Zane sat silently on the edge of the sprawling field, the twilight sky bleeding purple and orange above him. The faint hum of the Void pulsed beneath his skin, an insistent whisper calling him onward. He glanced at Nyx, who perched nearby with her arms crossed, and at Link—a miniature, mischievous version of himself—resting on his shoulder.
"I have no idea where to go next," Zane admitted, breaking the silence. "So this time, the Void will choose for me."
With a slow, deliberate motion, he stretched out his hand toward the fading shadows. The air thickened, rippling like a disturbed pond, and then tore apart with a sudden crackling sound. A swirling vortex of black and violet energy ripped open before them, its chaotic edge shimmering with raw power.
"Ready?" Zane asked, eyes fixed on the churning portal.
Nyx's sharp gaze flickered to the void. "You always jump headfirst, don't you?"
Link smirked. "First things first—finding your old artifacts. Those are the keys to your strength. Without them, this whole 'take down the anomaly organization' plan is just talk."
Zane nodded. "Exactly."
At his command, a holographic interface appeared in the air, projected from the depths of his system. It shimmered and shifted, revealing a small ring, simple yet radiant with an eerie glow. Intricate Void runes danced along its surface, pulsing softly like a heartbeat.
"That's the first one," Link said, eyes gleaming with excitement. "The 'South' artifact. It's calling us."
Nyx frowned thoughtfully. "A ring. Small but powerful. Whoever locked this away knew its value."
Zane clenched his fist. "Then it's up to us to find it first."
The portal roared, its hunger pulling at them like the promise of forgotten power.
"Shall we begin the journey?" Zane asked, determination burning in his voice.
Without hesitation, the trio stepped forward, swallowed by the swirling darkness.
As the portal sealed behind them, the world shifted.
The hunt for power had begun.