Mercenary HQ – Strata II, Karsan Depth Grid
A ring of pulsating crystals dimmed under the weight of a silent alarm.
"Dimensional disturbance detected," muttered a pale figure clad in mechanized armor, fingers gliding over runes inscribed on a mirrored interface. "Confirmed transfer from Strata I. Single entity. Tier zero."
"Another lost rat, or something worth caging?" asked a gravelly voice from behind.
Captain Vaik, the lead of the Karsan Interceptors, stepped into the central dome. With veins that shimmered faintly with orange plasma and a thick scar trailing over his temple, he reeked of hardened cruelty and meticulous order.
"Unknown signature. But..." The analyst squinted. "There's something… old in the resonance. He stepped out from a Spiral Gate."
That made Vaik pause. "Spiral Gates don't open for just anyone. Send two hunting units. Equip them with short-jump prisms. I want him tagged and caged before he even learns to scream."
Outside the dome, an obsidian-hued mantid-beast released a mechanical hiss. Hunters had already begun to move.
Eastern Verge – Ashen Ravine Trail, Second Strata
Aarav's boots scraped against charred gravel as he followed the jagged trail snaking through cliffs that stretched far above and below. The air was denser here, folded with temporal pulses and ash motes glowing faintly blue. Echoes of ancient battles hummed beneath the surface, making even silence feel crowded.
His breath was steady, if annoyed. The Spiral Portal had spat him out right into a war-torn ledge system—and whatever distant beasts he'd glimpsed earlier were still lodged in his memory like a background soundtrack from hell.
And now, someone else had appeared—limping, swearing, and bleeding—roughly a hundred meters ahead.
Xena of the Kael'Shar was cursing her leg as if it had personally betrayed her.
"Bleeding from a shard-blast wound and down to my last three mirrage coins," she muttered, taking another painful step forward, arms hugging her side. Her coat fluttered, tattered and stained from her wild drop from the third strata. "And now that distortion behind me… Spiral Gate activation. Of course."
She squinted back.
"That's rare," she whispered, "unless someone with insane luck—or dumb curiosity—just made the jump."
With practiced motion, she applied a thin film of healing sap on her side. It bubbled faintly. Then, still muttering, she shoved two gel capsules into her mouth. "Great. Healing tastes like burnt fungus today."
She moved again, favoring the west trail—towards an abandoned root-tunnel known for crossing over the Mercenary Zone border without triggering surface wards.
And then she saw him.
Aarav had rounded a ridge, and now stood still. The girl before him looked like she'd just survived a cosmic explosion.
Her sharp, catlike eyes flicked to him, analyzing every inch of his stance. No weapon drawn. Posture loose. Clothes half burnt but not bleeding. Aura… odd.
"You're either fearless or lost," she said flatly.
"Let's go with confident and recently traumatized," Aarav replied dryly.
Her eyes narrowed. "You just dropped in through the Spiral?"
"Yeah. You were the welcome parade?"
She tilted her head. "If I were the welcome parade, you'd be missing teeth. And credits."
Aarav raised a brow. "How warm."
She took a deep breath, stepping closer but cautiously. "Name?"
He hesitated. "Aarav."
"Tier?"
He opened his mouth… then reconsidered. "…Zero."
Her expression froze. "…Oh, you poor idiot."
"I'm standing right here."
"No, no, I mean, you're the Tier Zero that just triggered the alarm," she muttered. "They're already hunting you."
"Hunting me?" Aarav asked. "I didn't even do anything yet!"
"Exactly," she grumbled. "You stepped into their zone. That's enough."
She glanced behind. "We'll take the Dust Spine path. It curves east, then tunnels under the outpost. It's unstable, but unmonitored."
Aarav blinked. "Wait—we?"
Xena turned, limping ahead. "You're either running with me, or being dissected by mercs. They love poking newcomers with shiny tools. Your choice."
He hurried to follow. "You're a bit aggressive for a savior."
"I'm not saving you. I'm using you as bait if needed," she said bluntly. "Also, you owe me one escape plan."
Mercenary HQ – Tracking Dome
"They've moved east. Dust Spine tunnel," a hunter relayed.
"Clever girl," Vaik murmured. "Deploy intercept units at the northern fork. Collapse the exit if needed. I want them scared before they're captured."
He smiled slowly.
Dust Spine Tunnel – Eastern Ravine Trail
The tunnel entrance shimmered with unstable energy. As they entered, silence pressed in, broken only by dripping echoes and their footfalls.
Xena limped slightly less now, though her eyes remained sharp. "If you slow me down, I will sell you. Or bet on you losing a fistfight in the Gloom Arena."
Aarav grinned, breathless. "You have trust issues."
She gave a short laugh. "No. I have debt. Big difference."