CHAPTER 119: THE RING OF DEATH

They burst through the main entrance of the marble building, weapons ready for immediate combat. But instead of finding guards or mechanical traps, they discovered something completely unexpected.

The interior was vast and cathedral like, with soaring white marble columns supporting a dome that seemed impossibly high. At the center of the enormous space stood a giant ring structure that looked exactly like something from Marcus's science fiction knowledge. The ring was at least thirty feet tall and perfectly circular, constructed from dark metal that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.

But what caught Marcus's attention more than the impressive architecture were the people huddled in the far corner of the chamber. Unlike the zombie like workers outside, these individuals moved with normal human awareness and obvious fear. They pressed themselves against the wall as if trying to become invisible, clearly terrified by the sudden intrusion.

One of the oldest among them, a man with gray hair and wearing what appeared to be scholarly robes, stepped forward with surprising courage. He spoke in a language Marcus didn't recognize, words that sounded similar to what the griffon man had shouted earlier.

Aldric surprised Marcus by responding in halting but recognizable Valdris words, though his pronunciation was awkward and clearly influenced by whatever foreign language the old man had used.

"Valdrians, eh?" the old man continued in accented but understandable Valdris. "Did not expect them to bring the fight here. Do not harm us. We are scholars and engineers forced to carry out Malachar's work."

Marcus lowered his rifle slightly, though he kept it ready. "We don't want to harm anyone. We came for a specific reason."

The old scholar's eyes lit up with desperate hope. "Take down the death ring he made us build!" He gestured toward the massive circular structure dominating the chamber.

Marcus felt confusion wash over him. This wasn't what he'd expected to find. "I... no, we came to copy the seed. I have information it projects here."

The old man shook his head with obvious frustration. "I don't know what that is, but this is more important. You need to break this!"

Marcus studied the ring more carefully, noting the complex array of wires and mechanical components surrounding its base. The structure hummed with barely contained energy, and occasional sparks jumped between metal contacts.

"Just leave. Run to your houses. After we're done with it, we will destroy it," Marcus said, trying to prioritize his mission while acknowledging their concerns.

The scholars began gathering their few belongings and moving toward the exit, clearly eager to escape before whatever violence was about to unfold. As they filed past, Marcus noticed their hands bore the calluses and stains of forced labor, evidence of the work they'd been compelled to perform.

While they were leaving, Marcus turned to his companions. "Aldric, put several of your bombs around that giant ring. Tom, look for anything powerful emanating."

Tom examined the strange contraption with obvious confusion. "Like what?"

Marcus felt the weight of operating beyond his knowledge. "I don't know. Just something that seems important."

As they started searching the giant marble building, Aldric called out from near the ring's base. "Marcus, come here. Is this it?" He was pointing at the bottom of the ring structure, where an interior platform held the massive circle upright.

Marcus rushed over to examine what Aldric had discovered. When he looked closer at the bottom of the platform, he saw green light emanating from a patch of exposed ground. The ethereal glow pulsed with a rhythm that seemed almost alive, but the ray was being interrupted by a crude machine attached to wires that snaked up toward the building's electrical crown.

"He's somehow mixing earth seed aura with a machine and trying to power this ring. What is he trying to do?" Marcus wondered aloud, feeling dread settle in his stomach.

Aldric examined the setup with growing concern. "If this is the seed, aren't we going to damage it when we explode it?"

Tom's voice carried genuine alarm. "Marcus, don't kill the planet!"

Marcus tried to apply his modern world scientific knowledge to the situation. "The planet's core is thousands of degrees. He's just harvesting somehow. An explosion won't harm it, I think. Also, this isn't the seed itself. The seed is just leaking power here."

He carefully removed the empty core copier that Celestine had given him, a device that looked like crystalline technology far beyond anything from either of his worlds. Marcus placed it on the ground where the earth seed aura was emanating most strongly.

The empty device immediately lit up and started humming mechanically, its crystal surface beginning to glow with the same green energy that pulsed from the ground beneath them.

Tom watched the copying process with obvious fascination. "Marcus, what is it doing?"

"It's copying, I think. You guys look out for reinforcements. I'll rearrange the bombs," Marcus replied, though he felt completely out of his depth with the alien technology.

As the copying device continued its mysterious work, Marcus helped Aldric position explosive charges around the massive ring structure. Each bomb was carefully placed to maximize structural damage while avoiding the area where the seed energy was being harvested.

The ring itself was clearly some kind of portal technology, far more advanced than Palwin's natural magic. The dark metal construction seemed to drink in light and energy, creating an ominous presence that made Marcus's skin crawl.

"What do you think this thing does?" Aldric asked as he attached another bomb to the ring's support structure.

Marcus studied the electrical connections and power flow patterns. "Portal technology. But not like Palwin's. This looks like it could send large groups of people or equipment across vast distances. He probably use it to conquer and control the world."

The implications were terrifying. If Malachar could transport his armies anywhere instantly, no where in the world would be safe from conquest. The ring represented the infrastructure for interplanetary invasion on a massive scale.

Tom kept watch at the entrance while occasionally checking the copying device's progress. "How long does this take?"

"I have no idea. It's not technology I'm familiar with," Marcus admitted. The device continued humming and glowing, apparently performing some kind of complex analysis or replication process.

The sound of distant explosions and combat began filtering through Tom's mind, suggesting that the siege battle was intensifying.

"We need to finish this quickly," Tom said, checking the placement of their explosive charges. "The battle is getting worse, and they need us back there. Palwin alerted me"

Aldric nodded grimly as he positioned the last bomb. "These should bring the whole ring down. Whatever Malachar was planning to do with this thing, he won't be doing it anymore."

Tom suddenly stiffened, his enhanced hearing picking up sounds from outside. "Someone's coming. Multiple sets of footsteps."

Marcus checked the copying device, which had begun to pulse more rapidly, suggesting the process was nearing completion. "Almost done. Just a few more minutes. I hope"

But they might not have a few more minutes. The sound of approaching forces was growing louder, and Marcus could hear the mechanical shuffling that indicated mind controlled workers or guards.

"Get ready," Marcus warned, raising his rifle while keeping one eye on the copying device. "If Malachar shows up, we activate the protection system immediately."

The infiltration mission was approaching its climax, and everything depended on the next few minutes. They had found what Celestine needed, but getting out alive would require fighting their way through whatever forces Malachar was sending to stop them.

The ring of death loomed above them, a monument to interplanetary conquest that represented everything they were fighting against. Soon it would be destroyed, but first they had to survive long enough to complete their mission and escape back to the real war.

Marcus felt the weight of cosmic responsibility settling over him as the copying device's humming reached a crescendo. They were so close to success, but the most dangerous part of their mission was just beginning.