They moved forward.
But something wasn't right.
Not outside.
Inside.
Eryx felt it.
The alignment—
Was accelerating.
Too fast.
Ashar noticed.
"…You're not stabilizing."
Eryx's voice stayed calm.
"I know."
Mira stepped closer.
"What does that mean?"
Ashar answered.
"It means he's not adapting to the layer…"
A pause.
"…the layer is adapting to him."
Silence.
Eryx stopped walking.
The space around him—
Distorted again.
Stronger.
Uncontrolled.
"…I can't slow it down," he said quietly.
Mira grabbed his arm.
"Then stop using it!"
Eryx looked at her.
"I'm not using it."
That was the problem.
⚠️ LOSS OF CONTROL
Another entity formed.
But it didn't stabilize.
It warped instantly.
Violently.
Because Eryx wasn't stable.
The environment reacted.
Everything shifted.
The ground bent.
The space cracked.
Ashar stepped back.
"…This is bad."
Mira shouted, "Do something!"
Ashar shook his head.
"This isn't external anymore."
Eryx staggered.
More memories hit.
Not just past versions.
Future possibilities.
Too many.
"…Make it stop…" he muttered.
Mira held him tighter.
"Stay here. Stay with me."
His breathing changed.
Slower.
Colder.
"…I can't feel it the same way anymore."
That scared her more than anything.