Vincent lay unconscious on the ground, his battered body having finally surrendered to exhaustion. When his eyes opened, the first thing he saw was the sky. He immediately sat up, only to find the enormous two-headed lion staring down at him with all four eyes. "Finally, human. You're awake. You've been asleep for seven days. Now, let's get to that crater. We have no time to waste. If this Michael boy is as strong as the Ancient claims, then he must be quick on his feet, too." Vincent stared blankly at the beast, his mind struggling to process the fact that he had been unconscious for an entire week.
Before he could ask any questions, the lion lowered its massive body and motioned for him to climb onto its back. Vincent hesitated, but his battered legs left him with little choice. The moment he settled himself, the beast uttered two words. "Hold on." CRACK! The ground shattered beneath its paws as the six-ton beast launched itself forward at a speed Vincent's eyes could barely follow. Trees splintered, branches snapped, and the vegetation ahead was crushed beneath its monstrous frame. Vincent clung desperately to its back, screaming as the wind tore past his face. "ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOUR ONLY VERSION OF GOOGLE MAPS?" The beast's two mouths stretched into what Vincent could only interpret as a smile. "Oh, weak humans and your weak words. What is this jungle maps you speak of?" Vincent went silent. It took him a moment to realise that he had just asked a beast in the Wasteland whether it knew Google Maps. I'm actually losing my mind. He buried his face against the creature's back and focused on giving directions. The two-headed lion tore through the tropical forest, following Vincent's instructions towards the place where he had last seen the flying girl emerge from the massive explosion. Whenever the path became unclear, it adjusted its course without hesitation, maintaining its absurd speed as it raced towards the crater.
Meanwhile, Michael remained with Quatre and Troi near the forty-kilometre crater. Seven days had passed, and the twins had recovered considerably from their earlier condition. Throughout the week, Michael had provided them with food and replenished their energy when necessary, gradually earning their trust while learning about their past. They were Emox students, sent into this forsaken hell by General Bola alongside countless others. Some had been trapped here for years, unable to return to the families they had left behind. Others had watched their loved ones arrive through the portals, only to see them torn apart by the creatures inhabiting this place. Some had attempted to escape, but none had returned.
Those who remained had little choice but to adapt. They hunted, killed, and ate whatever they could find, slowly abandoning the lives they had once known. Their original mission had been to discover the source of the Wasteland and stop its spread, just as the authorities had promised. Yet years had passed, and nobody had found the answer. Nobody even knew where the rot began. "At first, it was all fun and games," Quatre explained. "We explored, fought a few beasts, and thought we could handle ourselves. But the Wasteland wasn't always this dangerous. Over the past few years, everything has changed. Its rot has spread faster, releasing toxic energy that keeps transforming the environment. Some people claim they've discovered gateways to other worlds, but nobody who's gone through them has ever returned." He lowered his head, his expression darkening. "If I had the memories I have now, I'd have killed myself the day I stepped through that portal. Better yet, I would've never enrolled at Emox. We thought we were learning to remember our past or draw power from someone we'd lost, someone whose pain could make us stronger. But then we discovered the truth. It was all a massive lie. We're just here to suffer and fulfil the dreams of that stupid bastard, Bola."
Michael chuckled. He had never particularly liked Bola himself, so hearing someone else insult the general was oddly satisfying. For a moment, he almost wanted to let Quatre continue. Unfortunately, he had more pressing concerns. He still needed to find Elizabeth, and every moment spent here was another moment she remained beyond his reach. The twins had already told him the direction in which she had flown after the explosion. That was enough. Michael rose to his feet, his expression hardening as he slipped back into the role he had carefully constructed over the past week. "Since it's been seven days, I believe you're fit enough for us to go find our prey." Quatre and Troi exchanged glances before grinning.
"You're right. Let's find that bitch, have some fun, and kill her. And, man, thanks for helping us recover. I owe you one." Michael returned their smiles, concealing his true intentions. Seven days of patience had earned him their trust, and he had no intention of throwing that away now. As the twins stood and began discussing which direction they should take, a deep rumble rolled through the forest behind them. The ground trembled. Trees shook violently as something enormous tore through the vegetation, snapping trunks and crushing everything in its path. Michael turned towards the noise, while Quatre and Troi immediately assumed fighting stances. Whatever was approaching was massive, and judging by the destruction it left behind, it was not something they could afford to underestimate. Then the forest erupted. A colossal two-headed lion burst through the trees, its six-ton frame scattering debris as it came to a halt. Sitting on its back was a familiar, battered-looking boy.
"MICHAEL!" Vincent shouted. Michael froze. For several seconds, he simply stared at the absurd sight before him, unable to decide whether he should attack the beast, question Vincent, or accept that the Wasteland had once again thrown something completely beyond his expectations at him. Quatre and Troi remained on guard, their eyes fixed on the lion's enormous frame. But before anyone could make a move, the beast lowered both heads towards Michael. Its four eyes studied him with unsettling focus before it spoke in a deep, resonant voice. "Michael, I seek you. I mean you no harm."