Another three days passed as we searched tirelessly for clues or signs of Midori and Izumi.

My mind was consumed with worry and fear, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something terrible had happened to them. The aerial drones scoured the city while Talia and I combed through every street, alleyway, and building we could find.

Despite our best efforts on this side of the portal, we failed to find any leads on Izumi. Each passing day felt like a lifetime, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that time was running out.

Just as I was about to call it a day, my phone buzzed with a text from Natasha.

"Ikki... how are you holding up?"

I looked down at my phone, frowning as I read Natasha's text. I was thankful that she made it through the Chaos Event alright, but for whatever reason, she didn't want to see me in person. I sighed, typing out a response.

"Hey, I'm okay. Just trying to stay focused on finding Izumi and Midori."

There was a long pause before Natasha responded. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help more, but I'm not sure what else I can do."

From what she told me, Natasha had wanted to be alone after the attack. However, she was still helping out and keeping her eye out for any information that could help us. I appreciated her efforts, but I couldn't help feeling a sense of unease. It was like a tension had cropped up out of nowhere between us, and I couldn't put my finger on why.

"I appreciate it, Natasha," I texted back, trying to keep my tone neutral and unthreatening. "Is there anything else you've found out that could be helpful?"

There was another pause before she replied.

"I'll let you know if I find anything else. Just stay safe for me, okay?"

I couldn't help but feel touched by her concern, even though I couldn't quite understand why she was distancing herself from me. I typed out a quick thanks before slipping my phone back into my pocket.

Despite the sudden tension between us, I knew that I had to put my focus back on the task at hand. Midori and Izumi were still out there somewhere, and we had to find them before it was too late.

I turned to the AI orb floating next to me, "Raiju, do you think it'd be possible for you to keep an eye out here while I go back to Terra tomorrow?"

Raiju beeped in response as it processed my request. "It's possible, Ikazuchi. My sensors and monitoring capabilities extend far beyond the physical plane. I can keep an eye out for any unusual activity or anomalies that may be related to Midori or Izumi's disappearance. However, I must warn you this will be a severe drain on energy resources."

"I understand," I said with a nod. "We need all the help we can get, and if there's a chance that you can pick up on any leads, we have to take it."

With a plan in place, I headed back to our temporary base to get some rest before heading back to Terra. My mind was still racing with thoughts of Midori and Izumi, but I tried to push those intrusive thoughts aside.

Spencer greeted me as I entered the musty apartment, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Hey... Ikki. Any luck today?"

I shook my head, my heart sinking. "No, nothing. But we're not giving up yet. Raiju is going to keep an eye out for any unusual activity here while we head back to Terra tomorrow."

Spencer nodded, but his expression remained bleak. We could all tell that things were looking worse than ever before, and the chances of finding Midori and Izumi were slim. My gaze landed briefly on his stump of an arm before flicking back up to his face.

"It's nothing," Spencer sighed, forcing a small smile. "My dad's probably gonna hook me up with a cybernetic replacement soon enough. I just hate feeling so helpless, ya know? I was the first one to get taken out, and I woke up just to find out everything went to shit."

I could feel his frustration and anger bubbling beneath the surface, and I couldn't blame him. The Chaos Event had taken so much from us, and it seemed like it would never end.

"You're not helpless, Spencer," I said firmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've been a huge help to us. Don't forget that."

Spencer's expression softened, and he nodded. "Thanks, Ikki. I just wish there was more I could do."

"We all do," Talia said, entering the room with a tray of homecooked food. "But for now, let's focus on getting some rest. We'll need all the energy we can get for tomorrow."

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My father had opened our apartment here up to Spencer and Talia, and we had made it our temporary base while we searched for Midori and Izumi. It wasn't the most comfortable or luxurious place, but it was functional and served its purpose.

We sat around the small table, eating our food in silence. The tension in the room was thick, weighed down by the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

As I finished my food, I stood up and stretched. "I'm going to try and get some sleep. See you guys in the morning."

"Night, Ikki," Talia said, smiling softly at me.

Spencer gave me a slight nod before returning to his food. I frowned as I watched him struggle with his left hand for a second before I headed into the small bedroom, stripping down to my boxers and climbing into bed. Despite my exhaustion, sleep was slow to come. My mind was buzzing, replaying the moment Izumi had fallen from the bridge over and over again.

The memory haunted me, and I couldn't shake off the guilt eating away at me. Maybe if I had been faster, stronger, I could have caught her before she fell. Maybe if I had been more careful, I could have prevented this from happening.

My heart twisted with guilt and despair, knowing it was my fault for not being there to protect her. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to push away the overwhelming emotions. The last thing I remembered before everything went black was a crash, followed by overwhelming despair and darkness.

But I couldn't let it consume me. Not now, when Midori and Izumi were still out there somewhere. I had to stay strong, keep searching, and never give up hope.

I let my thoughts wander to Natasha — something didn't feel right, and I couldn't shake off the unease that had settled in my gut. The terrifying Chaos Event had affected us all, but Natasha seemed different.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something had changed between us. I made a mental note to talk to her when I had the chance — maybe she needed someone to talk to about what she had gone through. Natasha always struck me as someone who dealt with stress by shelling up and hiding her emotions, and I couldn't help but worry about her.

I took a deep breath and let my mind drift, allowing myself to fall into a restless sleep.

...

The next day, Talia, Spencer, and I stood at the entrance to the portal terminal, ready to make our way back to Terra. My father was there to see us off, his expression grim.

"Ikki, Talia, Spencer," he said, his voice low. "I know you're all doing everything you can to find Midori and Izumi. Just remember to stay alert and be careful."

"We will, Dad," I said, my voice steady. "Thank you for everything."

He nodded, his eyes lingering on us for a moment longer before turning and walking away. I could tell he was worried about me, but I couldn't blame him after what happened to Izumi.

Talia nodded in agreement, her eyes flicking over to Spencer, who gave a solemn nod. My father's gaze settled on each of us before he stepped back, allowing us to step through the terminal gates.

The air around us shifted, and a strange warmth filled my body as we crossed the threshold yet again. I felt a sudden rush of energy, like electricity running through my veins. The sensation was overwhelming but somehow comforting at the same time.

The Terran side of the terminal was visibly more affluent, modern, and advanced than the broken city we had just left. The floors were made of polished marble, and the lighting was bright and artificial, casting a sterile glow on everything.

I looked around, taking in my surroundings as we walked through the terminal. People bustled around us, going about their business with a sense of purpose that made me feel a sense of dissociation.

Walking through the terminal felt so different without Midori, and I looked up at Talia, who seemed to sense my thoughts. Her expression was somber but determined, yet I knew she felt the same way.

Suddenly, a looming sense of dread overtook me, and I felt a disturbance in the air. I looked around, trying to figure out what was causing it, but all I saw were people going about their daily lives. Talia and Spencer reacted immediately, their eyes scanning the area for whatever had caused me to stop.

I felt a chill running down my spine as I stared around, trying to make sense of what I was feeling. Everything seemed normal, yet something felt off — like a presence looming just beyond my reach.

"Something's not right," I murmured, my eyes searching the crowd.

"Come on, let's go," Talia said, her voice strained as if she had sensed something was off as well. She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the strange feeling, pushing us toward the exit.

Just then, a loud crash echoed through the terminal as the ground shook and people scrambled in panic.

"The portal!" Spencer shouted, staring up at the glass roof above us. The massive portal back to Earth was flickering, its energy spiraling out of control.

We shared a look and sprinted away from the portal towards the terminal exit, following the panicked crowd as we tried to reach safety. As we reached the exit, the glass doors rattled and shook with growing intensity, and the ground rumbled beneath our feet.

"OH FUCK! What the hell is going on?" Spencer yelled over the noise, his eyes wild with fear.

"I don't know," Talia said, her voice barely audible. "But we need to get out of here. Now."

"Come on!" I shouted to Talia and Spencer, abandoning our luggage and grabbing their hands as I pointed frantically. We ran through the busy streets of Shoreline City, people gawking at the terminal in confusion.

At the very least, we had to get a building between us and the terminal. Something wasn't right, and if an explosion, earthquake, or something happened, we were sitting ducks to shrapnel and debris.

We dodged through the throngs of people, ignoring the cries and screams of those around us as the ground shook beneath our feet.

We reached an alleyway, our clothes whipping around us in the strong wind. I could smell the tang of ozone in the air and knew that something was about to happen. We huddled together in an alleyway, peering back over to the terminal in horror.

Suddenly, a bright purple light engulfed the terminal, blinding us momentarily. The ground shook violently, causing us to cover our heads and huddle between the buildings. Purple and green light streaks illuminated the sky, casting eerie shadows on the buildings around us. I could feel the heat on my skin and hear the deafening roar in my ears as the portal imploded.

As the dust settled, I looked up to see the once bustling terminal reduced to rubble. The glass roof shattered into a million pieces, and the marble floors were now cracked and broken. The portal was gone, leaving the structural integrity of the terminal in ruins.

I turned to Talia and Spencer, their expressions mirroring my own. We were all in shock, our bodies shaking with the aftershocks of the explosion.

"Is everyone okay?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"I'm fine," Talia said, her voice strained.

"I'm good," Spencer said, his eyes wide with shock.

We all just stood there, trying to process the sight before us. The terminal was destroyed, the portal gone.

What the hell had just happened?