The wolf's growl rattled the broken stones beneath my feet. Its crimson eyes locked on the girl who had just fallen from the sky, her faint aura flickering like a dying flame.
She pushed herself up weakly, confusion in her gaze. Her hair shimmered silver under the fractured sky, and glowing runes trailed across her arms—just like mine.
The Crystal AI spoke in my head, monotone and unfeeling:
> [Synchronization complete. Second Fragment Bearer identified. Name: Unknown. Compatibility: 87%.]
"Another bearer?" I muttered, still gripping my jagged blade. "This just keeps getting better…"
The wolf lunged, fangs glistening with molten venom. Instinct kicked in. I grabbed the girl's arm and yanked her back just in time as the beast's jaws snapped shut where her head had been.
She stumbled against me, eyes wide. "What is this place?! Who—"
"No time for questions!" I snapped, shoving her aside as the wolf turned back toward us.
The AI's voice cut in again.
> [Cooperative Protocol Suggested. Energy Link Possible. Do you wish to initiate? Y/N]
"What does that mean?" I barked.
> [Linking two Bearers amplifies skill output. Survival probability increases by 62%.]
"Fine! Do it!"
A surge of heat coursed through me, connecting my runes to hers in a lattice of glowing threads. She gasped, clutching her chest as the energy bond snapped into place.
"W-what did you do to me?!" she shouted.
"Saved your life, hopefully!" I raised my crystal blade again.
The wolf roared and charged.
This time, when I swung, the blade exploded with light, doubling in length. The strike carved a glowing arc across the beast's chest, sending shards of crystal flying. The monster howled, stumbling back as molten blood sprayed the ground.
Her eyes widened. "You… you're fighting with shards?"
"You got any better ideas?" I shot back.
She raised her hand instinctively, and to my shock, a bow of pure light formed in her grip. A single arrow of crystalline energy materialized, humming with unstable power.
She looked just as surprised as I felt. "I… I don't even know how I—"
"Shoot!" I yelled.
The arrow flew like lightning. It pierced the wolf's shoulder, detonating in a burst of fractured light. The beast screamed, half its body shattering into glowing fragments before collapsing in a heap of broken crystal and burning flesh.
The silence that followed was deafening. My heart pounded in my chest, every muscle screaming with adrenaline.
Then the System's voice cut through the stillness.
> [Enemy Defeated. Shattered Core Extracted. Rewards Allocated.]
+100 EXP
+1 Shard Core (Lesser)
Skill Progression: Shard Slash (Lv.1 → Lv.2)]
Blue text flickered in the air before my eyes. I couldn't help but laugh breathlessly. "So this really is Shattered Realm… but real."
The girl collapsed to her knees, clutching her bow as it dissolved into shards of light. She looked up at me, her silver eyes blazing with suspicion.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
I hesitated. "Alex. At least… I think I am."
She narrowed her eyes. "Then what am I doing here? Why do I have these marks? Why am I… like you?"
The AI's voice interrupted, colder than before.
> [Bearer Protocol: Revelation]
Both of you are chosen. Each Fragment Bearer carries a piece of the broken realm. Together, you may repair it… or destroy it further.
The ground rumbled violently. In the distance, more howls echoed across the shattered landscape. Dozens. Maybe hundreds.
The girl's face went pale. "There are more of those things?"
I clenched my blade tighter. "Looks like round two's coming faster than I thought."
The AI's tone sharpened, as if issuing a final warning:
> [Quest Initiated: Survive the First Wave. Failure will result in permanent erasure.]
My mouth went dry. Erasure? Not death—erasure.
The girl staggered closer, clutching my arm. Her eyes met mine, filled with both fear and fire.
"What do we do?" she whispered.
I stared at the horizon, where glowing eyes multiplied in the shadows.
I tightened my grip on the crystal blade, forcing down the fear clawing at my chest.
"We fight," I said.
And as the sky cracked louder above us, I prayed silently that the System wasn't already laughing at how short-lived my second chance would be.
To be continued…