Zane crouched behind a warped stone outcropping, hands clenched tight around his dual blades.
Smoke rose in the distance, where two entities clashed in pure elemental chaos — red flames surging like molten storms, while sharp white sigils carved glowing scars into the sky.
"...Yep. Definitely walked into a warzone."
Nyx peeked out from his shoulder, her glowing form barely visible. "They don’t seem to have noticed us yet."
"Yay," Zane deadpanned. "Maybe they’ll fight each other to death and leave me to die in peace."
Link, in his mini form, flicked Zane’s ear. "That sarcasm isn’t gonna save you, genius. This is the Realm of Origins. You don’t belong here, yet you walked in smiling like a tourist!"
"You never do," Nyx muttered.
Zane exhaled and leaned back. "Okay. Let’s review. We’re in the Realm of Origins — check. This place is crawling with things that can probably juggle planets — check. And I’m stuck here without a return portal... double check."
Now there were others gathering — shadows with faces, beings draped in cracked armor, glowing eyes locked on the same battlefield. And worse... a few were looking his way.
Zane’s heart skipped.
"Link," he whispered, "how many of these freaks are here?"
"Too many," Link muttered. "This isn’t just a battlefield. It’s an exit zone. You showed up through the gate. That means..."
"They think I’m the way out."
Zane’s head hit the rock wall behind him with a thunk. "I hate this system so much."
Suddenly, a crack split the air.
The white-sigil entity was thrown back — smashing through a stone spire — while the red-flame warrior turned slowly, glaring right at Zane.
Zane blinked. "Uh-oh."
"...Run?" Nyx suggested.