The glow pulsed like a dying star, faint but stubborn, cutting through the obsidian haze. Zane's boots crunched against the ground, each step echoing in the unnatural silence. His HUD flickered, throwing jagged lines across his visor. Energy output critical. Disc stability at 58%. The warning burned red, but he ignored it. That voice—rough, familiar, impossible—still lingered in his ears. "Kid, you're a long way from home."
No kidding, Zane thought, his heart hammering. He scanned the horizon, where shadows shifted like ink in water. The air was sharp, slicing his lungs with every breath. This wasn't Earth. Not even close.
The disc on his chest buzzed, its blue light stuttering. He pressed a gloved hand against it, willing it to hold together. Don't fail me now. Shuri's tech was his lifeline, but it was his own tweaks—reckless, untested—that had gotten him this far. Or doomed him.
"Shuri, you there?" he whispered into his comms. Static answered, a low hiss that felt like the universe laughing. He was alone. Except for that voice. Who the hell was that?
The glow flickered again, closer now. Zane moved toward it, his thrusters humming softly to keep his steps light. The ground was smooth, almost liquid underfoot, reflecting stars that didn't match any constellation he knew. His HUD pinged: Anomalous energy signature detected. Proximity: 200 meters. Whatever it was, it wasn't just a light. It was something.
A low growl rumbled behind him. Zane spun, repulsors charging. Another creature—bigger than the last, its limbs twisted like roots, eyes blazing green—crouched in the dark. It didn't charge. It watched. Like it was thinking.
"Not in the mood for round two," Zane muttered, raising his hands. The creature tilted its head, its jagged maw twitching. Then it spoke, its voice a rasp that made his skin crawl. "You… carry… his spark."
Zane froze. His? "What do you know about him?" he demanded, his voice sharper than he meant. The creature didn't answer. It lunged.
Zane fired, the repulsor blast lighting up the dark. The creature twisted midair, dodging with unnatural speed. It landed, claws scraping, and charged again. Zane dove, rolling across the slick ground. His suit groaned, servos whining. The disc flared, hot against his chest, and his HUD screamed: Stability at 50%.
Come on, stay with me. He scrambled up, firing again. This time, the blast clipped the creature's shoulder, sending it skidding. It snarled but didn't attack. Instead, it melted into the shadows, its eyes lingering like embers.
Zane's breath hitched. What the hell are these things? He didn't wait for an answer. The glow was closer now, maybe a hundred meters. He ran, his thrusters boosting each stride. The disc pulsed erratically, and that voice crackled through his comms again.
"Keep moving, kid. You're not safe yet."
Zane's stomach twisted. "Who are you?" he shouted, his voice echoing. No answer. Just static, then silence. He clenched his jaw, pushing forward. The glow resolved into a structure—tall, jagged, like a spire carved from the same obsidian as the ground. Its surface shimmered, reflecting light that didn't exist.
He slowed, his HUD scanning. Energy signature: non-terrestrial. Temporal fluctuations detected. The spire wasn't just a building. It was a beacon. Or a trap.
Zane's hand hovered over the disc. Turn back? No. He'd come too far. He stepped closer, and the spire hummed, a low vibration that shook his bones. The air thickened, pressing against his suit. His HUD glitched, data scrolling too fast to read. Then, a figure stepped from the spire's base.
She was tall, her armor sleek and silver, etched with glowing runes. Her eyes locked on Zane, sharp and unyielding, like she could see through him. "You shouldn't be here," she said, her voice low, precise. "That device—it's tearing the veil."
Zane's mouth went dry. "The veil? Lady, I'm just trying to—" He stopped. The disc was burning now, its light flaring white. His HUD screamed: Critical overload imminent.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "You're carrying his work. Stark's. But you're not him." She stepped closer, her armor humming with power. "Give it to me. Before it destroys you."
Zane's heart raced. He didn't know her, but something about her felt… wrong. Like she didn't belong here either. "Not happening," he said, stepping back. His repulsors powered up, glowing blue. "I don't know who you are, but I'm not handing over anything."
She tilted her head, almost amused. "Brave. Stupid. But brave." Her hand rose, runes flaring brighter. The ground trembled, and the shadows moved again—more creatures, their eyes glinting in the dark.
Zane's HUD flashed: Stability at 45%. Eject disc now. He ignored it. The woman's gaze bored into him, and the voice in his comms crackled again, urgent this time. "Run, kid. Now."
He didn't hesitate. Zane spun, thrusters roaring, and bolted toward the spire's glow. The woman shouted something, but the words were lost in the hum of the disc. The creatures howled, their claws scraping behind him. The spire loomed closer, its light blinding.
This is insane, Zane thought, his chest tight. But I'm not stopping.
The disc screamed, its light engulfing him. The spire pulsed once, twice—then exploded into white.
Zane hit the ground hard, his suit sparking. The air was different now—warmer, heavier, like a storm was coming. He groaned, pushing himself up. The spire was gone. So was the woman. But the disc was still there, its light dim but steady. Stability at 40%. He was alive. Barely.
His HUD flickered, scanning the new surroundings. Trees towered above, their leaves glowing faintly blue. The ground was soft, alive, not like the dead obsidian of before. His comms crackled, and Shuri's voice broke through, faint but clear. "Zane! You're alive! Where are you?"
"No clue," he muttered, standing. His eyes caught movement—a figure in the distance, cloaked, watching. Not the woman. Someone else. "Shuri, I think I'm in deeper than we thought."
The figure stepped closer, their face hidden. The disc pulsed, and Zane's stomach dropped. Whoever they were, they weren't here to help.
"Kid," the voice in his comms said again, softer now. "You're closer than you think. Keep going."
Zane's fists clenched. He didn't know where he was, who was talking, or what the hell was after him. But he'd jumped into this for a reason. Tony's legacy. My shot.
He took a step toward the figure, the disc humming against his chest.
Let's see what's next.