Ezio Auditore moved cautiously across the barren landscape, his experienced eyes scanning the unfamiliar terrain for any signs that could help him understand this strange new world. Kneeling, he sifted a handful of dirt through his fingers, the dry earth slipping away like grains of time. His thoughts swirled with confusion, but also with the need to comprehend where fate had thrown him.

Rising, his gaze swept across the desolation before him. The ground was a chaotic mess, littered with remnants of a world that bore no resemblance to his own—twisted metal, shattered glass, and the skeletal remains of once grand structures. The landscape was a jumbled mix of clashing elements, as though entire worlds had been violently uprooted and dumped here, pieces of their former glory scattered and forgotten. Half-buried buildings of alien architecture lay beside decayed, more familiar ones, giving the land an eerie sense of displaced chaos.

Ezio's eyes narrowed as he approached a strange object partially buried in the dirt. Crouching, he brushed the dust away to reveal a small, metallic device. Its surface was corroded, and it was clearly not of his time. Picking it up, Ezio studied the object with keen curiosity.

"What manner of craftsmanship is this?" he muttered to himself.

The object was a ruined smartphone, though its purpose was lost on Ezio. He turned it over in his hands, noting its strange, smooth design, entirely foreign to his understanding. In the distance, a rusted skeleton of a vehicle caught his eye, half-submerged in the ground as though it had fallen from the sky. Ezio approached it cautiously, frowning at the warped and broken metal frame, the deflated and crumbling tires.

"A carriage with no horse..." he mused. "What kind of world is this?"

He continued his exploration, encountering more bizarre fragments of displaced realities—pieces of buildings torn from different times and places, abandoned in this forsaken wasteland. The ground itself felt uneven and distorted, as if the very earth had been ripped apart by some powerful force.

Ezio's fingers brushed against a tattered piece of fabric fluttering in the wind, half-buried in the rubble. He pulled it free, examining it closely. The material was modern, sturdy, and unlike anything he had seen before, though now it was weathered and frayed beyond recognition. It further deepened the mystery of his surroundings, leaving him with more questions than answers.

His exploration was cut short when a figure stepped out from behind a pile of debris in front of him—a Raider, rough and armed, his grin wicked as he spotted Ezio.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the Raider sneered. "Fresh meat for the taking!"

As if on cue, five more Raiders emerged from the shadows, surrounding Ezio with predatory grins. Their makeshift weapons—rusted pipes, jagged knives, and crude clubs—glinted in the dim light as they circled him like wolves around their prey.

"Look at this fancy getup," one of the Raiders mocked, eyeing Ezio's attire. "Bet it'll fetch a good price!"

Ezio remained calm, his eyes scanning the group. The danger was real, but not unfamiliar. He had faced worse odds before, and though the weapons were crude, the intent behind them was clear.

"I do not seek a fight," Ezio said firmly, his voice edged with warning. "Walk away now, and no blood will be shed."

The Raiders exchanged amused glances, laughing at his words. They were more interested in what he carried—the fine robes, the hidden blades, the sword at his side.

"We ain't here for talkin'," another Raider said with a sneer. "We're here for what you've got. Hand it over, or we'll take it by force."

Ezio's expression remained resolute. "These robes are not for sale. They serve a purpose—one you wouldn't understand."

One of the Raiders, mocking Ezio's accent, stepped closer, waving his weapon threateningly. "Hear that, boys? This guy thinks he's some kind of hero! Fancy talk won't save you here, old man."

Another Raider, eager for violence, stepped forward, brandishing his jagged knife. "Enough talk. Let's carve him up and see what he's got!"

The tension in the air was palpable as the Raiders closed in, ready to strike. Ezio's eyes narrowed, his body shifting into a defensive stance, ready to fight.

The first Raider lunged at him with his knife, but Ezio moved with lightning speed. He sidestepped the attack, catching the Raider's wrist and twisting it sharply, forcing the knife to drop. With a swift motion, he slammed the Raider into a nearby wrecked car, knocking him out cold.

"Don't just stand there, get him!" the Raider Leader shouted, but the order was followed by hesitation as they witnessed their comrade fall so quickly.

Two more Raiders charged at Ezio, one with a rusty pipe, the other wielding a makeshift club. Ezio disarmed the first with practiced ease, using the pipe to block the other's attack before delivering a powerful kick to the Raider's chest, sending him sprawling.

The remaining Raiders faltered, unsure whether to continue or retreat. Ezio wasted no time, launching himself onto the hood of a car to dodge a wide swing from another attacker. From his elevated position, he leaped down, landing a devastating blow on the next Raider.

"What the hell is this guy?!" one of the Raiders yelled in fear.

Ezio moved like a shadow, swift and deadly. Another Raider fell to his hidden blades in a blur of motion, leaving only two standing. They exchanged a fearful glance, realizing they were outmatched.

One of the remaining Raiders swung wildly at Ezio, but the Assassin effortlessly dodged the attack. He grabbed the Raider's arm, disarmed him, and delivered a crushing blow that left the Raider unconscious on the ground.

The final Raider, now the last one standing, dropped his weapon in fear and stumbled backward, falling to his knees.

"Please!" the Raider begged. "I-I'll talk! Just don't kill me!"

Ezio stood over the Raider, his hidden blade pressed against the man's neck, cold fury in his eyes.

"Your friends made a mistake by attacking me," Ezio said, his voice low and dangerous. "Now, you'll answer my questions if you want to live."

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The Raider nodded frantically. "I'll talk, I'll talk! This place... it's not my world, man. We're Raiders. We take what we want, do what we want. It's survival, no rules, no law. We steal, kill... whatever it takes."

Ezio's disgust was evident as he listened. "You prey on the weak, kill without purpose. You're no better than animals."

The Raider swallowed hard, realizing his mistake. The Assassin's judgment had been passed, and Ezio's cold glare held no mercy.

Ezio Auditore presses the blade closer to the raider's throat, his voice demanding answers. "You said this isn't your world. If that's true, then how did you get here?"

The raider, his fear evident, trembles as he tries to explain. "We didn't come here on our own, if that's what you're asking. We were taken—forcefully. Me and my buddies, we were just minding our own business when this... this robot shows up, pulls us through some kind of portal. Next thing we know, we're here."

Ezio's eyes narrow at the mention of a robot, his mind racing. He steps closer, urgency seeping into his tone. "This robot—did it have a name? Did it say anything about why you were brought here?"

The raider shakes his head, his voice trembling. "No name, nothing. Just took us and dumped us here. We've been fighting to survive ever since."

Ezio's jaw tightens, frustration mingling with fear as he shifts his questioning to something far more personal. "My family—have you seen them? Two women, a mother and a daughter, both Italian. Tell me where they are."

The raider's confusion is genuine, his eyes pleading. "I don't know who you're talking about. I swear, I haven't seen anyone like that."

Ezio's frustration boils over, his hidden blade pressing dangerously close to the raider's throat. His voice trembles with emotion. "I will do whatever it takes to find them. If you're lying to me—"

Before he can finish, a deep rumbling sound echoes through the desolate landscape. The ground vibrates beneath their feet, followed by the unmistakable sound of monstrous screams and running footsteps. Ezio's head snaps up, his senses heightened as the noise grows louder.

"What is that?" Ezio demands, his tone sharp.

The raider, his eyes wide with terror, barely hears Ezio as he fixates on the terrifying sounds approaching. His body begins to tremble uncontrollably, his voice reduced to a whisper. "Oh God... oh no..."

Ezio grabs the raider by the collar, shaking him slightly in an attempt to break through his fear. "What is it? Tell me what those sounds are!"

The raider's voice quivers as he answers. "Ghouls... they're ghouls!"

Ezio's brow furrows in confusion. "Ghouls? What are ghouls?"

But the raider is too terrified to explain further, his eyes locked on the direction of the approaching screams. His fear is palpable as he pleads with Ezio, desperate to escape. "Let me go, man! Please, just let me go! They're coming!"

The monstrous screams grow louder, and Ezio instinctively releases the raider, turning his attention to the source of the noise. What emerges from the distance is beyond anything Ezio has ever seen before—a massive horde of twisted, horrifying creatures infected with the Prototype virus. Their deformed bodies, enhanced by the virus, move with terrifying speed, their guttural screams echoing across the desolate landscape.

Ezio's eyes widen in shock and disbelief. "Che diavolo...!" he curses in Italian. "What in hell is this?"

The infected creatures surge toward them with relentless ferocity. Despite his disgust for the raider, Ezio's humanity compels him to act. He pulls the raider to his feet. "Get up! Run! Now!"

The raider, shaking with fear, stumbles alongside Ezio as they begin to run. The ground trembles beneath them as the infected close in, moving unnervingly fast. The raider's panic soon overtakes him, and he begins to plead desperately. "Please! Don't leave me! Help me!"

Ezio glances back, but the horde is too close. With horror, he watches as the infected creatures overtake the raider, dragging him down amidst his screams. Realizing there's nothing more he can do, Ezio turns and sprints across the landscape, his mind racing to find an escape from this nightmare.

Ezio's years of training kick in. He spots a cluster of crumbling structures in the distance and sprints toward them. Using his parkour skills, he vaults over obstacles and climbs to higher ground, the infected creatures snapping at his heels. Perched atop a crumbling wall, he takes a moment to catch his breath, his heart pounding in his chest.

Below, the horde of infected continues to growl and snarl, their grotesque forms pacing beneath him. Ezio surveys the scene with a mixture of horror and disbelief. "What madness is this?" he mutters to himself. "Am I in hell, or has the world itself turned against mankind?"

As he scans the area for an escape, his eyes catch on something alarming—the infected creatures are beginning to climb. Ezio's heart skips a beat as he realizes they won't stop. Desperate for a way out, he spots a nearby window within reach. Without hesitation, he draws his pistol and takes aim. The sound of the shot echoes across the desolate landscape as the glass shatters, providing him with a narrow escape route.

Ezio swiftly climbed through the shattered window, landing with a soft thud inside what seemed to be an abandoned, dimly lit building. The stale air reeked of decay, and the silence was heavy, but before he could gather his bearings, the sound of rapid footsteps broke the stillness. He spun around, eyes narrowing as he saw five infected creatures charging at him, their grotesque faces contorted with hunger and rage.

"Ancora di più? Che diavolo sono queste cose?" Ezio muttered in disbelief. (Even more of them? What the devil are these things?)

With no time to think, Ezio immediately dropped into a combat stance, his sword flashing in the faint light. As the first infected lunged at him, he sidestepped and brought his blade down in a clean, lethal arc. Another came swinging at him with wild, uncontrolled movements, but Ezio ducked, driving his hidden blade into its neck with expert precision.

Three more rushed him, snarling and flailing. Ezio moved like a shadow, parrying one attack and then delivering a fatal blow to another with fluid grace. His years of training as an Assassin were evident in every calculated strike, his movements a deadly dance. Within moments, all five infected lay lifeless at his feet, but there was no time to relish the victory.

From the hallway, guttural growls and the echo of more footsteps filled the air.

"Maledizione!" Ezio cursed under his breath. (Damn it!)

Realizing he was outnumbered, Ezio decided it would be unwise to face these creatures head-on. He quickly dashed down the nearest corridor, his mind racing for a way to survive this nightmarish world. After ducking into a side room, Ezio pressed himself into the shadows, his breathing heavy but controlled as he evaded the oncoming horde.

For a brief moment, the quiet returned. It seemed the danger had passed. Confident in his abilities, Ezio began to move toward the exit, but before he could react, a zombie lurched out of the shadows, lunging at him with terrifying speed.

"Stai lontano da me!" Ezio shouted, struggling against the creature's strength. (Get off of me!)

The zombie's jaws snapped dangerously close to Ezio's neck, its rancid breath filling the air between them. Ezio fought to push it away, but its grip was unnervingly strong. Just as the creature seemed about to overpower him, a sharp crack echoed through the room. A bright, focused beam of energy struck the zombie in the head, disintegrating it on the spot.

Breathing heavily, Ezio looked up, his eyes locking onto a mysterious figure standing in the doorway. A long robe draped their form, and a hood was pulled low over their face, concealing their features. In their hands, a Laser Rifle still smoked from the shot.

"Are you hurt? Can you move?" the figure asked, their voice hurried and concerned.

Ezio, still catching his breath, quickly got to his feet, his sharp gaze taking in the stranger's attire. The robe and hood were strikingly familiar—reminiscent of the garb worn by the Brotherhood.

"Your garb... it speaks of the Brotherhood. Are you one of us?" Ezio asked, his voice edged with curiosity.

The figure glanced around, clearly aware that the danger was far from over. "There's no time for questions. We need to move—more of those things will come, and they'll try to corner us."

Ezio, recognizing the urgency in their tone, nodded. His curiosity about the stranger could wait. For now, survival was the priority.

"Lead the way," Ezio said, gesturing toward the exit.

Without another word, the figure turned and sprinted through the crumbling corridors, with Ezio following closely behind. The sounds of distant groans and shuffling feet echoed through the darkened building as they ran, the air thick with the sense of impending danger. Together, they moved swiftly, navigating the maze of hallways, knowing that whatever was ahead might be even more perilous than what they had left behind.