The Forgotten World

The cold air greeted them as they stepped out of the time portal. Ricky, Sophie, Kieran, and Keeper staggered for a moment, trying to adjust to their new surroundings. The sky above was gray, filled with thick, slowly moving clouds, creating an eerie atmosphere. There was no sunlight, only a dim glow that seemed to come from the atmosphere itself.

"Where are we?" Sophie asked as she scanned their surroundings. In the distance, they could see crumbling buildings and dry trees growing among the ruins of what appeared to be a city.

Keeper checked the device in his hand. "It seems we've arrived in the future… but much further than I anticipated. This isn't just a destroyed world it's a forgotten one."

Kieran squinted, observing the details around them. "This place looks like an old city, but everything is… dead."

Ricky approached a ruined structure that might once have been a grand building. His left hand traced the cracked walls, now covered in dark moss. "There's no sign of life here. No bird sounds, no wind. It's too quiet."

They began walking slowly down the street, which was littered with shards of metal and broken glass. Each step made a crunching sound that echoed far into the distance. The tension grew thicker with each passing moment.

"Could it be that the plague wiped out all living things here?" Sophie asked softly, recalling the stories about the experiments conducted in the past.

"It wasn't just the plague," Keeper replied, his tone calm but cautious. "There may have been something else… something more powerful than a disease. Something that could consume life itself."

Their steps halted abruptly when they heard a low rumbling in the distance. They immediately became alert, thinking Draven had returned. However, what appeared this time were other shadowy creatures larger and more terrifying than the usual Remnants they had faced before.

"New Remnants..." Kieran muttered, his jaw tightening. "Draven isn't wasting any time."

"Get ready!" Keeper shouted, raising his hands to create a protective energy shield around them. "We have to hold out until I can fully channel the core's energy!"

A fierce battle erupted. Ricky and Kieran worked together to fend off the creatures, while Sophie guarded Keeper, who focused on channeling energy. The sounds of clashing weapons and roaring shadow creatures filled the air, heightening the intensity of the moment.

"Ricky, on your right!" Sophie shouted, warning of an incoming attack from one of the creatures.

With swift movements, Ricky dodged and countered with a slash of his weapon. However, the increasing number of creatures made it difficult for them to keep up.

"We won't last long at this rate!" Kieran exclaimed, destroying another creature that approached. "Keeper, hurry!"

"Just a little longer… just a little longer…"

Keeper muttered, concentrating all his energy on the core.

As the battle reached its peak, a familiar voice echoed from afar. It was Draven's voice, but this time, he wasn't alone. Behind him, a massive black mist swirled, resembling a shadowy force ready to consume everything.

"Look… even as you fight back, destruction draws closer," Draven said with a triumphant smile.

The atmosphere changed drastically. Ricky, Sophie, Kieran, and Keeper realized that this was a far greater threat than they had anticipated.

"This isn't just about the Heart of the World anymore," Kieran said seriously. "This is a fight for survival itself."

As they regrouped and prepared to face Draven once more, they noticed something peculiar behind him a dim glow in the distance, flickering like a beacon. Could it be another portal? Or was it something even more dangerous waiting for them beyond the horizon?