Chapter 2: Velmora Part 22

Part 22: "The Drift Reawakens: Betrayal at the Eastern Front"

— When the flame burns too bright, old shadows return to claim it —

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[Scene 1 – The Eastern Front Under Siege]

Location: Eastern Ruins, near the Rift Valley Border

Smoke curled into the skies.

Structures melted, not by fire… but by time-distorted corrosion — the unmistakable mark of a Drift Bloom.

Crimson grass grew in reverse. Trees twisted into clocks.

And at the center — a crater pulsed, leaking temporal haze.

> Scout (over comm):

"The ruins are gone, Commander Arshan… it's a Drift Bloom Zone.

Our men are aging backward. Some forgot their own names."

Arshan, armored in new Free Flame battle gear, stepped forward.

Beside him: Rayn, Ilira, and a team of elite initiates.

> Arshan:

"We end this now — before the Drift mutates again."

> Zyana (via comm):

"Warning: There's a memory anchor at the center. If it's not neutralized, the zone will start feeding on future events."

Rayn paused, his hand twitching.

> Ilira (quietly, noticing):

"You alright?"

> Rayn (faint smile):

"Never better…"

But his eyes… lingered too long on the ruins. As if remembering something he hadn't been told.

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[Scene 2 – Inside the Drift Bloom: The Hidden Memory]

As the team entered the core, time bent.

Footsteps echoed before they were taken.

Arshan's soul weapon flickered — almost as if uncertain.

> Zyana:

"The Drift here isn't just corruption…

It's an echo chamber — built from someone's personal memory."

> Arshan:

"Whose?"

Suddenly, the world twisted.

They weren't in ruins anymore… but inside an old DAO training facility.

On the walls — projections of young recruits being tested.

And among them — a younger Rayn, eyes sharp, determined.

> Ilira (horrified):

"This Bloom… it's feeding on Rayn's past.

But why?"

> Zyana:

"Because someone planted it there. And it's awakening him."

Rayn stood still.

Unmoving.

Watching a moment replay — over and over:

DAO Instructor:

"You'll never lead. Your job is to die before the chosen one does."

Rayn clenched his fists.

The Drift around him responded — growing. Feeding.

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[Scene 3 – The Betrayal Ignites]

Suddenly — the sky cracked.

And a shockwave blasted through the Drift zone.

From above — figures in Ash Spiral armor descended.

Leading them: the same female operative who spoke to Rayn earlier.

> Ash Operative:

"Phase complete. Memory anchor unlocked.

Execute Capture Protocol: ZY-02 — target: Zyana."

The ambush began.

Arshan turned — but Rayn was gone.

> Ilira (panicked):

"Where is he?!"

Rayn emerged moments later — behind Zyana.

His blade drawn.

> Zyana (softly):

"…You too?"

> Rayn (voice shaking):

"I just want to matter.

Just once — to be the first, not the second."

He stabbed — but Zyana dodged last moment.

Arshan caught the blade, flames erupting.

> Arshan (shouting):

"YOU THINK THIS MAKES YOU STRONG?!"

> Rayn (eyes wild):

"It makes me real!"

Their blades clashed.

Old trust — now torn apart by buried resentment.

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[Scene 4 – The Ash Spiral Retreats… but Leaves a Message]

With Zyana's system-pulse, she disabled the Drift anchor.

The Bloom collapsed — the ruins stabilizing.

Rayn, bloodied, stood down.

But the Ash Spiral escaped — dropping a strange device.

Zyana approached it.

It projected a holographic map — of the entire Kryonexus Drift layer.

> Zyana (shocked):

"This isn't just a single world…

It's a folded dimension — and someone is trying to collapse it inward."

On the bottom right corner… a timestamp flickered:

"Drift Collapse Countdown: 89 Days Remaining."

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[Scene 5 – Aftermath: Forgiveness or Judgment?]

Back at camp, Rayn was chained.

> Ilira:

"We should exile him.

He chose them."

> Arshan (quietly):

"No… he chose to be seen.

And we failed to see him."

> Zyana:

"I'll wipe his memory if you want."

> Arshan:

"No.

He remembers what betrayal feels like now.

Let him remember what forgiveness feels like too."

Rayn, overhearing, lowered his head — silent tears falling.

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To Be Continued…

Next Part: Part 23 – "Dream of the Founder: Truth in the Burned City"

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Coming Next:

Arshan will visit the Burned City to chase the next Crest.

Zyana will dream of the Founder's last breath — and a mysterious phrase: "Project Emberfall."

A fallen Drift God fragment will begin whispering to Ilira.

The countdown will continue — and someone else will join the Free Flame… someone from the old DAO core.