2025-12-21 12:49:59
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 17 - The First Rescue
An eerie hiss rippled through the air, rising into a shriek that split the silence, the wasteland tore itself apart in response.Figures tore free from open space itself, wrong shapes born of neglect and brilliance turned feral, limbs twisting where joints were never meant to bend. Eyes burned too bright. Their movements stuttered, then rushed.“Spread, no, wait, ” Navir’s voice cracked. He lifted his hand, then hesitated. Too many angles. Too close.One lunged. Another skittered low.“Ardavan!” Navir shouted.“I see them,” Ardavan said, breath quick. His fingers twitched, searching for patterns that refused to settle. “Their movement, it isn't random.”A shriek sliced the air. Something slammed into the ground where Navir had stood a second earlier.“Left!” Navir snapped, then his voice caught. Pressure closed in, thoughts slipping over each other. “No, back, wait, ”The wasteland pressed in, feeding on the fracture.Ardavan grabbed Navir’s sleeve. “You’re slipping.”“I know,” Navi
Chapter 16 - Shadows of the Wasteland
Navir took a step closer. “Ardavan?”The name split the hush. The silhouette shifted, sluggish and unsure, still steeped in shadow like the others, yet faintly lighter, just enough for recognition to ache into place. It stood slumped where it was, shoulders sagging, as if held upright by habit rather than strength.Short silver-black hair framed a face Navir knew too well, sharper now, thinner, as if pieces had been carved away.“Navir,” Ardavan said. His voice landed a beat late, like it had traveled a long distance to reach him. “You’re… here.”“What is this place?” Navir demanded. “And how did you get here?” He swallowed. Ardavan lifted his head, effort written into the motion. For a heartbeat, his eyes found Navir’s, trying to hold, trying to anchor. “What?” The word came out thin, stretched, as if pulled from a distance. His focus wavered. A faint crease crossed his brow. “Hmmm...”His effort failed. His chin dipped, shoulders sagging as though the weight of standing became too
Chapter 15 - The Time Reader's Revelation
The shop breathed with quiet industry.Arisha sat near the window, fabric stretched across her knees, needle flashing in small, practiced arcs. Sunlight spilled over bolts of cloth stacked along the walls, catching dust in slow, drifting spirals.“So the border should be doubled here,” the customer said, tapping the air above the fabric. Her voice was calm, confident, the tone of someone used to being listened to. “If not, it frays within a year.”Arisha nodded. “I’ve seen that happen. Once is enough.” She smiled faintly, fingers never slowing. “You have a good eye.”The woman’s smile lingered, then faltered. Her eyes drifted past Arisha, settling on the doorway with a quiet, sudden focus, as if she’d caught the edge of a thought she hadn’t meant to notice.Nothing else changed.The street outside murmured. Footsteps passed. A cart rattled by.Then Navir stepped in through the front of the shop, quiet as a held breath. He lingered near the doorway instead of crossing the room, shoulde
Chapter 14 - Brain Fog
Navir’s spoon clinked against the bowl for the third time without him noticing.“You’re going to wear a hole in it,” Ravash said, eyeing him from across the table.Navir blinked. “What?”“That. You just did it again.”Before Navir could respond, Ardavan leaned sideways on his chair, balancing it on two legs like a child daring gravity to blink first. He grinned, wide and unbothered. “If the spoon falls through the bowl, does it land yesterday or tomorrow?”Ravash stared, curiosity and suspicion echoing in his eyes.Ardavan shrugged. “Just asking.”Navir pressed his fingers to his temple. Heat pulsed behind his eyes, slow and thick, like breath trapped under water. The room felt heavier, air dragging across his skin.“You okay?” Ravash asked, turning to Ardavan. “You’ve been off lately.”“I’m great,” Ardavan said too quickly. He tapped the table three times, then laughed at nothing. “Never clearer.”Navir pushed back from the table. The floor tilted. Sound dulled. Ravash’s voice stretc
Chapter 13 - Deafening Silence
Navir counted the cracked tiles as he crossed the courtyard. Sorvan emerged from the doorway ahead, silver-black hair catching the light.“You’re late,” Sorvan said lightly. “Again.”“Working on some stuff on the local power grid, with Ardavan.” Navir replied. “Took longer than expected.”Sorvan’s smile, accompanied by a slight scoff. Though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Convenient.”Navir stopped. “Say what you mean.”Sorvan laughed, soft and neat. “I did.” He nudged a loose stone with his toe. “Funny how things break when you’re gone.”“Accidents happen,” Navir countered, though a twinge of unease crept along his spine.“Sure,” Sorvan agreed. “They always do.”A cart rolled past, wheels chipping the silence. Sorvan waved once, then added, almost offhand, “Mehrak showed you his new model, right?”Navir kept his expression even. “Yes. Why?”“Impressive,” Sorvan said. “Almost too impressive for someone who trips over stairs.”Navir stiffened, one brow lifting. “What’s that supposed to mea
Chapter 12 - Whispers of the Fallen
The room glowed faintly with shifting colors from the old console screen. Navir leaned forward, fingers tapping rapidly; Mehrak groaned as his character fell off a ledge; Sorvan remained perfectly composed, posture straight, expression unreadable as always.They had been playing for nearly an hour when Navir’s phone buzzed. A headline blinked across the screen.“Recently employed Fresh graduate murdered by three envious friends.”Navir’s smile faded. “Another one…?” he whispered.Mehrak paused the game, throat tight. Sorvan didn’t move at first, only his lashes lowered slightly, a shadow passing over those sharp red eyes. He exhaled slowly, his voice gentle and distant as he murmured, “Hmm… people.”The silence held weight, pressing on the small room like dim light.Mehrak cleared his throat. “Let’s… just keep playing.”Navir nodded. They needed something, anything, to stop the heaviness from swallowing the evening whole.Sorvan unpaused the game with quiet precision, his calm express
You may also like
Immortal Universe
Shin Novel 16.5K viewsReturn of the S-class Young Master
IceFontana1818.5K viewsONCE BULLIED: LYON ARMSTRONG IS BACK.
ASystem18.5K viewsThe Strongest Son-in-law
VKBoy28.3K viewsFenrir leveling system
AATAnime6.4K viewsBorn Without Magic, Destined to Rule All
Artemis Dee709 viewsHELL: The Dark Lord In City
Riddhi1.6K viewsThe Weakest Hero's Ascension
Crystal Corner270 views