Unexpected Ally
The void around them pulsed like a living heartbeat, each thrum resonating through Kael's cybernetic implants. The massive shard they had reached was relatively stable, yet the lingering vibrations reminded him that stability here was only temporary. Every moment they stayed still, the collision of worlds threatened to swallow them whole.
Kael adjusted his suit, scanning the perimeter. Shadows flickered along the jagged edges of the fragment, shapes that seemed almost human but warped by fractured reality. Lyra remained crouched beside him, hands glowing faintly as she reinforced the shard's structure with fragile threads of magic.
"This calm," Kael muttered, "doesn't feel real."
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "It isn't. The Shard isn't idle. Patience is a trap."
Before Kael could respond, a sudden roar split the air, shaking the shard violently. From the fractured horizon, a massive machine crested another floating fragment, descending toward them like a predator. Its metal limbs were jointed unnaturally, glowing with a sickly green energy. Kael's HUD recognized the pattern: advanced combat AI, clearly beyond standard military models.
"Lyra, get back!" Kael shouted. He fired plasma rounds, but they barely left scratches on the machine's armor. The AI advanced with terrifying speed, shards of metal from the void clinging to its surface like teeth.
Lyra's magic flared. Golden threads of energy surged toward the machine, latching onto its joints and attempting to destabilize its movement. Sparks flew as energy met steel, but the AI adapted instantly, reconfiguring its balance and striking forward.
Kael jumped aside, narrowly avoiding a massive limb swinging like a wrecking ball. He realized the AI wasn't just attacking—it was hunting, calculating, anticipating every move. They were outmatched.
"Fall back!" Kael ordered, activating thrusters to move toward a safer area of the shard. Lyra tried to keep pace, but the unstable fragment made every step precarious.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Kael saw movement across the void. A figure leapt from a nearby fragment, landing with precision between him and the machine. He didn't recognize the person immediately—armor patched from fragments of technology, weapons strapped across their body—but the effect was instantaneous.
The figure fired, a barrage of energy rounds striking the AI, causing sparks and temporary stuns. The machine reeled, giving Kael and Lyra the chance to reposition.
"Who the hell—" Kael shouted, but the figure had already moved with uncanny speed, landing on the machine's back. A pulse of energy surged from their hands, weapons, and implants simultaneously, striking the AI at its core. The machine convulsed, then collapsed, smoke and sparks trailing into the void.
Kael's jaw dropped. "That… that was incredible."
The figure turned slightly, revealing a familiar face. Riven.
Kael blinked. "You… you again? You just disappeared—why?"
Riven's smirk was faint but present. "You needed saving. Figured I'd help. Don't get used to it."
Lyra exhaled, relief evident on her face. "I… I didn't expect anyone else to intervene. Thank you."
Riven shrugged, brushing dust and fragments from his armor. "Just part of surviving. The Shard's forces are getting more aggressive. We can't fight everything head-on."
Kael frowned, noticing something odd. "And then you disappear again? You're playing both sides, aren't you?"
Riven's expression hardened, just slightly. "I play survival. Not sides. Remember that."
Kael didn't respond. He knew better than to push Riven too far; the man had saved their lives once already. And in this fractured reality, every ally was as unpredictable as the void itself.
They moved cautiously, Riven leading the way across a series of jagged fragments. His knowledge of the void's dangers became apparent: he leapt from shard to shard with uncanny confidence, avoiding unstable areas and predicting the movement of phantoms before they even appeared.
"You've been here before," Kael finally said, keeping pace.
Riven's eyes flicked briefly to him. "In a way. But not the same timeline. The void… it repeats, fractures, and folds. I've learned some shortcuts."
Kael processed the information. "Shortcuts?"
"Yes," Riven said tersely. "Places where reality bends favorably. But don't get used to it. The Shard adapts, and every shortcut has a price."
They reached a larger fragment, a cityscape partially intact. Towering skyscrapers rose, some broken, others perfectly preserved. Strange flora wove through the ruins—trees glowing faintly, their roots pulsing with energy. The group paused, scanning the area.
"This looks… stable," Lyra whispered, stepping carefully onto solid ground. "For now."
But Kael's instincts screamed caution. He noticed subtle distortions in the air, faint ripples that suggested the Shard's presence was near. And then movement: a patrol of phantoms emerged from the shadows, their forms warped and shifting.
Riven raised a hand, signaling them to take cover. The trio ducked behind the ruins as the phantoms passed, almost unaware of their presence. Kael realized that Riven's intervention wasn't just skill—it was experience. He knew how to manipulate the void, anticipate attacks, and exploit moments of vulnerability.
"Why help us?" Kael muttered once the phantoms moved past.
Riven's expression was unreadable. "You're… useful. And besides, The Shard's attention is spreading. It's more fun when there's resistance. Don't take it personally."
Kael clenched his fists. "Useful, huh? You've got a strange definition of friendship."
Lyra interjected, her voice firm. "We don't have time for debates. The Shard is close. We need a plan before more of those machines arrive."
Riven scanned the skyline. "There's an access point nearby—a portal still partially stable. Could get us to the next fragment faster than walking the void."
Kael nodded. "Lead the way."
As they moved, Kael noticed Riven's eyes flicking constantly, scanning for threats or anomalies. It was clear that the man had survived countless encounters in this void, and his knowledge could be the difference between life and death.
They reached the portal—a jagged frame of energy, partially fused with a collapsed building. The air shimmered violently around it, making even Kael's cybernetic systems struggle to maintain focus.
"Step carefully," Riven warned. "One wrong move and you'll fall into the void—or worse."
Kael glanced at Lyra, then at Riven. "After you."
Riven smirked faintly and leapt into the portal. A bright flash consumed him, and for a moment, he vanished entirely. Kael followed, activating thrusters to control his descent into the energy field. Lyra followed, golden energy flaring around her to stabilize the portal's flux.
They emerged onto another shard—smaller, but seemingly more stable. Kael surveyed the area. It was littered with wreckage, remnants of previous collisions. Fragments of ships, machines, and strange crystalline structures lay scattered. The void pulsed in the distance, a constant reminder that danger was everywhere.
Kael turned to Riven, who had landed gracefully. "You'll disappear again, won't you?"
Riven's smile was faint, almost regretful. "Maybe. But for now… we move forward. And survive."
Kael exhaled. "Fine. But this time, don't make it a habit."
Riven's grin widened slightly. "No promises."
Lyra approached, touching the ground carefully. "We need to find resources, stabilizers… anything that will help us in the next collision. The Shard isn't done testing us."
Kael's HUD blinked red—a warning of a phantom approaching. But this time, they were ready. Together, the three of them moved through the shard, wary but alive, each step a small victory in a reality that wanted them dead.
The void around them trembled, and Kael knew it: survival was temporary, and every ally—even Riven—carried secrets. But for now, they had a chance. And in the collision of worlds, that was more than most could hope for.