Dimension returns to the Great Void in 359 pulses
Zaria slowed her pace, dragging in a deep, shuddering breath as she leaned against the rough cavern wall. The weight of the fight with the Scrappings had left her body hollow, her limbs heavy and aching. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to steady herself, each inhale filling her lungs with the damp, metallic tang of the air. The faint blue lights marking her path blinked steadily in the distance, their glow her only anchor in the labyrinthine darkness.
Her legs throbbed with every step, her muscles tight and unyielding after all the time she spent wandering. A low growl from her stomach cut through the silence, sharp and insistent. She hugged herself against the persistent chill, her thin lab coat doing little to ward off the dampness seeping into her bones. Even her breath felt cold as it left her lips in small, visible puffs. The only solace was in her Worn Out Boots, their strange properties keeping her feet oddly refreshed. It was such a stark contrast to the rest of her battered body that it almost felt like an insult.
Anger flickered to life inside her, hot and quick. They had stolen her from her ship, from her mission, thrusting her into this twisted game without warning or preparation. The absurdity of it all churned in her chest. She clenched her fists, her steps growing sharper, heavier, as if her frustration could be stamped into the ground.
Then the walls of the passage began to widen, the suffocating darkness thinning until it gave way to a faint, golden light. Zaria slowed, the glow ahead drawing her toward an opening. She hesitated at the threshold, her instincts sharpened by the dangers she’d already faced. This wasn’t a friendly stroll on a neatly paved corridor in a space station—this world had proven that carelessness could cost her dearly.
She craned her neck, cautiously peeking out into the light. The faint glow of the stone and biomechanical walls gave way to a sudden flood of brightness. Squinting, she stepped forward, her boots crunching against gravel as the tunnel spat her out into the open. For a moment, the sudden expanse stunned her.
The cavern opened into a vast valley, cradled by towering mountain ranges capped with pristine snow that shimmered under the sun. A thin, meandering path of light led down to a small village nestled against the base of the peaks. The air felt impossibly fresh, crisp and cool, carrying the subtle scent of pine and earth. She paused, turning her face up toward the sky, and let the sun’s warmth wash over her skin.
The sunlight was real, not the artificial glow of a dome or the filtered rays on a space station. It had a weight to it, a presence that settled in her bones. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting herself feel it, a strange mix of comfort and homesickness tugging at her chest.
Opening her eyes, she scanned the village below. Small houses with sloped roofs dotted the landscape, smoke curling from chimneys in lazy spirals. It was surreal, almost idyllic, and entirely unlike the hostile cavern she had just escaped. The incongruity of it all twisted her stomach with unease.
Zaria set her jaw and adjusted her coat, rolling her shoulders as though shrugging off the ache still clinging to her. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it. For now, the sun was a gift, the village a beacon—and she wasn’t going to waste either.
Zaria stilled, her eyes fluttering closed as the soft breeze carried the faint, earthy scent of pine to her nose. The warmth of the sun on her skin was a stark contrast to the cold, damp caverns she had just left behind. If not for the chaos that had brought her here, she could almost imagine enjoying this place. The distant snowcapped mountains framed the tiny village below like a scene from a serene painting, the peaks shimmering in the golden light.
For a brief moment, she allowed herself to linger, soaking in the peace. Her shoulders, tense from the constant stress, began to loosen. The fresh air filled her lungs, a welcome change from the stale, recycled atmosphere she had known all her life aboard the USS Horizon Seeker. But reality was a cruel companion, and she knew better than to fully let her guard down. “It’s too quiet,” she muttered under her breath. She opened one eye, scanning her surroundings. “Something’s definitely going to pop up and try to kill me.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
With a reluctant sigh, she tore herself from the view, her survival instincts kicking in. Her eyes darted around the valley, every rustle of leaves and shift of shadows putting her on edge. If another swarm of junk monsters ambushes me, I’m throwing in the towel, she thought wryly, tightening her fists.
The path sloped gently downward, leading her toward the village. From a distance, the structures appeared quaint, almost rustic, as if time had forgotten this corner of the galaxy. But as she approached, the illusion shattered. The buildings gleamed with a metallic sheen, their walls alive with pulsing technomantic circuitry. Thin, glowing veins of light snaked across their surfaces, shifting and rippling in reaction to her movements. The fusion of ancient and futuristic design was mesmerizing, and for a fleeting second, Zaria felt like she had stepped into a dream.
Her mind flickered to a memory—a field trip to a simulated Swiss village during her student years. The recreation had been immaculate, down to the faint scent of wildflowers and the distant hum of alpine wildlife. It was a far cry from the reality of Earth’s now-privatized wonders. Only the wealthiest citizens of the Sol System could afford a trip back to Earth, let alone a luxury retreat in the fabled Alps. For someone like her, such places existed only in history vids and holograms.
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Zaria refocused on the village. Above each doorway, flickering holographic signs hung in alien script, their glowing letters shifting as she stared. The symbols reassembled themselves into readable text, as though the village had been waiting for her arrival.
“Boca’s Tavern—Best Drinks in Town!” one sign proclaimed, its letters hovering playfully above a sleek, curved entryway. “Dogla Training Studio—Prepare for the Nexus Arena or Your Money Back!” declared another. She chuckled at the disclaimer beneath it, written in smaller text: Money-back guarantee only available to the original TechNav.
Zaria smirked, her exhaustion momentarily giving way to amusement. “Nice to know customer satisfaction isn’t universal,” she muttered.
As she walked further into the village, more signs materialized: “TechNav Enhancements for the Opposite Gender!” one proclaimed in bold, flashing letters, followed by another advertising, “Weapons to Slay Anything with a Pulse!”
She shuddered involuntarily as the memory of the Scrappings surged back. “Guess I already found something that doesn’t have a pulse,” she muttered, her smirk fading into a grimace. Her hand drifted to the seam of her lab coat, gripping it tightly as she scanned the strange, vibrant village. Whatever this place was, it wasn’t here to make her feel at home.
The bustling energy of the village pressed in around Zaria as she made her way through the streets. Beings of every shape and size hurried past her, clutching baskets brimming with goods or lugging bundles of supplies. Most paid her no mind, offering only a brief nod or a flicker of acknowledgment before disappearing into the various shops and buildings.
Her gaze snagged on one being in particular—a creature with two heads perched atop a shared torso, each head swiveling independently as it moved with a purposeful stride. The blue text hovering above it caught her attention:
Ragnor NPC
Employee of Dogla Training Studio
Bernie NPC
Employee of Boca’s Tavern
Her brow furrowed as her mind raced with questions. How did they manage their work schedules? Did they alternate shifts, with one working days and the other nights? Or did they have overlapping responsibilities? And what about sleep? Did both heads need rest, or could one nap while the other worked? The logistics were mind-bending.
Her musings took a sharper turn. What if one head had a romantic partner who didn’t get along with the other? Did they ever fight over relationships, or worse, share them? The absurdity of it all spiraled through her thoughts, and she shook her head, muttering, “I need to stop before I hurt myself.”
As she approached the center of the plaza, the air shimmered with light. A massive holographic sign hovered above the square, its bold hieroglyphic text rearranging itself as she stared.
Welcome, TechNavs. You have reached Veilhaven, the Game Master’s Guild. Choose your Game Master.