Zane crashed into a forest, branches snapping under him with a series of sharp cracks, the air rich with the scent of pine and damp earth that filled his lungs with a welcome relief. The rift closed with a hiss, leaving him sprawled on the mossy ground, the disc faintly glowing with a weak pulse that barely lit his hand. Stability at 1%, his HUD whispered in a faint green, a fragile thread of hope in the chaos, his body aching from the void's ordeal. He pushed up with a groan, gasping for air, the suit's cracks widening with each movement, a testament to his narrow escape.
The forest was alive, trees towering overhead like ancient sentinels, their leaves shimmering with a golden light that danced in the breeze, casting a warm glow across the undergrowth. His HUD scanned the serene landscape: Location: Unknown. Atmospheric composition: Stable. The void's chilling void lingered in his bones, but the warmth here was a stark contrast, a fleeting comfort that steadied his racing heart. Where am I now? he thought, his mind reeling as he took in the unfamiliar terrain, the silence a stark change from the void's chaos.
"Zane!" Shuri's voice broke through the stillness, clear but urgent, her relief cutting through the comms like a lifeline. "You're back online! The disc's signal is faint—how are you alive after that void jump?" Her tone carried a mix of awe and worry, a tether to his scattered thoughts. He grinned weakly, wiping dirt from his face. "Barely. Where's Gideon? He was hurt bad."
"Unknown," she said, her voice shifting to a tense edge, the static crackling faintly. "The rift pocket collapsed after you left—Gideon's signal's gone. You're on your own for now, Zane, but I'm tracing your location." The words stung, a sharp pang of loss twisting his gut, but he nodded, scanning the trees for any sign of danger. His HUD pinged with a soft alert: Life signs detected. Proximity: 100 meters.
A figure emerged from the shadows, young and cloaked, their face hidden beneath a hood that fluttered in the breeze. "You're the rift walker," they said, voice soft but firm, carrying a hint of awe that caught him off guard. Zane tensed, repulsors flickering with a weak hum, his instincts on edge. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice rough from the ordeal, his hand hovering near the dead device.
The figure lowered their hood, revealing a girl with wide, curious eyes that sparkled in the golden light, her hair a tangled mess of brown curls. "I'm Lira," she said, stepping closer without fear, her presence a stark contrast to the threats he'd faced. "I've seen your jumps through the rifts—flashes of your fight, that woman. She's tearing the multiverse apart, piece by piece." Her words hit hard, a mirror to his fears, her knowledge sparking a flicker of hope amidst his despair. The disc pulsed, its light fading to a mere glimmer. Stability at 0%.
He staggered, the suit's systems failing with a series of faint clicks, the weight of exhaustion crashing down. Lira caught him, her strength surprising as she steadied him with a firm grip, her hands warm against his cold armor. "The woman—her name's Veyra," she continued, her voice lowering with urgency. "She wants the disc to control all realities, to reshape them in her image. You're the only one who's fought back." Zane's mind raced, the name Veyra clicking into place, a puzzle piece that deepened his resolve.
"How do I stop her?" he asked, his voice weak but determined, his eyes locking onto hers for answers. Lira pointed to a distant glow piercing the canopy, a beacon amidst the trees. "A relic there can recharge your device—give you a fighting chance. But it's guarded by her minions." Before he could respond, the ground shook with a low rumble, trees bending under an unseen force, leaves fluttering to the ground like fallen stars. His HUD flashed with a warning: Energy surge. Proximity: 200 meters.
Shadows moved through the golden light, creatures emerging with twisted forms, their eyes glinting with malice as they advanced. Lira drew a blade from her cloak, its edge shimmering with a faint blue hue that matched the forest's veins, her stance ready. "We fight," she said, her resolve mirroring his own, a spark of camaraderie igniting between them. Zane nodded, forcing the disc to life with a shaky breath, its spark reigniting faintly. The first creature charged, a hulking mass of claws and teeth, and he met it head-on with a weak blast.
The battle raged, branches snapping under the creatures' weight, the golden light clashing with their dark forms in a chaotic dance. Lira moved with grace, her blade cutting through with precision, each strike a fluid arc that sent shards flying. Zane's repulsors fired weakly, each blast a struggle against the failing power, the air filling with the scent of scorched wood and ozone. Armor integrity at 55%, his HUD updated, the suit groaning under the strain.
A roar split the air, deeper and more menacing, and Veyra appeared through the trees, her armor gleaming with an oily sheen, runes pulsing with renewed vigor. "You can't hide from me," she sneered, her voice a venomous hiss that echoed through the forest. Tendrils lashed out, dark and writhing, striking with a force that knocked Lira down, her blade skittering across the moss. Zane lunged for the relic, his hand brushing its warm surface as Veyra's tendril yanked him back with a brutal tug.
Not again, he thought, the relic slipping from his grasp, its glow fading as he hit the ground hard, the forest spinning around him.