Legacy of the Void Fleet-Chapter 122: ch- the last stand-2

The ship itself seemed to groan under the sudden surge of unnatural power.

But Jarkon didn't care.

If it cost him his strength, his life—it didn't matter.

He would fire.

He would destroy the enemy.

Or die trying.

⸻

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The Gigasol Hyper-Batteries began to charge.

Deep within Taurus Prime, massive conduits lit up like the heart of a dying star.

And soon—very soon—the largest and most dangerous weapon ever built by the Minotaur fleet would be unleashed

While the Minotaur forces were charging their weapons and preparing for their final stand, though the Minotaur's were prepared for their final stand, their commander wasn't, but that's a matter for later—back at Eclipse's Wrath…

Aboard Eclipse Wraith — Void Fleet Command Bridge

While the Minotaur flagship Taurus Prime continued charging its weapon, preparing for a final, desperate stand, the command deck of the Eclipse Wraith remained eerily calm.

"Lead Admiral," said Eclipse, the ship's AI.

"We're detecting a significant energy surge around the enemy flagship. Designation: Taurus Prime."

Ezra glanced up as the main tactical map zoomed in on the ship. The display shifted frequencies, now showing streams of mana particles—darker, unstable—and a growing wave of destructive energy forming along the top of the Minotaur flagship's hull.

Ezra raised an eyebrow.

"Well… they're actually channeling destructive energy?"

He tilted his head slightly, studying the readings.

"Didn't think they could even mobilize it—barely enough to count, but still."

The quantity was minimal.

But destructive energy, even in fragments, had only one purpose: to obliterate.

And in Taurus Prime's case, it would massively amplify the power and lethality of its main weapon.

"So… he's finally desperate," Ezra muttered.

"It would appear so, sir," Eclipse replied flatly.

Ezra let out a short, humorless laugh.

"All that pride… all that Minotaur arrogance.

And the moment the situation bends against them, they break.

Desperation was always waiting behind the façade."

"To be fair, sir," Eclipse replied, "we are that powerful. Their panic is statistically expected."

Ezra smirked.

"You're right about that, Eclipse."

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he gave the next order:

"Prepare our main cannon. Focus both primary and secondary batteries on the two flagships surrounding Taurus Prime.

Let's give them a little taste of what real power looks like."

He keyed in the fleet-wide comms.

"This is Admiral Ezra. All units, adjust targeting protocols. We're shifting to suppression fire against enemy capital vessels. Let's break their lines completely."

Not long after, Eclipse responded:

"Yes, sir. Charging the Oblivion Cannon now."

Ezra held up a hand.

"One moment, Eclipse. Run a predictive analysis—what percentage charge will we need to neutralize Taurus Prime's incoming shot?"

"Calculating…"

The display shifted again—zooming in on the Minotaur flagship's main cannon and projecting energy levels, current charge states, and historical weapon data from Imperial intelligence records.

"This output is based on data provided by Imperial Commander Kallus," Eclipse noted, "but something has changed. The mana signature and pressure of destructive energy has risen slightly."

Ezra nodded.

"You mean the signature spike is due to someone manually fueling the weapon?"

"Yes, sir. Based on the patterns, we believe Grand Admiral Jarkon is channeling his own mana into the gun—directly."

Ezra leaned back, arms folded.

"He's pouring himself into it… desperate to kill us before he falls."

"That appears to be the case," Eclipse replied again in its monotone voice.

"So… what do we need for the Oblivion Cannon eco-charge?"

"Twenty-five percent," Eclipse answered. "It will be sufficient to neutralize their shot and deal major structural damage to the Minotaur capital ship. Enough to terrify them. Enough to destroy whatever last hope they still cling to."

Ezra smiled faintly.

"Good. Remember—we need that ship intact. Research priority. Let it survive… barely."

"Understood, sir. That's why I suggested twenty-five percent. Any more, and they would have been truly desperate. And very, very dead."

"We don't need that yet, Eclipse."

"I know, sir."

And just like that, both Ezra and Eclips fell silent.

Eclips turned back to his console, activating the Oblivion Cannon. A deep tremor ran through the Eclipse's Wrath, vibrating across its massive hull as power surged toward the weapon.

⸻

The Oblivion Cannon continued charging—quietly, coldly—while Taurus Prime readied to unleash its final desperate weapon.

Two titanic forces were seconds from colliding.

...

Aboard Eclipse Wraith

And just like that, Admiral Ezra fell silent.

So did Eclipse.

No more words were needed.

The ship trembled slightly as the Oblivion Cannon came online.

⸻

Aboard Taurus Prime

At the same moment, a massive armored hatch on the dorsal hull of the Minotaur flagship slowly opened.

From within, a colossal weapon emerged — its barrel wide enough to swallow cruisers whole.

Blue energy began to gather at its center, swirling and condensing, crackling with barely-contained force.

The pressure around it grew so intense that space itself seemed to tremble.

Ripples of force bent starlight. Static arcs danced across Taurus Prime's armor.

⸻

Void Fleet Formation Adjustments

Ships closest to Eclipse Wraith — including two Antares-class and a Resurgent-class battleship — shifted position.

Not out of fear.

But caution.

The kind of caution you take when a black hole spins just a little too close.

Ezra himself had ordered the clearance.

Let nothing stand in the way of what was coming.

⸻

Aboard Taurus Prime

Jarkon's breathing had grown heavier.

He was still standing, hands pressed to the override controls, pumping his own mana reserves directly into the Gigasol Hyper-Batteries.

But his arms trembled. His skin had gone pale.

He was forcing it — pushing power into the weapon in a way that wasn't meant to be done.

It was killing him slowly.

And worse — he wasn't sure it would be enough.

Then he saw it.

The movement.

The shift in the enemy line.

And the one ship.

That one ship.

Eclipse Wraith.

His eyes widened as the battle holographic map updated, displaying the unmistakable shape of its weapon unfolding.

His body stiffened.

A chill traced his spine.

A moment of silence.

He shook it off — or at least tried to.

Steeled his shoulders. Buried the fear.

"Sir!" shouted the navigation officer. "Detecting massive energy surge—it's coming from that ship!"

He pointed, fingers trembling slightly as the map zoomed in.

The display didn't lie.

Eclipse Wraith's cannon was charging.

⸻

Jarkon's Right and Left High Admirals spoke simultaneously:

"What the hell are they doing now?"

Jarkon's voice snapped back, trying to project control:

"It doesn't matter what they do. They won't survive the Gigasol Hyper-Batteries."

He forced a smile.

"I'm part of this shot now. With my energy behind it, it'll tear them apart."

But the words rang hollow.

Inside, even he wasn't convinced.

His high admirals exchanged a look — not of agreement, but of deepening dread.

The Right Admiral spoke, quietly but clearly:

"But… Grand Admiral…"

"No," Jarkon cut him off. "No 'but.' No doubts. They will not survive."

The bridge fell quiet.

The two greatest weapons in the war had reached their peak.

And neither side was backing down.

Across the battlefield…

On one side: the Void Fleet — untouched, unwavering, relentless.

From the start of the engagement, they had taken control.

If this could even be called a "battle," it was one-sided annihilation.

Almost an hour had passed.

Not a single Void ship had fallen.

On the other side: the Minotaurs — once a dominant force, now reduced to shattered fleets and drifting wreckage.

Half their ships were gone.

Their formations broken.

Their fighters erased.

This moment was their final chance.

Their last chance to do real damage—to change the course of this massacre.

But for the Void Fleet… this was just another demonstration.

A message, loud and clear:

It doesn't matter what you do.

It won't be enough.

Not here.

Not now.

Not against the Void.

And not in any future you can imagine.

⸻

Aboard Eclipse Wraith

The Oblivion Maw — the ship's main cannon — had locked onto its target: Taurus Prime.

Its charge reached the critical threshold: 25%.

The weapon's barrel, once blue, now glowed white-hot, burning the very space around it.

Light bent. Energy bled into the void.

"Sir," Eclipse announced calmly from the command deck. "The weapon is ready to fire."

Ezra nodded, eyes fixed on the holographic display.

"I can see that, Eclipse."

Then, coolly:

"Let's punch a hole through their pride."

"Yes, sir," Eclipse replied.

"Firing in three… two… one—fire."

The words echoed not just on the Eclipse Wraith, but across the entire Void Fleet.

⸻

And then—

The Oblivion Maw roared.

A blinding beam of white energy—its core pulsing dark red—shot forth like divine judgment.

It tore through space with a soundless scream, warping gravity, ripping through debris, bending light itself.

It wasn't just a weapon. It was precision-engineered annihilation.

A perfect line of death, cutting straight for Taurus Prime.

⸻

Simultaneously — Aboard Taurus Prime

The Gigasol Hyper-Batteries had reached full charge.

Jarkon stood, drenched in sweat, body aching from overexerting his mana to empower the shot.

"Weapon's ready," his weapons officer reported.

Jarkon wiped his face and snapped, "Then what the hell are you waiting for?!

FIRE!"

With a deafening hum, the massive dorsal cannon of Taurus Prime launched its beam.

A surge of unstable, deep red energy screamed from the barrel—wild, violent, infused with destructive mana pulled straight from Jarkon's soul.

It was massive.

Volatile.

Deadly.

And hopelessly inferior.