In the Techno-Magic Civilization Universe, unaware of the storm gathering in the void, Elias prepared to depart.

The months of collaboration with Grand Artificer Lyra had been among the most intellectually stimulating of his existence. Her workshop, a vast space that existed in seventeen dimensions simultaneously, had become a second home. Together, they had achieved what neither could have accomplished alone—the perfection of the Void-Tide Perpetual Reactor and countless other breakthroughs.

"You don't have to leave, you know," Lyra said, her form—a constantly shifting geometric pattern that hurt to look at directly—displaying colors that indicated melancholy. "We could continue this work. There's so much more to discover."

Elias, standing in his characteristic calm posture, allowed himself a small smile. "My family waits for me. My daughter will be born soon. No amount of research, however fascinating, outweighs that."

Lyra's patterns shifted to a warm golden hue. "Of course. I'm being selfish. Your priorities are logical and admirable." She gestured to a crystalline data repository floating between them. "I've compiled everything we've discovered together, along with my own personal research from the past twelve thousand years. It's yours."

"That's..." Elias paused, his Quantum Divine Processor rapidly calculating the value of such knowledge. "Excessive."

"Is it?" Lyra's form pulsed with amusement. "You've given me perfected Laws that would take me epochs to develop independently. You've helped me achieve my life's work. This is merely fair exchange."

Elias accepted the repository with a nod of genuine gratitude. "Then I offer you the same. Full access to my research archives, unlimited resources drawn from my accounts, and the protection of my name should you need it."

"Protection?" Lyra's patterns flickered with surprise. "From what?"

"From those who would seek to exploit your breakthroughs. The reactor alone makes you a target for every power-hungry entity in the multiverse." His expression grew serious. "Anyone who threatens you or your work will answer to me."

The weight of that promise settled over the room like a physical force. Every being in the known multiverse had learned what it meant to draw Elias Vance's ire.

"I... thank you," Lyra said quietly. "Truly. It's been an honor collaborating with you."

"The honor was mutual. Your radical approach to problems complements my systematic methodology perfectly. You've helped me see solutions I would have overlooked." Elias extended his hand in the human gesture of farewell he had adopted. "May your research yield infinite insights."

Lyra's form reshaped into something approximating a hand and clasped his. "May your family bring you joy beyond calculation."

Outside Lyra's workshop, the Vance Armada waited in perfect formation. The fleet had been enhanced during their stay—hybrid Techno-Magic systems now integrated seamlessly with Elias's original designs. Each ship glowed with the gentle light of incorporated Law Engines, devices that could process and refine energy with impossible efficiency.

The duplicate Elias stood on the bridge of the Aegis, surrounded by holographic displays showing the optimal route home. He could have simply teleported directly back to his home universe—his mastery of space-time made such travel trivial. The armada, the ships, the grand formation—none of it was necessary from a purely logical standpoint.

But necessity wasn't the only factor worth considering.

"Sir," the ship's AI reported, "all vessels ready for departure. Estimated journey time at standard cruise: forty-seven days."

Forty-seven days of peaceful travel through the cosmos. Time to process the knowledge gained, to integrate Lyra's insights into his existing framework, to simply exist without the pressure of constant optimization. Time to appreciate the journey rather than fixating only on the destination.

It was inefficient. It was wasteful. It was exactly what he needed.

"Set course," he commanded. "Standard cruise speed. Let's enjoy the journey."

The armada began to move, a graceful ballet of hundreds of ships sliding through space in perfect synchronization. Other vessels in the vicinity hastily cleared their flight paths, none willing to risk even the appearance of obstruction.

For the first few days, the journey was precisely as peaceful as he'd hoped. The duplicate Elias spent his time in meditation, his consciousness drifting through the vast repository of knowledge Lyra had gifted him. Occasionally, he would communicate with his original self through their quantum entanglement link, sharing observations and receiving updates about Kaelen's pregnancy.

Everything was proceeding according to plan. Optimally. Peacefully.

Then, on the fifth day, as they transited through the deep void between galactic clusters, reality itself shuddered.

The void between universes was not truly empty—it was a space where the normal laws of physics became suggestions rather than rules. Here, distance was negotiable, time flowed in spirals, and cause could follow effect by centuries or occur before it.

It was the perfect place for an ambush.

Morth'ak materialized directly in front of the armada, his form vast enough to dwarf even the three-kilometer Aegis. He appeared as a towering humanoid wreathed in silver flames, but those flames were not fire—they were raw Reality Law given physical form. His eyes burned with cold fury, and his presence caused the very fabric of space-time to warp and buckle.

"ELIAS VANCE!" His voice boomed across dimensions, carrying the weight of absolute authority. "MURDEROUS PILL MAKER! SHOW YOURSELF!"

On the Aegis's bridge, alarms shrieked as sensors struggled to process the overwhelming power signature. The duplicate Elias observed the readings with mild interest.

"A Multiversal Being," he stated calmly. "Power signature indicates 100% Reality Law comprehension. Significantly more dangerous than Zorak was." He paused. "Emotional state: enraged. Probability of diplomatic resolution: 0.003%."

"Sir, should we engage defensive measures?" the AI asked.

"No need."

Before anyone could question the decision, Morth'ak raised his hand and pulled. Reality obeyed his command instantly—the Aegis's hull phased into non-existence as Elias was forcibly extracted from the ship and dragged into the void.

The ships of the armada immediately moved to intercept, weapons charging, but Elias's voice stopped them cold.

"Stand down. Maintain formation. This won't take long."

Elias floated in the void, facing Morth'ak across a distance that existed in seventeen dimensions simultaneously. He appeared completely unbothered by the forced teleportation, his posture relaxed, his expression one of mild curiosity.

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