Chapter 2 – The Warrior of the Wastes

 -Ruined City, Xyphora (Volaris System, Sector 7-42D)-

The wrecked machine lay at Rei's feet, its core sparking, the last remnants of its artificial life flickering out.

His mind raced, heart pounding in his chest.

One moment, he had been staring death in the face. The next, this armored warrior had dropped out of nowhere and cut the machine down like it was nothing.

She stood a few steps ahead, gripping her crackling energy spear, her battle-worn armor covered in ash and dust.

She studied him for a moment, then scoffed.

"You're not supposed to be here."

Rei swallowed hard.

"…Where is 'here'?"

She frowned. "You tell me, Stray."

Rei hesitated. "Stray?"

"That's what you are, aren't you?" she said. "You don't belong here."

Rei opened his mouth to argue, but as he glanced at the ruined buildings, the alien sky, the twin moons above—what could he even say?

This isn't Earth.

Wherever I am, it's not home.

The woman watched his expression shift, then exhaled. "This is the junkyard of Xyphora. No one comes here. People only get left here."

Her words sent a chill down Rei's spine.

Left here? As in abandoned?

He shook his head. "No, I wasn't left here. I was—" He hesitated. What? Teleported? Dropped here by a falling star? It sounded ridiculous even in his own head.

The woman crossed her arms. "You really have no idea where you are, do you?"

Rei stayed silent.

She muttered something under her breath. "Perfect. A clueless Stray. Just what I needed."

Then, suddenly, she turned on her heel. "We can't stay here. More Sentinels will come."

"Sentinels?" Rei repeated, still struggling to keep up.

She motioned at the wrecked machine beside them. "The one I just killed. There are hundreds more. If they scanned you, every rogue AI in the sector now knows you exist."

Rei's stomach twisted.

Fantastic. I've been here for five minutes, and I'm already on a kill list.

She glanced over her shoulder, impatient. "Are you coming or not?"

Rei hesitated.

I don't trust her.

This woman had saved his life, but there was something off about her. She looked like she hadn't trusted another person in years.

Then, in the distance, heavy metal footsteps echoed through the ruined streets.

Rei gritted his teeth.

He didn't trust her.

But he trusted those things even less.

He ran after her.

-The Ruined Streets of Xyphora-

The city was a graveyard.

The deeper they ran, the clearer it became—this place had been dead for a long time.

Crumbled skyscrapers stretched into the sky, their skeletal remains casting eerie shadows over the wreckage below. Burnt-out vehicles, collapsed structures, and rusting war machines littered the roads.

And yet, as they ran, Rei noticed signs of life.

Half-buried tunnels led underground. Symbols were painted onto old walls, marking safe paths. There were shadows moving in the alleys—watching.

People had survived here.

Is she one of them?

Before he could ask, a metallic screech tore through the air.

Seyra cursed. "Damn it. They're fast."

Rei turned just in time to see three more Sentinels emerge from the ruins.

"Target acquired. Stray detected. Capture or terminate."

The lead machine raised its arm, plasma cannon humming.

Seyra grabbed Rei and shoved him behind cover just as the blast obliterated the ground where they had stood.

Chunks of concrete flew everywhere.

Rei coughed, dazed.

I can't fight them. I don't even have a weapon!

"Rei!" Seyra shouted, tossing something his way.

He caught it—a short, silver device covered in alien markings.

"Press the trigger and point!" she ordered.

Rei barely had time to think. He aimed at the nearest Sentinel and squeezed the trigger.

A blue energy blast erupted from the device, slamming into the Sentinel's armor.

It barely flinched.

The machine turned its gaze to Rei.

"Ineffective attack. Adjusting response."

The Sentinel's chest split open, revealing a second, much larger plasma cannon.

Rei's blood went cold.

I'm dead.

Seyra rushed forward, spear crackling.

She twisted mid-air, landing on the Sentinel's back, her weapon piercing straight through its core.

Another machine turned to Rei.

"Target locked."

His mind screamed MOVE, but his body refused.

A spark ran through his veins.

Something deep inside stirred.

For a split second, the air around him shimmered, distorted—

Then—

BOOM.

A shockwave of pure force exploded from Rei's body, slamming into the Sentinel and sending it crashing into a wall.

The city fell silent.

Rei's hands trembled.

Seyra stood still, her gaze locked onto him.

"...What the hell was that?" she asked.

Rei swallowed. "I... I don't know."

Seyra narrowed her eyes.

She wasn't convinced.

And neither was he.

- Unknown Ruins, Xyphora –

--One Hour Later--

Rei sat against a cracked metal wall, staring at his hands.

Seyra leaned against the opposite side, watching him.

"You're not just some lost traveler, are you?" she finally asked.

Rei exhaled. "...I have no idea what I am anymore."

Seyra studied him, then shook her head.

"Get some sleep, Stray. Tomorrow, we find out exactly what you're doing here."

Rei leaned his head back, staring at the twin moons above.

He had a sinking feeling that this was just the beginning.