confront one's inner fears. Ares saw himself fail in the void, Selena saw the future collapse of the universe, and Wagner saw the betrayal of his companions.
"It's just an illusion!" Ares roared, slashing his sword to shatter the illusion. "We will not be defeated by these false fears!"
Working together, the three successfully passed the first trial. However, the trial was not over. The second trial was about trusting each other. Countless false images appeared in the space, attempting to sow discord between them.
Wagner grinned and swung his battle axe to shatter the illusion: "After everything we've been through, you think we'd be fooled by such a simple trick? Don't be ridiculous!"
Ares and Selena also smiled; their teamwork allowed them to easily pass the second challenge.
Finally, they arrived at the final trial—the choice of destiny. They had to choose between protecting the cosmic order and protecting individual freedom.
Ares took a deep breath, his gaze resolute: "We choose freedom, but we will never abandon order. True cosmic balance lies in finding the possibility of coexistence between order and freedom."
Selena and Wagner nodded simultaneously. The three people's choice caused the energy fluctuations in the space to tremble violently, eventually transforming into a dazzling light that brought them back to the courtroom.
The presiding judge stared at the three, and after a moment, his voice rang out coldly: "Guardians Ares, Selena, and Wagner, you have passed the trial and proven your will and beliefs. Although you interfered with the laws of the universe, your actions saved the universe."
The atmosphere in the courtroom finally eased. Selena breathed a sigh of relief, while Wagner couldn't help but burst into laughter: "You should have said so earlier! Wouldn't that have solved the problem?"
Ares remained wary: "Does this mean we've gained our freedom?"
The presiding judge nodded slightly: "Your freedom has been temporarily restored, but the balance of the universe still needs your protection. The road ahead remains full of challenges."
The three exchanged a smile, and Ares gripped the rune sword tightly: "We will continue to protect the universe until the very last moment."
The spaceship restarted and headed towards the unknown stars. The guardians knew that although the trial was over, their journey had only just begun.