Chapter 82: Awakening in the Light of the Source and the Echoing Hope of the Universe
When Kael regained consciousness, he found himself in the heart of the Infinite Library, a chamber bathed in the now pure and cleansing light of the "Source of Echoes." His body was still tired, but his spirit was calmer and stronger than ever. That deep connection with the Source had transformed his Chitauri core and his abilities as an Echo Carrier. He no longer merely heard the echoes, he understood them, feeling part of the universe's intricate web of knowledge. His mind echoed with the whispers of the Creators, the songs of ancient civilizations, and vague but hopeful prophecies of the future.
At his bedside, the old Sage and several Library Keepers waited silently. Their faces were expressions of gratitude and deep respect. Aslan lay on a bed of energy next to him; his wounds were still severe, but the purifying light of the Source and Dr. Aris Thorne's S.H.I.E.L.D. thanks to the interventions he had made with his technology, his condition was stable. He was breathing, and that was more important to Kael than anything else.
"Echo Bearer..." the old Sage whispered when he saw Kael open his eyes. "You have returned. The light of the Source has been rekindled by your sacrifice. The Infinite Library and all the wisdom it contains are grateful to you."
Kael tried to sit up slowly. "Lord... is the Lord of the Void gone?"
"Yes," said the Sage. "Your pure Echo blast destroyed him and all the darkness that had contaminated the Source. The corridors of the Library are now cleansed by the purifying light of the Source. The shadows of the Void are retreating."
Indeed, a soft, peaceful light now seeped through the once dark and haunted corridors of the Library. The powerful, hopeful song of the Source was spreading throughout the structure, repairing the damaged crystals, purifying the knowledge that the Void had tainted.
Dr. Aris Thorne came to Kael. His face was still filled with shock from the previous battle, and awe at Kael's incredible transformation. "Kael... Are you... okay? Your core... and you... your energy are completely different."
Kael looked at the Chitauri core in his palm. The core was no longer just glowing, it was now pulsating in harmony with the light of the Source, responding to Kael's thoughts and emotions. It was as if it had become an extension, a reflection of Kael's soul. "I think so... yes," Kael said. "I feel more... whole."
A short time later, Captain Eva Rostova reached him with a message from the Odyssey. "Kael! My God, you're alive! That wave of energy from the Source... has scattered the entire Void fleet! They're retreating! The Library is safe!" Rostova's voice was filled with joy and relief. The Odyssey was in safe orbit, just outside the Library's outer shields.
This victory, despite all the hardships and losses, had lit a great glimmer of hope for the universe. The liberation of the Infinite Library and the revival of the Source were a major turning point in the war against the Lords of the Void. The cleansing Echo wave emanating from the Source must have affected not only this star system but even the farthest corners of the galaxy. Perhaps it had ignited other resistances and given birth to other hopes.
But Kael had not forgotten the final threat from that mighty Lord of the Void. This was a personal battle, and the Lords of the Void would never forgive this defeat. The real storm was still approaching.
Aslan gradually began to recover over the course of a few days. Kael had used some of the Source's and his own Echo energy to accelerate his recovery. When he awoke and saw Kael and the bright Library around him, he knew that it had not all been a dream.
"You did it again, Kael," Aslan said, his voice still weak but with a smile on his face. "But next time, don't risk it so much."
"I can't promise anything, my friend," Kael said, smiling.
In a communication with Commander Maria Hill, Kael relayed the events and the new information he had received from the Source. Hill was both shocked and anxious at this incredible victory. Kael's growing power and the personal threat of the Lords of the Void created a new and complex situation for S.H.I.E.L.D. Kael was no longer just an "advisor" or an "asset"; he was a key figure, hard to control, who could change the course of this war.
"Kael," Hill said, his voice grave. "This victory at the Infinite Library may be a hope for the universe. But the retaliation from the Lords of the Void will be just as great. You must return to Earth. Here, we must prepare to face that invasion fleet. And we need your knowledge, your power."
But Kael was also thinking about the other things the Source had whispered to him. Other weak links in the Great Seal, other echo points through which the Void was trying to penetrate... The war was not limited to Earth.
At that moment, the Source of Echoes projected one final, clear, and urgent image into Kael's mind: the invasion fleet of the Lords of the Void had changed course. Their first target was no longer that distant, unknown echo point. Their first target was the small, blue planet where all this resistance had begun, where the Echo Carrier and the Terra Crystal had been located: Earth. And this time, they were coming much more prepared, much angrier, and much more numerous.
"Commander," Kael said, his voice icy. "I believe… it is time for us to return home. And now."
This was the harbinger of Kael's toughest and most personal battle yet. He had to protect his home, his planet, from the endless darkness of the Void.