Oblivion: Reincarnated as a space beast

Chapter 7: Echoes of the Past

Oblivion traced the intricate lines of a mural with a clawed finger. The faint bioluminescence of deep-sea organisms cast long shadows, illuminating scenes of cosmic events and epic battles. One panel depicted a vibrant, verdant planet, unlike Earth. Towering trees with bioluminescent leaves reached towards a sky filled with multiple moons. In the center of the scene, a massive, serpentine creature – undeniably a Leviathan – was entwined around a glowing, crystalline structure, its form radiating energy.

This… this is where it came from, Oblivion realized. The image resonated deeply within him. This wasn't just a depiction; it was a memory, a fragment of the Leviathan's own past.

(Flashback - A Distant World)

The air was thick with the scent of exotic flora, and the light from the three moons cast an ethereal glow across the landscape. The Leviathan, younger and more vibrant, soared through the sky, its sapphire scales shimmering. It was drawn to a powerful energy source, a massive, crystalline gem embedded in the heart of a mountain range. The Starstone.

The Leviathan wasn't alone. Small, bipedal creatures with fur-covered bodies and intelligent eyes watched its flight with awe. They were the inhabitants of this world, a race of gentle humanoids who had learned to coexist with the Leviathan. They offered it gifts of shimmering stones and sang songs of welcome, recognizing it as a guardian.

The Leviathan reciprocated their kindness, protecting them from the dangers of their world. But peace was not to last.

From the depths of the forests emerged a new threat: monstrous, yeti-like creatures with thick hides and razor-sharp claws. These weren't the creations of the Precursors; they were a native species, driven to aggression by some unknown force. They attacked the human settlements, their roars echoing through the valleys.

The Leviathan fought fiercely, its powerful body a shield against the monstrous onslaught. It tore through the yeti-like creatures, its sapphire scales deflecting their claws. But they were numerous, their relentless attacks overwhelming.

(Back in the Temple)

Oblivion's claw tightened on the mural. The next panel showed the Leviathan, wounded and weakened, surrounded by the fallen yeti-like creatures. But in the background, a swirling vortex of energy opened – a portal.

(Continued Flashback)

Knowing it was losing, the Leviathan focused its remaining energy, creating a spatial rift. It pulled some of the humanoids through the portal, sacrificing itself to save them. The portal shimmered and closed, leaving behind a scene of carnage.

(Back in the Temple)

The next mural showed the humanoids on a new world – Earth. They had enshrined the Leviathan's image, building a temple in its honor. But the final panel depicted a chilling scene: a single yeti-like creature, having somehow survived the portal, emerging from the shadows, its eyes burning with hatred. It laid waste to the human settlement, then vanished, leaving behind only ruins.

That's how it ended up here, Oblivion realized. The Leviathan had sacrificed itself to save these people, only for their sanctuary to be shattered by the very threat it had fought against. The murals then showed the Leviathan enshrined in its temple as the humans moved on.

Oblivion's gaze fell upon the central image of the Starstone. He approached the Leviathan, its immense form still radiating a faint warmth. He could sense the residual energy within it, the echo of its former power. He extended a claw and carefully extracted the Starstone, the crystalline gem glowing with an inner light. It pulsed with a familiar energy signature, a resonance that echoed through his very being.

This… this is a significant discovery, Oblivion realized. The inherited memories provided context: the Starstone was essential for the Leviathan's growth and survival on its native world. It was a source of pure spatial energy, a catalyst for their unique abilities. He instinctively knew that it was useless for him to try and replicate the portal creation; that was a species-specific trait. However, this Starstone... it might be of immense value. Perhaps, if he ever encountered another Leviathan, this could be a means of communication, a trade, or even a way to help it recover.

He carefully stored the Starstone within a specialized cavity in his chest, a place where he stored the metal he consumed. It felt… right, like it belonged there. He looked back at the murals, at the image of the Leviathan soaring through the cosmos, and a newfound understanding settled within him. He had learned its story, witnessed its sacrifice. He would not let it be in vain. He would carry this creature's legacy with him, a reminder of the sacrifices made in the face of overwhelming odds.

[Shatterdome - Weeks after Hong Kong]

The Shatterdome throbbed with a frenetic energy, a stark contrast to the stunned silence that had followed the Hong Kong incident. The holographic map in the command center pulsed with data streams, red markers indicating Kaiju attack zones, the ominous green glow of the Breach, and a new, unsettling blue marker – the Bermuda Triangle. But now, a new, urgent red line snaked across the map, leading directly from the Breach towards the coast, and a smaller, tactical overlay highlighted a specific area near the Breach itself.

"Report," Marshal Pentecost's voice boomed, cutting through the tense atmosphere.

"Jaeger upgrades are nearing completion, Marshal," a technician reported, his fingers flying across his console. "Plasma cannons recalibrated for maximum output, new gyroscopic stabilizers installed for enhanced maneuverability. We've also integrated the sonic disruptors into the Conn-Pods, as per Dr. Gottlieb's specifications."

Pentecost nodded, his gaze fixed on the map, his eyes lingering on the red line. "And the Breach?"

"Activity is at a stand still, Marshal," came the grim reply. "There are no signatures. I think they're preparing something big."

"We can't keep fighting them on our shores," Pentecost muttered, more to himself than to the others. "Not with what's coming. We have to close the Breach."

Dr. Thorne approached, his brow furrowed, holding a series of sonar readings and high-resolution images. "Marshal, we've analyzed the data from the Bermuda Triangle expedition after the 'Sky Destroyer' left. The disappearances… they weren't natural. There was a distinct spatial anomaly at the bottom of the trench which was the reason."

He displayed a 3D reconstruction of the seabed, then switched to images of the discovered ruins. "We found these… structures. Submerged structures of unknown origin. And the energy readings… they match the residual energy signature we detected after the 'Sky Destroyer' appeared in Hong Kong. It appears that the energy signature is from a large crystal embedded into the chest cavity of a serpentine being."

"So, the 'Sky Destroyer' was there for that crystal." Pentecost concluded, his voice heavy. "What else did you find?"

Thorne zoomed in on a series of intricate murals carved into the temple walls. "The structures… they're ancient, Marshal," Thorne continued. "Far older than any known human civilization. The murals depict a creature, interacting with smaller, humanoids on a different world. They also depict battles with large, yeti-like creatures, and then there is this… a portal."

He then showed a close-up of a smaller, broken section of mural, partially obscured by debris. "This fragment… it's damaged, but we believe it depicts the humanoids finding one of the yeti-like creatures deceased. They appear to be burying it… in a location that resembles a mountain."

A tense silence filled the room. The implications were clear. The murals provided a glimpse into its past, and the broken fragment offered a chilling clue.

"We need to know more," Pentecost declared. "Send another expedition. I want a detailed analysis of those ruins. Everything. We need to understand the connection between that creature, these ruins, and the Kaiju. But our priority now is closing the Breach."

He turned to the holographic map, tracing the red line with his finger, then pointing to the tactical overlay near the Breach. "We've analyzed the Breach's energy signature. It's… organic. It's a living portal, sustained by Kaiju DNA. To get through, to deliver a payload that will collapse it, we need a Kaiju."

A heavy silence fell over the command center. They knew what that meant. They would have to find a way to capture a Kaiju, a task almost as dangerous as facing them in battle.

"We'll need a Kaiju carcass," Gottlieb interjected, his voice surprisingly steady. "A fresh one. The neural pathways need to be intact for the Breach to recognize it as a viable entry point. It's how they travel between dimensions."

Pentecost nodded grimly. "Then we'll need to expedite our hunts. Any Kaiju that emerges, we don't just neutralize it. We secure the body. This will be a one way trip."

Meanwhile, in the Jaeger hangars, the pilots prepared for the inevitable confrontation. Raleigh and Mako stood beside Gipsy Danger, their faces grim but determined.

"They're sending a Category V," Raleigh said, his voice low. "Gottlieb says it's unlike anything we've ever faced. And they know about the 'Sky Destroyer'."

Mako nodded, her gaze fixed on the towering Jaeger. "We have to be ready. For everything. This might be our last stand."

"Pentecost is planning to close the Breach," Raleigh added. "He's sending us in. And we have to bring a Kaiju with us."

Mako's expression turned serious. "Then we have to make it count. We have to give everything we have."

The Shatterdome was a beehive of activity, a symbol of humanity's desperate struggle for survival. They had upgraded their Jaegers, developed new technologies, and investigated the mysteries of the deep. But they knew that the coming battle would be their greatest test yet. The Category V Kaiju, the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle, the enigmatic "Sky Destroyer," and the desperate mission to close the Breach – all these threads were converging, weaving a tapestry of conflict that would determine the fate of humanity.