Chapter 332 (2/2)

But this is our universe. Yours had it chance. The two dominant species stated.

Except, the Dwellers stated, there is only enough for one, and it belongs to us.

War tore at the galactic arm as the two species tried to push the Dwellers back where they came from.

Things happened during the war. Stunning upset, startling betrayals, shadowed alliances.

But the Dwellers themselves, who dwelt in a universe almost expended, that existed 'below' the energetic young universe, were forced back through their portal, and the portal closed.

But the Dwellers were somewhat content.

They had harvested enough to keep their stellar masses going, even build and ignite two more, even built dozens more worlds.

They had even brought species back for the one thing that they ran out of so often.

Food.

But for all their harvesting, all their siphoning away of the other universes vitality, it slowly drained away as the laws of the dead universe ripped away energy and the seven stellar masses slowly cooled.

The Dwellers had gained a half a billion years of existence.

More, they had learned they could extend their existence.

They went to war with one another, until three of the seven stellar masses were subdued.

The losers were stripped down and remade into war machines.

The Dwellers opened a new portal. They had learned much, researched much, in the beyond cold less then emptiness of their dead universe.

The fourth stellar mass was sacrificed, the oldest, nearly depleted, even the photons it put out were exhausted.

But the way was opened. Chronotrons taken from the defeated were used.

The strategy was simple.

Force the enemy to fight the same fight over and over, without allowing them to reset. Used exhausted and nearly extinguished chronotrons to rewind them in time, but not in energy or matter, leaving them weakened and depleted even as they were returned to the beginning of the fight.

The first scouting attempt should have worked.

Instead, it had never been heard from again.

The Dwellers knew time was short. They needed the vitality of the young universe. The less than nothing and more than darkness was pressing closer.

The first attack had been a partial success. Food, matter, and particles had been taken. Far, far more than had been expended.

While the enemy, a new enemy, had counter-attacked, damaging the vast machines that opened the way between the universe below and the vital young one, and forced the Dwellers to close the way, the Dwellers had gained what they needed.

Chronotrons.

They had exchanged their dying, flat, depleted chronotrons for a vast wealth of highly energetic younger ones that still vibrated with the echo of the Big Bang that had created that universe.

The taste of youth, of vitality, had awoken a hunger the Dwellers had forgotten since the last time they had reached inside the new universe.

They took their time, upgrading their weapons, building more ships.

Growing more harvesters.

This time they wouldn't send forth a small force.

They sacrificed the dimmest stellar mass, leaving only two.

The more than darkness and the less then emptiness grew closer.

The Dwellers didn't care.

This time they could not be denied.

The ancient foes were undoubtedly gone.

Those Who Dwell Below stirred to life as the energy was siphoned off the oldest stellar mass, leaving only two to hold off the dead universe beyond.

Nothing would stop them from taking the vitality they deserved.

The portals opened.

PLAYER SIX HAS ENTERED THE GAME - ALL IN