Chapter 14: Simon: The Present
Location: Rust Town: Under Town
The open-roof hover taxi buzzes erratically above the crowded streets of Rust Town, jerking and swaying as it weaves through a sea of crumbling buildings and flickering neon signs. I grip the cold metal edge of the taxi, knuckles white, taking in the chaos below.
The air is thick with the metallic bite of burning circuitry and the constant hum of machinery on its last legs. Faces below—grim, hardened, tired. Rusties, like me. Survivors. They dart between stalls and vendors, bartering scraps of tech for water, food, energy packs—whatever keeps them alive another day. The depletion epidemic has turned everything on its head. People disappearing. Homes emptied. A creeping dread that sits heavy in my gut.
Dad left to seek answers, believing they were hidden in the city. He’s been gone too long. I warned him and pleaded not to go without me, but he wouldn’t listen. Too stubborn. Too determined to follow a lead into a city notorious for its hostility toward Rusties.
I take a deep drag from my mask, exhaling a ring of smoke that hangs in the air for a moment before dissolving. It reminds me of the last dream I had of Dad, his form flickering, desperate, pleading for help. Ravenna and Claire found a way into the city to save him. I need to find my way in too. Something’s coming. Something big. My family needs me.
The taxi jerks to the side, yanking me back to the present. I glance around and spot a kid staring at my wrist, where my Morphring sits snugly. His brow furrows under his mask.
“Look, Mama, a Tech wizard,” he says, pointing. His mother shoots me a sharp look and scoffs.
“Come here, boy. Never mind him,” she calls, pulling him away.
"You heathens are the cause of the destruction that befalls us," she mutters, barely audible.
I can feel the shift around me. People whispering, muttering, eyes narrowing. Blaming us wizards for the depletion—saying we tamper with energies without the Temple’s blessing.
I ignore the murmurs around me. People like me—who wield the Nexus openly with Flexi-armor—are always the talk of the town. Good or bad. I keep my eyes ahead, focusing on the distant Transit portal coming into view—the only way in or out of Rust Town without risking depletion. The guards don’t ask questions if you’ve got an invite. I know I don’t. I failed the test at the Waning Festival.
The hover taxi dips lower, weaving through a maze of rusted walkways and sagging rooftops. Then I see it looming ahead—the infamous Transit portal. A tall, unsupported mirror with its surface rippling like water, charged by the energy around it. A crowd gathers near the mirror—Rusties, Division members, people I don’t recognize. Tension crackles like static electricity.
A low hum builds, and a dark vortex slowly forms around the mirror. The crowd gasps, eyes wide in awe. My grip tightens on the taxi’s edge as I remember my last encounter with this terrifying technology—flashes of following Dad through the glistening caves, seeing him leap into a portal on the ground. I tried to follow, only to be spat out half-depleted. Waking up in Undertown felt like a miracle. Even now, the memory knots my stomach. But I can’t turn back. Not today.
The taxi shakes violently, affected by the energy emitted by the portal. It’s scrapes against buildings, and passengers scramble for balance. I stay seated, unmoved.
Then I see her. A girl on the opposite side of the taxi, her face hidden by a mask, her skin pale as death. She sits calmly amidst the chaos, and for a second, our eyes lock. There’s something off about her—something that doesn’t belong. I catch a glimpse of a bracelet on her wrist. My heart skips a beat. Just like Ravenna’s—intricate carvings, pulsing with faint, dark light.
I frown. There’s something about her that feels familiar—the way she carries herself as if she knows more than she’s letting on. Who is she? And why does she seem so... familiar?
The taxi lands with a jarring thud. The doors whir open, and people spill out, shoving past one another. I step down, my eyes fixed on the vortex as it slowly powers down. Then I hear her voice, low and unexpectedly husky.
“Damn, we don’t even get a fully functional portal,” she mutters, brushing past me and vanishing into the crowd before I can reply. I push forward after her, curiosity gnawing at me.
Tension builds. Division members bark orders, their red and black uniforms sharp against the dim light, while the crowd ripples and shifts like a storm gathering strength. I can feel it—a crackle in the air that signals conflict. Rusties aren’t known for their patience.
The announcement blares again, louder this time, echoing from speakers along the border. “All flexi-armor is now forbidden. Tampering with unknown technologies is a threat to public safety. All unapproved tech must be surrendered immediately. Knowledge must be learned as allowed by the Temple.”
A low growl builds from the crowd. Eyes narrow, shoulders square, and I can see the tension turning to defiance. The Division members push forward, shoving people back, and I feel it—a shift, like the first drop before a storm. This is about to go bad—fast.
And then it does. A shout. A gunshot. All hell breaks loose. Plasma shots slice through the air, blinding flashes of blue-white. The crowd erupts, Rusties in Flexi-armor clashing with Division members, their weapons clanging against reinforced plates. The noise is a roar, my adrenaline spikes, and my MorphRing vibrates subtly on my wrist, ready to deploy.
I need to think. Focus. How do I get to the portal through this chaos? My eyes lock onto the deactivated mirror; its surface ripples faster now, mirroring the frenzy around it. If I can get there, I can figure out the rest.
I take a deep breath, channeling energy to my legs to boost my speed. Just as I’m about to launch forward, a cry for help cuts through the noise. I turn and spot a child crouched beside a building, his face buried between his knees, shaking in fear.
A plasma shot slams into the building above him, and it starts to crumble. Metal crashes down, miraculously missing him by inches.
"My child!" I hear the mother cry out a few feet away. The same woman from the taxi. A large piece of metal above the boy comes loose, teetering dangerously. If it falls, he's done for.
No time to think. I dart toward the boy, flexi-armor kicking in to boost my speed. I reach him just as the metal comes crashing down. I throw myself over him, my armor absorbing the impact. The weight slams into my back, sending a jolt through me, but I hold my ground.
The boy trembles beneath me, and I hear him whisper,
"Thank you." I nod, my breath ragged.
"Stay low," I mutter, ready for the next move. The portal is still my target, but I need to get this kid to safety first.
I spot the mother, eyes wide with fear and relief as she sees me hoist the boy over my shoulder and rush toward her. She grabs the boy from me, hugging him close, tears streaming down her face.
“You need to leave. Now,” I say urgently, glancing around. I see a Division member eyeing my fully armored form, and I know I need to move.
“There’s a tunnel behind those trees,” I point in the opposite direction of the portal. “It leads back to Undertown.”
The woman nods tearfully and hurries away, clutching her son tightly.
With my Flexi-armor activated, I weave through the smoke and chaos, dodging plasma blasts and arrows. A Division officer steps in front of me, aiming his gun, but I grab the barrel, bend it with my enhanced strength, and shove him back hard. He crashes into a stall, and I make a break for it.
I spot the swirling portal, newly formed, with fresh Division officers pouring out. I duck behind a hover taxi, waiting for an opening, and when I see it, I sprint forward.
I might make it through or get spat out again. I survived before. I’ll survive again. I dodge and leap over fallen fighters, building momentum.
As I near the vortex, a cold breeze wraps around my face. The dark pull of the realm grows stronger, and I brace myself for the jump—but something yanks me back. I hit the ground hard, dragged back with brutal force.
I scramble up, ready to fight, only to find the pale girl standing before me. A whip made of shadows unfurls from her hand. She flicks her wrist, and the whip dissipates like smoke, merging with her mask in a way that mimics Flexi-armor.
"You never learn, shrub-for-brains," she rasps, voice mocking beneath the mask. Her eyes flash with a challenge, her dark hair wild around her face. There’s something familiar in her voice, the way she sneers.
“You should know better than to hijack a portal. I might not be inclined to save your ass this time.”
Does she know me? Curiosity begins to stir, but I don’t have time to dwell on it. Rubbing my head, frustration boiling over, I cut straight to the point. "Enough games. I need a way into Leight City."
Her eyes brighten behind the mask, and I can almost see a smirk forming. "Looks like our goals align."
She steps closer, eyes locking with mine. "I can hack the portal, but I need a tech wizard’s help." I nod, pretending I understand.
I’m used to this—Ravenna spouting off tech stuff while I just roll with it as long as it works.
The girl moves to a fallen officer, her movements sharp, focused. Before I can ask what she’s doing, she pulls out a small device—a set of powerful suction cups connected by a thin tube—and clamps it around the officer’s right eye. There’s a sickening pop, and the eye comes free with a wet, fleshy sound.
“What the hell?” I choke out. I’ve seen rough things in Rust Town, but this is a new level.
“Why’d you do that?”
She barely glances at me. “I need his omni-lens,” she says coolly.
“Without it, we can’t access the portal device.” She rummages through his uniform and pulls out a small reflective disc. Efficient. Brutal. She’s hacking her way in. Smart, but brutal.
She looks around, checking for prying eyes, then turns to me. “We need somewhere quiet to work. Know a shortcut The Caves, Rustie?”
My heart skips. The Caves—the last place I saw Dad, the place where I nearly died. Shadow Dweller territory. Outliers who renounce Nexalism and worship the Shadow entity. And she wants to go there.
I swallow, nodding slowly as I watch the chaos spread into Rust Midtown. "Yeah. I know the way”
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We weave beneath the chaos, our boots clanging on the cold, damp floors of the underground tunnels. With the unprecedented ban on flexi metal and the stolen tech and eye, the underground is the fastest and safest way—at least for now. The air is thick with the putrid smell of blood, sewage, and rusted metal. My mask filters out some of it, but not enough. I feel a gag rising in my throat and force it back down.
Ahead, a large rock blocks the path, plugging a gaping hole at the end of the tunnel like someone tried to seal off an escape route. I stop, and the girl’s footsteps slow behind me. The way the rock is positioned—it’s too deliberate. Someone wanted to keep whatever’s on the other side out. Or maybe keep something in. But who or why?
I glance back at her. Her dark eyes are unreadable behind her mask, her lips curved into that annoying, knowing smile. I’m not sure if I should trust her, but I don’t have the luxury of second-guessing. Not down here.
“Why’re you helping me?” I ask, keeping my voice low. I have to know what she gains from getting me into the city.
She doesn’t answer right away, her gaze locking onto mine. Finally, she speaks, her voice a low murmur that barely reaches me over the hum of the tunnels. “Just like you, I’m looking for someone.”
I narrow my eyes. “How do you know I’m looking for someone?”
Her smirk widens like she’s enjoying a private joke. “Aren’t we all? No one risks it all to reach the City of Lights unless they’re searching for someone... or something.”
She nods her head toward the rock “You know what to do.”
I’m not convinced. Her answer is vague, slippery. But I don’t have time for games. My jaw tightens as I take a deep breath, my hands curling into fists. My goal is clear: move the rock.
I step forward and dig my fingers into the rough, jagged surface of the boulder. My flexi-armor amplifies my strength, and I grit my teeth as I strain against the weight. The rock shifts, scraping against the tunnel wall with a deafening grind that echoes like a warning.
Dust and debris rain down around us, and my pulse quickens. I shove the rock aside with a grunt, revealing a dark cave tunnel stretching into blackness. A damp, musty air floods my senses, thick and suffocating. I step carefully, my Flexi-armor humming softly, scanning the shadows that twist and dance with every flicker of light filtering through the cracks in the ceiling above.
The shadows on the glistening walls play tricks on my eyes, pulling memories from the day Dad left for Leight City. The day he came to The Caves—a lesser-known border to the floating islands, a deep valley marking the beginning of the mythical shadow barrier that distorts the Nexus energy flowing into Rust Town.
I remember the Shadow Dwellers sitting on the cave floors, faces hidden under grey hoods and black masks that seemed to melt into the shadows. They stayed crouched in the darkness, mesmerized by the shadows on the glistening walls, praising the Shadow Entity for the gift of light that allows them to see the darkness. Some watched me as I walked with purpose, following the trail of raw, glistening flexi-metal embedded in the walls. I tried to ignore them, focusing on where Dad might have gone.
Then I saw him. Dad, standing in the middle of a clearing beneath an open ceiling, his eyes fixed on the blackened sun above. I hid behind a cave wall, peeking around the edge to watch. I could see his reflection in a large piece of glistening metal nearby. He took a deep breath, and my heart stopped as he did the impossible—summoning the shadows around him to form a vortex over a puddle.
Dad wasn’t a vessel—certainly not a shadow manipulator. The skill was nearly extinct, its practitioners almost unheard of. And yet, there he was, conjuring shadows as if it were second nature. With a final glance, he leaped into the vortex.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
I didn’t want to be left behind. I knew he would need me. I wanted to be his shield, just like he taught me. I ran toward the vortex, but as I jumped in, I was met with a violent gust of wind, blinding darkness, and unimaginable pain. Everything became a blur. The only thing I remember was a faint voice urging me to survive until I woke up alone on a corner street in Rust UnderTown. I shiver, rubbing my clammy hands together. My instincts tell me that going further from home will change my life forever.
“Hey, you coming?” The girl’s voice snaps me back to the present. She steps into the cave, her figure melting into the shadows like she belongs there. I hesitate, feeling the cold air wash over me like a warning, but I don’t have the luxury of doubt. I take a deep breath and follow. Whatever lies ahead, I have no choice but to face it.
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We stop at a small alcove, and she turns abruptly, reaching into her cloak to produce the stolen officer’s eye.
The girl places the officer’s eye in a small, glass-like box with a sliding lid. She sweeps her hand across the wall, and a beam of light suddenly slices through the darkness, projecting a complex web of holographic symbols and data streams onto the rough stone surface.
The symbols pulse and shift, forming patterns I don’t recognize. Among the flickering images, one phrase stands out in bold, blood-red letters: Signature Extraction Initiated.
She carefully places the officer’s eye into a small, metallic box she’s pulled from her cloak. The lid slides shut with a soft click, and the device hums to life, casting a faint blue glow. I watch as lines of code scroll rapidly across the holographic screen, the words too fast and too foreign for me to decipher. All I can make out are the pulsing waves that seem to analyze and then replicate the energy signature from the officer’s eye, embedding it into the device.
Not one to struggle with what I don’t understand I ask “What are you doing?”
She doesn’t respond her face scrunched in focus.
She reaches into her cloak and retrieves a small, sleek device—something that looks like a cross between a scalpel and a syringe, its tip gleaming ominously. The girl steps closer, her shadow falling over me.
“Hold still,” she orders, her voice chillingly calm.
I barely have time to brace myself before she presses the device against the corner of my eye. There’s a sharp hiss, and then the tip burrows in, sending a shock of white-hot pain lancing through my skull. My vision explodes into spots of light, but I force myself to stay still, gripping the wall to keep from flinching away
“What the hell are you doing?” I grind out between clenched teeth, blinking back tears that blur my vision. Panic flares, twisting in my gut. “Is this really necessary?”
She doesn’t flinch, her face impassive and her focus unbroken as she continues to manipulate the device. “Yes,” she replies, her voice as cold and flat as the tunnel air.
“Without this, the portal will spit you. You might not survive this time” Her words are blunt, matter-of-fact, like she's talking about the weather and not drilling into my skull.
After a few agonizing moments, my vision clears. I blink rapidly, adjusting to the feeling of the new implant. It’s like a layer of fog has lifted from my sight, and I can see the holographic data flickering across the cave walls with a strange, crisp clarity.
I catch a glimpse of her hands tapping away at the holographic keyboard projected from a small device in her palm. She works with the kind of intensity that reminds me of Ravenna—focused, unyielding.
My eyes wander to the bracelet on her wrist. It’s identical to the one Ravenna wears—ornate carvings that seem to pulse with a faint, dark light. And then it hits me. Her words from earlier echo in my mind: “I may not be inclined to save your ass this time.” She knows about my portal jump. She knows me.
“Did you... save me?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. She pauses for a moment, fingers hovering over the controls.
“I’ve been here before,” I continue, my voice low. “I almost died jumping through a portal, but somehow I survived.”
She nods once, curtly, then resumes her work. “I was there.”
“Why did you save me?” I press, unable to keep the edge of suspicion from my tone.
She chuckles softly, but there’s no humor in it. Her eyes stay on the screen as she responds, “Should I have left you to die when you’ve got strength? Would’ve been a waste. Goes against everything I believe in.”
I scoff, shaking my head. “You believe in saving people you don’t know?”
She stops typing and turns to face me, her smile fading into something more serious. “What do you believe in, Simon?” she asks, her tone sharp and probing.
My eyes widen. “How do you know my name—”
“Answer the question,” she cuts in, her voice like a whip. There’s an intensity there that catches me off guard, like she’s challenging me to confront something I’d rather avoid.
I lean back against the wall, my fingers brushing over the MorphRings on my wrists. “I believe in what I can see, touch, control,” I say, keeping my voice steady, even as my mind races.
She chuckles again, but it’s a dry, mocking sound. “What a hypocrite. You manipulate energies you can’t see to enhance yourself. Do you believe in them?”
“The Nexus is a force of nature,” I retort. “I can feel it. I don’t have to believe—I know it exists. I control it with my will, not by the whims of some Raven or Shadow entities.”
“You’re so sure of yourself,” she says, turning back to her holographic keyboard. She taps a button, and a progress bar appears: Energy Transfer Initiated. Suddenly, my Omni-lens blinks on, startling me—it's the first time it has responded to any thought but mine.
A message flashes in my vision: Energy signature update request. Accept? I hesitate, then accept with a thought. The girl’s skills with tech remind me of Ravenna—a rare breed of Tech-wizard. Ravenna’s talent always baffled Claire and me, even if Dad seemed to take it for granted. After all, she did pop out of a portal with no memory. Maybe this girl’s skill comes from somewhere just as strange.
The girl finishes her work and finally looks at me, her mask hiding her expression but not the intensity of her gaze. “You’re blind and naive, Tech Wizard,” she says quietly, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “Have you heard of the prophecies of the new Dark Age?”
I frown, feeling a flicker of unease. “What are you talking about?”
“Six hundred years ago, Ingrid the first Black Raven became corrupt with power,” she explains, her voice steady but tinged with something—disappointment, maybe. “Her daughter tried to stop her but failed. But thanks to the knowledge she and the Vessel of the Shadow entity freely gave, much of the lost technology and power returned to the Continent, even after the dark times.”
She turns to leave and stops at the edge of the entrance, her silhouette framed by the dim light of the tunnel. “Ingrid’s daughter warned us that the Dark Ages would return. The Waning Festival, the battle at the Transit portal, these are all signs, just as she said.”
She gestures for me to follow her, and I hesitate for a second before trailing after her toward a wall with a large chunk of glistening metal, its surface smooth like a mirror. The light bounces off it, creating a fractured reflection of us. Her words stir something deep within me—somewhere between curiosity and disbelief.
“That’s a lot of faith in an old prophecy,” I say, my tone skeptical, trying to sound indifferent even as my mind races.
She shrugs, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. “Belief is weak. Knowledge is the true power. A new age is coming and you’re part of it—an observer, perhaps even a player in what’s to come. The question is, will you still cling to your doubts when the truth smacks you in the face?
Her conviction is unwavering, almost unsettling. I don’t buy into prophecies, and I definitely don’t believe in fate. But there’s a certainty in her voice that’s hard to dismiss. I glance at the glistening metal, seeing not just my own reflection but the weight of the words she’s spoken.
A chill runs down my spine, like a cold breath from the shadows lurking deeper in the cave. She seems to believe every word she says, and there’s a part of me—a small, reluctant part—that wonders if she might be right.
“Well,” I mutter, more to myself than to her, “guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
She nods, her gaze never leaving mine. “Yes, we will.”
She turns to face the mirrored surface in front of us and pulls out the device she took from the desecrated division officer.
“This portal device is linked with the energy signature now in your eye.” She holds it up to the mirror, and I blink several times, trying to clear the blurry vision that seems to come and go.
“Once you open the portal,” she continues, “it’ll think you’re the officer. In theory, you should make it through without a problem. But it won’t last long, so don’t linger in the Dark Realm too long.” Her tone is calm, but there’s a warning there that sends a shiver down my spine.
I stare at the mirror, trying to process what she’s saying. My stomach tightens with uncertainty. “And how will you make it through?” I ask.
“Simple,” she says. “After you go in, I’ll send a request to use your portal. You accept, and I follow you through.”
I frown, a realization dawning on me. My head snaps back to her. “Wait... I have to open the portal?”
She tilts her head, her smile widening. “You’re a Tech Wizard, aren’t you?”
I shrug. “Yeah, but I usually just punch things.”
She chuckles, shaking her head. “You can manipulate energy with your mind—whether it’s through your body or technology. Don’t worry, all you need is that ‘indomitable will’ you’ve been bragging about.”
Her words are a challenge, and for a moment, I’m caught between frustration and determination. She makes it sound so simple, but the truth is, I’ve never tried anything like this.
Still, there’s no backing out now. The only way forward is through.
“Just focus the Nexus on the device instead of your biceps, with your intention front and center in your mind. The device will do the rest,” she instructs, her tone almost too calm like she’s explaining a basic equation.
I take a deep breath, feeling the lingering tingling sensation from the energy transfer in my bones. I focus on the mirror, steadying myself, and try to feel the energy flow through my armor, just like she said. My mind sharpens with concentration. I might not believe in fate, but I believe in my damn stubbornness.
“Alright,” I say, my voice steady but my heart pounding.
She steps back, watching me closely. I sense a strange mix of expectation and something else—maybe hope, or maybe just amusement. I close my eyes, reaching out with my mind, feeling the pull of the Nexus, the currents of energy swirling around me like a storm beneath the surface. The weight of what I’m about to do sinks in, but I push the fear aside. For now, I just need to focus.
I activate my omni-lens and psychically connect to the portal device. My pulse quickens, and I feel the device tug at my life-force like a leech. A wave of dizziness washes over me, but I force myself to stay grounded, focusing on strengthening the connection and channeling the energy toward the mirror.
Nothing happens. Just a few sparks that flare up and flicker out like dying embers. The mirror remains unchanged, its surface smooth and impenetrable. My frustration builds with each passing second. The Shadow Dweller sits on the floor, her dark eyes watching me with a calm intensity, her lips pressed together in silence. Now she shuts up.
Sweat beads on my forehead as I try again, gritting my teeth. I feel the energy building, like a cord pulled too tight, and then it snaps. Nothing. The sparks vanish, leaving only the mocking reflection of my own face in the mirror.
Damn it. I slam my fist against the glass, and it cracks under the force. A web of lines splinters out from the point of impact. The girl doesn’t flinch, her expression remaining eerily calm.
“Stop wasting energy,” she finally says, her voice steady. “Focus on your intention. The Nexus won’t respond to brute force; it’s about precision.”
I glare at her, my breath heavy. She makes it sound so easy. Maybe it is for her, but for me... “I’m trying,” I growl. “But if you’ve got any more tips, now’s the time.”
She smiles faintly, not mocking this time, almost... understanding. “It’s not about trying, Simon. It’s about believing that you can.” She smirks and adds “Knowing you can”
Her words cut through the fog of my frustration, and for a moment, I feel something shift. I close my eyes again, this time letting go of the tension, and just... breathe. Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s not about forcing it but letting it happen.
I let out a long breath, feeling the tension slowly bleed out of my body. My pulse steadies as I focus on the faint hum of energy around me, tuning in to the Nexus like I’m adjusting a dial. I push past the frustration, the doubt—those things weigh me down. Instead, I picture the portal opening, the device responding to my will, to the intent coursing through me.
The mirror in front of me ripples, almost like water disturbed by a stone. A faint glow begins to emanate from its surface, spreading out in slow, concentric circles. I feel the energy, a tingling warmth that travels from my core out to my fingertips.
“That’s it,” the girl says, her voice softer now, almost encouraging. “Keep going.”
I focus harder, my thoughts narrowing to a single point. The Nexus energy flows through me like a current, guided by the device in my eye. I don’t force it; I just let it flow, shaping it with my intention. A dark vortex slowly forms growing wider and wider which each tug at my energy.
The space around us hums with potential, vibrating with a low, resonant tone that seems to come from the depths of the cave. The girl watches with bated breath, her dark eyes fixed on the mirror as if she can see something I can’t.
I take a step back, still maintaining the connection, the vortex spins faster, growing until it’s large enough for a person to step through.
“There you go,” she says, a rare note of satisfaction in her voice. “You’re opening it.”
I hold the connection steady, feeling the drain on my energy but pushing through it. The mirror stabilizes, forming a perfect oval spinning vortex that distorts at intervals. The cave grows colder, and I can feel the famous dark realm on the other side—a vast, echoing emptiness that calls to me, pulling at my senses.
“You first,” she says, her voice tight with anticipation.
I glance at her. For a moment, I see a flicker of uncertainty beneath her calm exterior. She wants this badly—maybe as much as I do.
I nod and step forward. I take a deep breath and cross the threshold.
The world warps around me, and I’m pulled into total darkness. The cold hits first, biting through my armor like a thousand needles. I feel weightless, like I’m drifting in a dark ocean, with no sense of up or down. There’s no ground beneath my feet, only a void stretching in every direction.
A translucent prompt appears in my vision, projected by my omni-lens: Request to Use Your Portal: Accept?
I barely have the energy to think, but I force myself to stay focused. Accept.
I turn around, searching for the girl, but all I see is endless black. It’s then that I realize something crucial: I never confirmed where in Leight City we’d be popping out. Panic tightens in my chest. I rub my hair in frustration and glance around for an exit. As if responding to my thoughts, a sliver of light pierces through the darkness, revealing a faint view of floating islands shrouded in thick fog.
Suddenly, I’m hurled into the middle of a bustling street. The bright lights dazzle me, and I stumble, struggling to get my bearings.
Towering skyscrapers made of golden glass surround me, their surfaces reflecting the neon glow of enormous holographic ads for products I’ve never seen before. Hover cars zoom by, leaving trails of light in their wake, while drones zip around with disorienting speed.
A wave of nausea hits me, and I vomit violently, much to the disgust of nearby passersby. I swear, I’m never going through a portal again.
I start walking, searching for the Shadow Dweller girl among the sea of people. I catch a few stares—probably because I’m the only one with a mask, green hair, and multicolored clothing. I’m out of place here, and they know it.
A drone suddenly screeches to a halt in front of me, and I trip, falling backward into what feels like solid air. I scramble up, startled, as the invisible wall shimmers and reveals a bustling cafe before cloaking itself again. My heart is racing, and I realize I’m in over my head.
Taking a deep breath, I activate my omni-lens and try to contact Ravenna, but the lens beeps: Connection is not possible at this time. Frustrated, I try Claire. This time, I hear her voice in my head—a small relief that cuts through the chaos.
“Simon?” she says, her voice strained and distant. Before I can reply, a prompt flashes across my vision: Unauthorized call. Connect to the NexTech energy field. A sliver of energy as payment. Accept? What is this?
Claire starts to say something but her voice is distorted.
Before she disconnects I quickly say. “I have found my way to the city, Where are you. I will come to you”.
The message flashes menacingly as Claire’s voice cuts off. Frustrated, I disconnect my lens, scanning my surroundings for any clue on where to go next. Claire and Ravenna were looking for the Shadow Manipulator to save Dad. If I can find him, maybe he will lead me to them.
I notice a holographic advert flickering on a nearby building: Do you have what it takes to join the Vessel program? Give yourself to the Temple. Serve the Black Raven.
My eyes drift toward the floating islands, their forms becoming obscured as they drift deeper into the clouds. The Temple must be there, and that’s probably where I’ll find someone as powerful as a Shadow Manipulator.
I take a step toward the islands, but an invisible wall behind me suddenly darkens, shadows pooling and swirling until a dense, chaotic vortex forms. It looks different from the one I opened—thicker, more tangled, like writhing tendrils of smoke reaching out.
A figure steps out of the vortex, his eyes hidden behind shades that shimmer between solid and intangible. As the shadows around the portal dissipate, some cling to his fitted suit like a living cloak. There’s a palpable menace around him, an energy that makes my pulse quicken. I don’t need to be told who he is. The Shadow Manipulator. Power radiates from him like heat waves, and it’s nothing like the diluted magic of Rust Town.
Why is he here? My mouth goes dry, but before I can form a single thought, his deep voice cuts through the air, smooth and mocking.
“You survived. Last time I saw you, you were almost dust,” he sneers, a twisted grin spreading across his face. Another stranger who seems to know me. It can’t be a coincidence. Right?
His smirk grows darker, his voice dripping with disdain. “You shouldn’t have come. The city isn’t kind to the uninvited.”
He takes a step toward a new portal forming beside him, shadows pooling like ink. His eyes—empty voids behind those shades—lock onto mine. “Come, your sisters are waiting for you.”
My stomach tightens. His words are both a command and a threat. My instincts scream at me to run, but if Claire and Ravenna are involved, I can’t back down now.