A hush settled over them, not awkward, but heavy with understanding. The wind whispered past, stirring the vines and broken steel beneath their feet. Distant roars echoed through the misty horizon, part of the world's endless, breathing rhythm. For the first time since waking up in this twisted afterlife, none of them felt truly alone.
They sat together, legs dangling over the ledge, the jungle stretching endlessly before them like a wild, waiting canvas.
"So…" Ethan finally said, rubbing the back of his neck, "what now?"
Sid didn't miss a beat. "We should probably secure some food. Right now, we don't even know which ones are edible."
Ethan groaned, snapping his fingers. "Right! We actually don't know a thing. Dammit. I don't want to end up eating glowing mushrooms and growing a second tongue."
Dianna stretched, then casually pointed down the overgrowth-covered ruins below.
"Simple. Let's just ask the locals."
Ethan blinked.
Then squinted.
Then tilted his head. "…What locals?"
Sid followed her gesture and frowned slightly. "…I don't see anyone."
Ethan leaned further. "Are you just pointing at... trees?"
Sid chuckled. "Ah right—Dianna's got sharp eyes, remember? Maybe they got enhanced or something."
Ethan turned to her, narrowing his eyes. "Enhanced? Like… you leveled up?"
Dianna's smirk widened, basking in the attention. "Well—if you didn't know, I slayed ten beasts on our way here. Felt a strange tingling sensation like I got stronger somehow. Six got away though. Cowards. You've seen them—misshapen things with too many elbows and no chill."
She let out a proud chuckle.
Ethan wasn't about to be outdone. He puffed his chest. "Pssh—ten? That's cute. One of them looked at me funny, so I gave it the ol' Abyss Tap and boom—instant shredded cheese. Thing got swallowed by void and spit out like rejected spaghetti."
Sid and Dianna exchanged a look.
Then burst into laughter.
Sid leaned back, trying to suppress a smile. "You used your skill, didn't you? Unknowingly too."
Dianna jabbed Ethan's shoulder. "Oh—Boar, you absolute idiot. You do realize skills have cooldowns, right? You can't just spam void cheese mode."
Ethan's grin faltered. "Wait, what? Cooldowns?"
Sid nodded. "Yeah. Think of it like… breathing room for your powers. The stronger the effect, the longer the wait."
Ethan threw up his hands. "That's so unfair! Why didn't I get a tutorial for that?"
Dianna patted his shoulder mockingly. "That's what you get missing out on the lore, oh Loreless One."
Ethan groaned dramatically, flopping back onto the concrete. "I hate this game."
Sid stood, brushing off his coat. "Still, Dianna might be onto something. Finding locals could give us answers—what to eat, what not to touch, what doesn't want to rip us in half."
"Or what does want to rip us in half politely," Dianna added.
They all stood now, facing the jungle once more.
"Alright," Ethan said. "Lead the way, eagle-eyes."
Dianna turned, already heading toward a winding mass of roots that coiled down the side of the skyscraper like giant serpent veins. "We take the express route."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what route?"
Sid followed after her, hands tucked in his coat. "We're sliding down."
Ethan blinked. "Sliding?"
Dianna gave a devilish grin. "Yep. Roots are sturdy. Smooth enough to ride, twisty enough to make it fun. We did it earlier on a smaller cliff. Come on, Boar. Don't tell me you're scared."
Ethan's eyes widened, watching as Dianna stepped up to the edge, crouched, and without hesitation—
Wheeeeeeeee—
She launched.
A war cry and laughter echoed as she vanished into the green, armor gleaming like a comet trailing sparks and dirt.
Sid gave Ethan a sideways glance. "She's not wrong. It is fun."
And with that, he followed—more graceful, controlled, almost surfing on strands of silver thread that guided his descent like lines from a puppetmaster.
Ethan stepped up to the root.
Stared down.
Swallowed hard.
"…Okay but if I die again, I'm haunting both of you."
He braced himself.
And jumped.
The wind screamed past him as the world turned into a blur of green and bark. The root was massive—easily wide enough to sit on, snaking downward like a living slide from some ancient tree god. Ethan whooped as gravity pulled him into its wild curve.
"WHOOHOO—THIS IS INSANE!" he yelled.
Leaves slapped his face, vines whipped past, and the root twisted and dipped like a roller coaster without rails. He laughed the entire way.
Above him, Dianna howled with delight, already ahead, practically surfing the descent like she'd done it a dozen times. Sid followed just behind, posture relaxed, his coat flapping behind him like some kind of unbothered storm.
The root slid down six stories, looping once around the ruined building's skeletal ribs before leveling off into the ground below.
Dianna and Sid leapt near the bottom, each landing with clean grace—Dianna dropping in a crouch, her blade scraping the dirt, Sid stepping lightly as if he'd just exited a train.
Ethan?
Ethan hit a bump near the end.
"Waitwaitwait—OH NO—!"
He flew.
Tumbled.
And crashed straight into a thick bush with a grunt, arms flailing and cleaver clanging behind him like a badly packed suitcase.
Silence.
Leaves rustled.
Then a muffled, "I'm alive… I think."
Sid walked over calmly, reached into the bush, and hauled him up with one hand.
Ethan spat out a leaf. "Okay. That. Was. AWESOME."
Dianna smirked, already moving. "Try sticking the landing next time, Boar."
"Next time?" Ethan grinned as he jogged to catch up. "There's going to be a next time?"
"Obviously. That's how we travel now."