Hours had passed since they left the facility.
The Chrono Slice Drive moved across the landscape, its crimson energy lines illuminating the road ahead as it carried the group toward Planet Hurricane.
For several minutes...
No one spoke.
Oblivion rested his injured right arm against the window, watching the dark landscape pass by.
The pain from shattering the eye-like seal had faded, but every movement reminded him of the impact.
Across from him, Veyron sat quietly with his arms folded.
Even while seated, his posture leaned slightly forward, as though his body refused to believe it wasn't moving.
Serak occupied the rear seat.
His icy-blue eyes never stopped wandering.
Every mountain.
Every river.
Every distant light.
Everything outside the windows was unfamiliar.
Lazard remained focused on the controls.
The Chrono Slice Drive cut across highways built above valleys, crossed bridges suspended over enormous rivers, and raced through tunnels carved into mountains.
Hours passed.
Gradually...
The empty wilderness disappeared.
Towering buildings rose beyond the horizon.
The vehicle slowed.
A calm electronic voice echoed through the cabin.
"Destination reached."
"Planet Hurricane."
The gates opened.
The Chrono Slice Drive entered the capital city.
Massive towers stretched into the sky, reinforced by enormous support structures built to resist Hurricane's endless winds.
Floating transport lanes connected districts high above the streets.
Cargo platforms drifted between skyscrapers.
Below them, thousands of people filled open markets, restaurants, workshops, research institutes, and public training arenas.
The wind never stopped.
It flowed through every street like part of the city's heartbeat.
Flower gardens lined the sidewalks despite the powerful gusts, specially cultivated to flourish in Hurricane's harsh climate.
The vehicle finally came to a stop.
The doors opened.
Oblivion stepped outside.
A familiar voice called out.
"...You're back."
Several trainers from the facility where Oblivion had trained months earlier approached.
One of them looked directly at the fractures spreading across Oblivion's arm.
His expression changed.
"...We'll need to examine that."
Oblivion simply nodded.
No explanation was needed.
---
The group naturally separated.
Veyron glanced toward a massive combat complex visible across the city.
"I'll train."
Without waiting for a reply, he walked away.
His pace was ordinary.
For now.
---
Oblivion followed the trainers into Hurricane's central research institute.
White halls.
Advanced laboratories.
Observation rooms lined with equipment far beyond anything he had seen before.
Doctors and scientists gathered around him.
Not out of fear.
Out of curiosity.
He placed his injured arm inside a scanning device.
The machine activated.
One screen displayed perfectly normal human anatomy.
Another identified unknown structural inconsistencies.
A third simply froze.
ERROR.
The researchers exchanged confused looks.
Another scanner was brought in.
Different technology.
Different manufacturer.
Same result.
One scientist frowned.
"It isn't energy."
Another shook his head.
"It isn't biological."
A third quietly added,
"It doesn't behave like matter either."
The lead researcher folded his arms.
"Your body is human."
He looked toward the fractures.
"...Whatever these are..."
"...they don't belong to any field we've ever studied."
Oblivion looked down at the cracks stretching across his skin.
"So..."
"You still don't know."
The researcher smiled awkwardly.
"No."
"And that's what concerns me."
---
Meanwhile...
Serak wandered through Planet Hurricane alone.
He had no destination.
He simply walked.
The city unfolded before him.
Children laughed as they chased each other through parks where flowers danced endlessly in the wind.
Engineers repaired transport vehicles in open-air workshops.
Street musicians performed beneath glowing signs.
Food vendors filled the air with unfamiliar aromas.
Combat schools echoed with the sounds of wooden swords colliding.
Libraries stood beside markets.
Research centers stood beside gardens.
Storm-resistant trees lined the avenues, their roots buried deep beneath reinforced streets.
The entire planet felt...
alive.
Serak stopped before a small flower garden.
The wind bent every flower almost to the ground.
None of them broke.
Moments later...
They stood upright again.
Resilient.
He watched them quietly.
Then continued walking.
An elderly merchant noticed him.
"First time on Hurricane?"
Serak looked toward him.
"...Yes."
The merchant smiled.
"Take your time."
"This planet always leaves a good first impression."
Serak gave a small nod before continuing through the city.
For the first time in longer than he could remember...
He wasn't fighting.
He wasn't imprisoned.
He was simply...
living.
---
As the hours passed, night slowly fell over Planet Hurricane.
The city lights flickered to life.
The moon shone above the skyline while the wind gently carried the scent of flowers through the streets.
For the first time since leaving the underground ruins...
Everything felt peaceful.
Lazard stood beside the Chrono Slice Drive.
Its systems had been repaired.
Fuel replenished.
Navigation updated.
His next destination was ready.
Planet Downstream.
Oblivion, Veyron, and Serak approached.
Lazard reached into a storage compartment.
He removed two compact devices.
One was handed to Oblivion.
The other to Veyron.
"If something happens..."
"Press the button."
"A harmless red beam will mark your location."
"I'll come."
Veyron slipped the device into his pocket.
Oblivion nodded once.
Serak quietly observed.
Lazard looked at the three of them.
"...Stay alive."
Without another word...
He climbed into the Chrono Slice Drive.
The engines ignited.
Moments later...
The vehicle disappeared into the night sky.
---
Space.
Silent.
Endless.
Planet Hurricane slowly became smaller behind him.
Only stars surrounded the Chrono Slice Drive.
Then—
THUD.
Something struck the windshield.
Lazard instinctively slowed the vehicle.
Floating outside...
was a man.
He looked no older than twenty-five.
His clothes were torn.
His breathing was frantic.
He pounded desperately against the glass.
Lazard activated the external communication field.
The stranger immediately spoke.
"You have to listen..."
"He's coming..."
Lazard frowned.
"Who?"
The man's eyes trembled.
"He's going to destroy everything..."
"You have to stop—"
"Who?"
The stranger reached toward the glass.
"Aza—"
Lazard watched in confusion as the damaged suit of the stranger struggled to maintain its position.
A sudden burst from the Chrono Slice Drive's emergency stabilizers pushed him away from the vehicle.
The stranger disappeared into the darkness of space.
Lazard stared silently.
"..."
He sighed.
"Hope he's alright."
The engines accelerated once more.
Hours later...
A new world appeared beyond the stars.
Calm oceans.
Gentle forests.
Rolling hills.
Warm lights scattered across peaceful towns.
No storms.
No ruins.
No underground horrors.
Only quiet.
Planet Downstream.
A world famous throughout the system for its peaceful atmosphere...
its weapon markets...
its armor repair workshops...
and its thriving trade districts.
The Chrono Slice Drive descended through the clouds.
Lazard had finally arrived.
He had no idea...
that the warning drifting through the vacuum of space...
would soon become reality
To be continue.