Kai awoke to a sky that had changed subtly overnight. The fractured crimson clouds now glimmered with pale streaks of violet, and the wind carried a low, whispering chant that seemed almost sentient. His muscles ached, and his arm throbbed where he had fallen the day—or what had passed for a day—in Erethys. Every breath burned, and yet he forced himself to rise. He had survived the night, but he knew the world would not wait for him to recover.
Surveying the jagged plateau, Kai noticed a faint trail of dark soil stretching toward a cluster of floating rocks. The soil pulsed, black veins glimmering faintly beneath the surface. Something about it made him uneasy, a sense of dread that settled into his bones. He hesitated, hand instinctively glowing, ready to strike if danger appeared.
"I have to move," he whispered, the words tasting of ash in his mouth. Every second he lingered meant exposure to the creatures, the shifting land, or whatever else Erethys might throw at him. Survival demanded action.
As Kai stepped cautiously along the trail, the wind carried new sounds: distant footsteps, uneven and deliberate, echoing across the floating landmasses. He froze. His instincts screamed that he was not alone.
From behind a jagged rock, a figure emerged—a boy around his age, cloaked in tattered fabric, eyes sharp and calculating. He carried a short blade, crude but well-used, and moved with a predator's grace.
Kai's heart skipped a beat. "Who—are you?" he called, keeping his glowing hand raised.
The boy tilted his head, evaluating him. "Lost, are you?" His voice was hoarse, cautious. "You shouldn't be wandering here. The first zone will take more than your life if you're unprepared."
Kai's brow furrowed. "Zone? What…what do you mean?"
The boy's eyes darkened. "This land isn't normal. Everything here is…alive. Some parts are worse than others. The black soil, the forests, the mountains—they're tainted. They twist your mind, your body…your soul."
Kai felt a chill settle over him. "My soul?"
"Yes." The boy's voice was sharp. "Magic comes at a cost here. You've already seen it. That glow in your hand? It doesn't give you power—it takes something from you. A piece of your life, your memory…your self. And the corruption zones? They take more."
Kai swallowed. He had felt it—his memories of his sister, the accident, even parts of his own identity, had seemed to flicker or fade during the previous night. He nodded slowly. "Then…how do I survive?"
The boy smirked grimly. "You learn the rules, or you die. I'm Joren. And if you follow me, I'll show you a path that might keep you alive a little longer."
The two of them moved through jagged terrain, the floating islands shifting beneath their feet as if watching them. The wind whispered secrets Kai could not comprehend. The black soil pulsed stronger as they approached a low ridge. Beyond it lay a dense forest, the trees twisted and blackened, their branches reaching out like clawed hands.
"This is it," Joren said. "The first corruption zone."
Kai swallowed hard. Fear bubbled up, thick and choking. He had faced creatures, he had survived the night, but nothing in his short life had prepared him for this. The air felt heavy, oppressive, like it pressed down on his chest, slowing his heartbeat. The whispering voices grew louder, forming broken words, half-memories, and pleas that clawed at his mind.
"I…we can't just go in?" Kai asked, voice trembling.
"We have to," Joren said. "The zone will consume anyone who lingers at the edge. It tests you. It wants to break you before you even step inside."
Kai nodded, gripping his glowing hand tightly. I have to survive. No matter what.
The forest loomed, branches twisting into grotesque shapes, shadows crawling over the ground. The soil beneath their feet seemed almost alive, writhing, pulsing as if in anticipation. As they entered, the temperature dropped sharply. Mist rolled across the ground, carrying the faint scent of decay.
Kai felt it immediately—a pressure in his mind, tugging at his thoughts. Memories of Earth flickered: the accident, his sister, his friends, fleeting moments of happiness. The whispers grew louder, shaping themselves into voices that mimicked the ones he had loved, calling his name, demanding he answer, forcing him to question what was real.
"This is it," Joren said quietly, noticing Kai's faltering steps. "The zone attacks your mind first. Don't listen. Don't hesitate. Focus. Survive."
Kai forced his gaze forward, ignoring the voices. His hand glowed faintly, a small comfort against the encroaching darkness. The creatures were here too—smaller than the massive one from before, but just as twisted. Limbs bent at unnatural angles, teeth glinting in the faint glow. Their eyes reflected fragments of Kai's own fears, staring into him as though they could consume his very soul.
He raised his hand instinctively. A pulse of energy shot forward, scattering the creatures. But it cost him. A flash of pain hit his chest, and a memory of his sister vanished, leaving a hollow ache in its place. Kai stumbled, realizing the truth of Joren's words. Every use of power came with a price, and the zone demanded more than brute force—it demanded control over his fear, his mind, and even his memories.
Hours—or perhaps minutes, time seemed meaningless here—passed in a blur of motion, whispered voices, and fleeting glimpses of monstrous forms. Kai began to notice a pattern: certain patches of ground were safe, while others caused vivid hallucinations, drawing him into nightmares that felt as real as life itself. He learned quickly to step only on faintly glowing soil and avoid the blackest patches.
Joren moved beside him with an unnerving calm, every step deliberate. "The zone feeds on hesitation," he said. "If you falter for even a second, it will tear you apart."
Kai nodded, swallowing bile. I can't falter. Not here.
A sudden shriek echoed through the forest. Kai froze as a creature lunged from the mist, its face a horrifying mockery of a human, eyes wide and filled with terror…or was it rage? The creature's clawed hand struck, but Kai reacted, releasing a pulse of soul energy. The creature screeched, disintegrating into shadowy ash, but Kai stumbled back, collapsing on the ground, chest heaving.
Every attack…every survival…costs something of me, he realized. His memories of Earth were fragmenting, replaced by an alien emptiness. And yet, he could not stop. Survival demanded it.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they emerged from the corrupted forest. The sunlight—or what passed for sunlight—was weak but comforting, piercing through the misty clouds. Kai collapsed on a jagged rock, trembling. His hands shook, glowing faintly even in exhaustion.
Joren knelt beside him. "You made it. Not everyone does."
Kai closed his eyes. "I…what just happened? That forest…it wanted to kill me. It wanted to…take everything."
Joren nodded. "It does. And the next zone will be worse. Each one targets a different part of you—fear, rage, despair. The world isn't just alive. It's a predator. And it's already decided that you are prey."
Kai swallowed hard. The reality settled on him like a weight: this world would not forgive, it would not wait, and it would not allow mistakes. But somewhere deep inside, a spark of resolve remained.
"I…I'll survive," he said, voice trembling but firm. "No matter what."
Joren's eyes softened slightly, almost imperceptibly. "Good. Then maybe you'll last longer than most. But remember—survival here isn't about winning. It's about staying alive long enough to see another day."
Kai nodded. His gaze swept across the floating lands, jagged cliffs, and distant islands. He did not yet understand the full scope of Erethys, the corruption zones, or the cost of his emerging powers. But he knew one thing: he had entered a world that demanded everything from him, and he would not give up.
Because in Erethys, only those who faced the darkness and endured its torment could hope to see another sunrise.
And Kai…he had just begun to fight.