Chapter 5 – A New Place (Part 1)
For a wasteland scorched by fire and shadow, the land was far from dead.
Near the glowing arteries of magma, life clung stubbornly to existence—twisted trees with blackened bark, insects that shimmered with heat-resistant shells, and strange reptilian shapes that slithered between cracks of molten rock.
The ash-filled sky made it impossible to tell day from night.
No sun. No moon.
Only the red pulse of the earth beneath him.
Several hours had passed—Nolen guessed, based on his breathing rhythm and Romy's internal timekeeping. The world around them hadn't changed; the volcanoes still belched smoke into the suffocating sky, and the only illumination came from the magma river carving through the desolate plain.
Romy's voice finally broke the silence.
"I believe I've identified the cause of our… situation," she said, tone both clinical and troubled. "The summoning process used a form of energy incompatible with my systems and your physiology. It disrupted both. I am analyzing the damage and may be able to prevent a repeat, but I am currently operating at minimal function."
Nolen poked at the embers of his attempt at a fire. "How minimal?"
"I can manage basic scans and control the nanites in your body. That is all."
"How long before you're fully operational again?"
Romy paused—never a good sign.
"I'm still running diagnostics. It could take days, weeks… months. Maybe longer. I will update you when I know more."
"Great," Nolen muttered. "Then, first things first. We need a camp. And food."
Fortunately, earlier he'd found a peculiar kind of black wood growing near the magma river gnarled, glossy, and strangely dense. He gathered several pieces, stacking them into a crude pile.
He dipped one branch into the magma flow.
The wood didn't ignite immediately.
"Huh," he murmured. "Adaptation?"
"Most likely," Romy replied. "Life here seems to have evolved to withstand extreme temperatures."
After several seconds, the wood finally caught, glowing red before bursting into flame. Nolen tossed it into the pile. Slowly—hesitantly—the fire took.
Crackling embers spread until the campfire glowed faintly against the darkness.
It was small. It was crude.
But it was his.
Nolen turned to the fallen Magma Shark. Even dead, it radiated heat.
"Let me scan it first," Romy said. "I restored my short-range touch-scan function."
"Go ahead."
Nolen pressed his palm against the creature's armor-like hide. The crystal in his hand surfaced and glowed, emitting a soft hum as it swept across the beast.
"Scan complete," Romy announced.
"And? Is it edible?"
"We've mapped its anatomy and composition. The flesh is safe for consumption… once the external heat dissipates. It retains thermal energy far longer than Earth organisms."
"So… roast it is."
Using bare hands and force, he tore into the creature's side, pulling away a chunk of surprisingly firm meat. It steamed against the cooler air. He held it over the fire, rotating it slowly.
It took a long time—longer than normal—for the flesh to cook, but eventually its color shifted and the aroma grew rich and smoky.
Nolen ate in quiet, savoring the bizarre taste.
It wasn't bad.
Better than the field rations he'd eaten during training.
When the meal was done, he stood and scanned the dark horizon. The ash clouds above were so thick he couldn't tell if hours or minutes passed. The air was heavy. Still. Watching.
"We should set up camp for… whatever time it is," he muttered.
"There is no visible night cycle," Romy replied. "The volcanic smoke prevents any celestial observation."
"So, we're in perpetual… twilight?"
"Perpetual hazard," Romy corrected.
Nolen cracked a faint smile.
"Fair."
Exhaustion tugged at his muscles. His strength had returned enough for basic movement, but he was far from his peak.
Still, he had fire.
He had food.
And he had a sliver of stability in a land designed to kill.
He gathered a few more pieces of black wood, stacked them near the fire for later, and settled down on the ashen ground. The air was hot, but survivable.
For now.