Weaves of Ashes

Chapter 143: Chapter 138: Extinction Protocol

Location: Pavilion - Main Hall

Time: Day 572/211 (Subjective/Actual) - Morning

Realm: Lower Realm (Doha)

Green’s expression was grim as she pulled out the first scroll, unfurling ancient parchment covered in script that seemed to writhe when Jayde tried to focus on it.

”Demonic Nematomorpha. Mother was correct—these parasites were supposedly eradicated by the Luminari eons ago.”

”Supposedly,” Jayde echoed. ”But they’re here. On Doha.”

”Planted during the last Zartonesh invasion,” Isha confirmed, his form solidifying as he shifted into professional mode—the ancient artifact spirit who’d guided civilizations through crises for hundreds of millennia. ”We found extensive references in Master’s archives. The Zartonesh were... creative in their methods of warfare. They didn’t just invade with armies and fleets. They planted slow-death weapons. Biological warfare designed to work across centuries, millennia even.”

He gestured, and holographic text appeared in the air—alien script in languages that predated human civilization, symbols that hurt to look at directly because they carried too much meaning compressed into too little space.

”A breeding pair of Demonic Nematomorpha, hidden deep in Doha’s crust where Mother couldn’t sense them until the corruption spread too far. Nine thousand nine hundred years they’ve been breeding. Multiplying. Spreading through every crack and crevice they could reach.”

”How many colonies?” Yinxin asked quietly, though her tone suggested she feared the answer.

Green’s expression was grim. ”Hundreds. Possibly over a thousand by now. Each colony can contain anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of individual worms. They cluster in the deep places—underground caverns, ancient ruins, abandoned mines, anywhere with minimal light and maximum connection to planetary vitality.”

She pulled out another scroll, this one showing disturbing illustrations of black, writhing masses that seemed to pulse with malevolent life even in two-dimensional form.

”They’re parasites in the truest sense. They don’t just feed on individual hosts—they feed on the planet itself. Siphon vitality directly from Doha’s core, from Mother’s essence, draining life force that should sustain the world and its inhabitants.”

Threat classification: Extinction-level. Species designation: Parasitic. Planetary impact: Terminal if unchecked. Recommend: Immediate action.

”What happens if they’re not stopped?” Jayde asked, though she suspected she already knew the answer.

”Doha dies.” Isha’s voice was flat, clinical, carrying the weight of someone who’d watched worlds fall before. ”Not quickly. Not dramatically. But inevitably. First, the vitality drain accelerates. Crops fail across all three realms. Beasts sicken and die. Magic weakens as ambient Qi depletes. Cultivation becomes harder, then impossible as the fundamental energy of the world vanishes.”

He paused, letting that sink in.

”Then it worsens. Atmosphere begins breaking down as the planetary systems that maintain it collapse. Eventually...” He gestured helplessly. ”Complete death. The planet becomes a dead rock floating in space. Every living thing extinct. Billions of souls snuffed out.”

The weight of it settled like stones in Jayde’s chest.

Analysis: Acceptable losses: Zero. Mission priority: Absolute. Personal cost: Irrelevant.

***

”But it’s worse than that,” Isha continued. ”The passages between realms—they exist now, technically. But they’re not accessible in any practical sense.”

He gestured, and holographic diagrams appeared showing the three realms with thin, fragile connections between them.

”Communication is possible through the passages. Messages can be sent with enough effort. But mass transit? Migration? Impossible. And in approximately one hundred years, the cosmic cycle completes. The passages open naturally for a full century.”

His voice hardened.

”If the worms aren’t eradicated from the Lower Realm before then, they spread. Travelers carry them unknowingly. They burrow through the open passages. They establish colonies in the Mid Realm, the Upper Realm, everywhere they can reach. And once established across all three realms, even when passages close again, the infection remains. Grows. Multiplies.”

He paused.

”And when the Zartonesh return—and they always do—they’ll harvest them. Collect breeding pairs. Study what worked. And then they’ll use them as weapons on other worlds. Dozens. Hundreds. Every planet they want to claim without the cost of a full invasion.”

Green’s face paled. ”One breeding pair became hundreds of colonies on Doha over nine thousand years. Imagine if the Zartonesh take a hundred breeding pairs to a hundred different worlds.”

”If we don’t stop them here,” Isha said grimly, ”we’re not just condemning this world. We’re handing the Zartonesh a weapon they can use to exterminate civilizations across dimensions. Countless worlds. Trillions of lives.”

The silence that followed was crushing.

In his pocket, Takara’s blue eyes widened slightly. This is worse than I thought. Lady Ala wasn’t exaggerating the threat. This really could end everything.

***

[How do we fight them?] Yinxin asked, though her tone suggested she already feared the answer.

”That’s where it gets complicated.” Isha pulled up more holographic text. ”Demonic Nematomorpha have three primary defensive abilities that make them nearly impossible to kill through conventional means.”

He highlighted the first section.

”First: psionic blast. They can project mental attacks that cause severe damage to consciousness, to cultivation foundations, to the mind itself. A single worm’s attack can stagger an Inferno-tempered cultivator. Hundreds can kill through sheer overwhelming force.”

”Second,” Green continued, pulling out medical diagrams, ”vampiric drain. They siphon Qi directly from their targets. Drain cultivation levels in real-time, weaken meridians, steal the very essence that makes cultivation possible.”

Combat assessment: Extremely hostile. Multiple attack vectors. Recommend: Avoid direct engagement if possible.

”And third,” Isha said grimly, ”mind link. If their psionic attacks breach mental defenses—and given enough time and numbers, they will—they can establish direct neural connections. Control actions. Override will. Force complete possession.”

He looked at Jayde directly.

”They’re protected by psionic shields that deflect most magical attacks. Physical weapons are useless. Fire, ice, lightning, earth—all largely ineffective. Even Master struggled to develop counters.”

”So how do we kill them?” Jayde asked.

”Silver dragon magic.” Green’s gaze shifted to Yinxin. ”That specific combination of life and earth essence, woven together in patterns only silver dragons can achieve. It bypasses their mental defenses because it doesn’t attack the mind—it attacks the fundamental connection between the worms and planetary vitality.”

She paused.

”Mother mentioned she gave you a spell?”

[She did.] Yinxin’s presence pulsed through their bond. [A weave specifically designed to purge parasitic corruption. It can destroy them completely, burn every worm in a colony down to nothing.]

”How long does it take to cast?” Jayde asked, tactical instincts already painting the picture.

Yinxin hesitated. [Thirty minutes minimum. Possibly forty for large colonies. The spell requires absolute concentration, perfect execution. Cannot be interrupted or the backlash could kill me outright.]

”Thirty minutes.” Jayde’s mind immediately understood the tactical nightmare. ”During which you’re vulnerable. Defenseless.”

[Yes.]

”Which means someone has to protect you while you cast.” The pieces fell into place with horrible clarity. ”Someone has to withstand the worms’ psionic attacks for thirty minutes while you complete the spell.”

The silence stretched.

***

Finally, Green spoke, her voice heavy. ”Yes. That’s the only way it works. Silver dragon magic can kill them, but only if the caster survives long enough to finish. Which requires...” She looked at Jayde. ”A protector capable of withstanding sustained psionic assault from thousands of hostile entities for extended duration.”

Strategic analysis: Mission parameters: Survive 30-40 minutes of continuous mental attack. Survival probability: Low. Acceptable risk: Negative. Recommendation: Decline mission.

Override: Planetary survival takes precedence. Mission acceptance: Mandatory.

”I’m Flamewrought now,” Jayde said slowly. ”Peak Flamewrought after the Telia mission. My mental defenses are substantially stronger than before. I could—”

”You could die.” Isha’s voice was blunt. ”Let me be absolutely clear. You’d be facing thousands. All attacking simultaneously for thirty minutes minimum. Even with your enhanced constitution, even with Peak Flamewrought cultivation—”

His voice dropped to something close to pleading.

”The sustained assault could shred your meridians beyond repair. Collapse your Bonded Nexus Core. Damage your mind so severely that you never fully recover. You might survive—” His voice cracked. ”But you might not.”

[NO.] Yinxin’s mental voice was absolute. [Absolutely not. I categorically refuse to let Jayde risk her life like this.]

”Yinxin—”

[No!] The dragon’s presence blazed with protective fury. [You’re fifteen years old. Barely into Flamewrought tier. You’ve already survived impossible odds. I will not watch you die protecting me while I cast spells. There has to be another way!]

”There isn’t time,” Green said gently. ”Every day those worms breed, the problem worsens. And who else has the strength and the bond necessary? Who else carries bloodlines that make them naturally resistant to mental attacks?”

She looked at Jayde meaningfully.

”Phoenix fire purifies corruption. Dragon scales provide mental fortification. The combination makes her uniquely suited to resist psionic assault longer than pure humans could manage.”

[I don’t care!] Yinxin’s voice cracked. [I won’t sacrifice her. Not for this. Not for anything. Find another way!]

***

In his pocket, Takara listened intently, his innocent blue eyes seeing everything, understanding more than anyone suspected.

So this is why my lord sent me. This is the battle Lady Ala feared. And this child is planning to walk into it alone.

Well. Not alone anymore.

”What do I need to do?” Jayde asked quietly, cutting through the argument.

Everyone stopped.

”What training do I need? What preparations? Because we’re doing this. The only question is whether I’m prepared enough to survive it.”

[Jayde, no—]

”Doha is dying.” Jayde’s voice was steady. ”Hundreds of colonies are draining vitality right now. In one hundred years, passages open and infection spreads. Billions of lives at stake. When the Zartonesh return, they’ll harvest breeding pairs and spread them to countless other worlds. Trillions of lives across dimensions.”

She met Yinxin’s golden eyes.

”You saved your wyrmlings by accepting my contract despite hating the idea. You did what was necessary. Now I’m doing what’s necessary to protect this world and every world those worms threaten.”

Mission parameters accepted. Objective: Planetary survival. Personal risk: Acceptable cost. This is what we do.

”I survived Xi Corp’s experiments,” Jayde continued. ”Survived slave pits and clan hunters and being Voidforge in a world that wanted me dead. I’ve died once already and woken up in a new world. I’m not fragile. I’m not helpless. And I’m not a child who needs protecting from hard choices.”

She stood.

”So tell me what I need to learn. Teach me how to strengthen mental defenses. Because we’re doing this. The only question is whether I survive it.”

***

The silence stretched until Isha spoke, voice thick with reluctant admiration.

”You’re just like Master. He made the same kinds of choices. Walked into battles he knew might kill him because someone had to.”

A pause.

”I hated watching him do it. And I hate watching you make the same decision now.”

”But you’ll help me anyway,” Jayde said.

[Always.] His presence solidified with determination. [If you’re doing this, we’ll make sure you’re as prepared as possible. Green?]

The healer nodded slowly. ”There are techniques. Mental fortification exercises. Qi circulation patterns for sustained defense. Talismans that can absorb portions of psionic impact.”

She looked at Yinxin.

”And the bond helps. If Jayde can channel strength through your connection during assault, draw on silver dragon resilience, it’ll extend her endurance significantly.”

[I still hate this,] Yinxin sent. [But if you’re determined, I’ll make sure you survive. I won’t lose you. Promise me you’ll fight to survive.]

”I promise,” Jayde said simply. ”I don’t want to die. I’m just willing to risk it if necessary. There’s a difference.”

”Now,” she continued, ”tell me exactly what we’re facing. What do these worms actually do? I need to understand the threat completely.”

Green pulled out the most detailed scroll. Isha materialized fully beside her, both settling into lecture mode despite obvious reluctance.

”Mental fortification first,” Green began. ”Your mind block is already exceptionally strong, but you need to understand how Demonic Nematomorpha attack. They don’t use magic in the traditional sense. They project pure psionic force, consciousness weaponized...”

***

The lesson continued as dawn light grew stronger through windows, painting everything in gold that should’ve been hopeful but felt ominous instead.

Green explained the layers of mental defense required. How to cycle Qi in patterns that would reinforce rather than drain. The specific vulnerabilities Jayde needed to protect—her Crucible Core, her meridians, the delicate neural pathways that connected consciousness to cultivation.

Isha detailed the tactical approach. How to position herself to maximize protection while minimizing exposure. The warning signs that would indicate mental defenses failing. Emergency protocols if the assault became too overwhelming.

Yinxin described the spell she would cast, the concentration required, why interruption meant death. How their bond could serve as a lifeline if Jayde channeled strength correctly. The specific sensation she should feel when the spell approached completion—the signal that survival was just minutes away.

And Jayde listened, absorbing every detail with focus learned in combat simulations and battlefield briefings. Preparing for a battle that might kill her. Accepting the risk because someone had to.

Because the planet was dying.

Because billions of lives hung in the balance.

Because she’d failed before and wouldn’t fail again.

Even if it costs everything.

In her pocket, Takara watched and listened and planned, his small form curled protectively against her warmth.

I won’t let you face this alone, little human, he thought fiercely. My lord sent me to protect you. And a Lightning Panthera does not fail his mission.

Even if it means revealing what I truly am.

The briefing stretched into hours. Plans forming. Strategies developing. Preparation beginning for a battle that would determine the fate of worlds.

And through it all, Jayde remained steady, focused, accepting the impossible weight of planetary survival with the same determination that had carried her through two lifetimes of impossible odds.

This was what she did.

This was who she was.

Someone who walked into the fire when no one else could.

Someone who chose to fight when surrender would be easier.

Someone who protected the innocent, whatever the cost.

Let’s see if I’m strong enough this time, she thought as Green continued explaining mental fortification techniques.

Let’s see if I can save this world where I failed to save my own.