The vast desert stretched endlessly in all directions, a sea of golden sand dunes rolling beneath the unrelenting heat of twin suns. The air shimmered with heatwaves, distorting the horizon where jagged, rocky outcrops jutted from the sand like the remains of a long-forgotten civilization.


    Sparse, withered trees and cracked, dry bushes dotted the landscape, their roots buried deep beneath the dunes in search of whatever water remained hidden far below. The wind, though slow, carried the faint whistle of shifting sands, its whispering presence the only relief from the otherwise crushing silence of the desert.


    Above them, the twin suns blazed mercilessly, their combined heat casting long, distorted shadows across the dunes. The sky, an unbroken expanse of pale blue, seemed almost cruel in its clarity, with no clouds In sight to shield them from the scorching rays.


    This ancient world the trio had entered now stood in stark contrast to the icy wasteland Ray had stumbled into at the age of eleven—a place where he had spent an entire year in training, though for everyone he knew back home, only a month had passed.


    In the midst of it all, three figures traversed the harsh landscape, Kite and Rad trudging through the sand while Ray hovered effortlessly ahead of them. Ray’s body cast a faint cosmic glow, his black and white robotic frame standing out against the earthy tones of the desert.


    He moved with eerie stillness, his mind seemingly elsewhere, as if he were seeing beyond this world, into something grander. Kite groaned, his voice raspy as he swallowed hard. “Where are we even going, Ray? We’ve been out here for hours.”


    Beside him, Rad let out a lazy yawn, adjusting the straps of his backpack. “It’s only been thirty minutes, doofus,” he retorted, rolling his eyes as he tilted his water bottle to his lips.


    Kite’s gaze flickered downward immediately, locking onto the clear liquid sloshing within the plastic bottle. The sound of it hitting Rad’s lips, the sight of condensation clinging to the surface, it was almost torturous in this heat.


    Rad immediately noticed. He smirked as he pulled the bottle away. Kite narrowed his eyes. “Give me.” His fists clenched at his sides.


    Rad’s smirk only widened. “Or what?” A tense silence settled between them, the distant wind whistling between the dunes. Sweat dripped from both their foreheads, rolling down their faces as the heat bore down on them like an oppressive weight.


    And yet, Ray hovered on, seemingly oblivious to their growing tension. Then—a low, dark chuckle broke the silence. “Hehe… You know, I’m glad you asked, actually…” Kite muttered ominously with a mischievous smirk.


    Rad raised an eyebrow. “What are you—” But before he could finish, Kite’s hand shot into his pocket.


    “POCKET SAND!” Kite shrieked maniacally, flinging a fistful of fine, dry sand straight into Rad’s face.


    “GAAH—WHAT THE HELL?!” Rad stumbled back violently, hands shooting up to rub at his burning eyes. The coarse grains scratched at his skin, stinging and blinding him in an instant.


    Kite didn’t waste a second. “Gotcha!” He cackled wildly as he flipped effortlessly over Rad’s head, his enhanced agility making the movement seem almost effortless.


    His fingers swiped the water bottle from Rad’s grip mid-air before his feet touched down on the soft sand with barely a sound. And then—he bolted.


    “Argh! Damn it, Kite!” Rad roared in frustration, spinning around, still half-blinded as he stumbled forward, giving chase immediately. His footsteps kicked up loose sand, his anger fueling his pursuit.


    Ray, who had not even turned to acknowledge their antics before, finally stopped. His bi-colored cybernetic eyes flickered, following their distant figures as they tore through the dunes.


    For a moment, he said nothing. Then—a sly smirk tugged at his lips.


    His cosmic aura pulsed faintly, glowing just a little brighter. Anticipating the impending chaos. With silent amusement, he hovered forward once more.


    Kite’s laughter echoed across the barren desert, his voice carried by the dry wind as he slowed just enough for Rad to stay hot on his heels. “Oldest trick in the book!” Kite called back, his voice dripping with mischief.


    Rad, despite his irritation, couldn’t hide the undercurrent of exhilaration creeping into his voice. “Just wait till I get my hands on you, Kite!” he bellowed, though the grin forming at the edges of his lips betrayed his faux outrage.


    Kite only laughed louder, his feet kicking up loose sand with every step, his adrenaline soaring. But then—something caught his eye.


    Just ahead, resting atop a small dune of golden sand, lay a beast of legend. It was a Tithonos Strider, an ancient predator said to have roamed the deserts long before the first civilizations were ever built.


    Its lithe, feline frame was covered in scales as black as midnight, shimmering with an iridescent sheen that rippled like liquid obsidian beneath the sun. Long, sleek limbs ended in razor-sharp, sickle-like claws, each embedded with golden glyphs that pulsed faintly with a mystical energy.


    Its head was long and narrow, its jaw lined with dagger-like fangs that protruded slightly even while it slept. Long, whisker-like tendrils extended from its snout, twitching occasionally as it dreamed. A long, segmented tail curled beside it, its tip barbed like a scorpion’s stinger, gleaming with a faint bioluminescence.


    The beast was asleep, Its slow, deep breaths kicking up small clouds of sand around it. Kite’s grin widened dangerously.


    Rad saw the expression shift on Kite’s face and immediately felt his stomach drop. His eyes went wide, his skin turning pale.


    “Hey! Wait a sec!” Rad yelled, his voice laced with desperation as he threw out an arm.


    But Kite was already gone. With a swift, acrobatic flip, he twisted through the air like a spider, his body moving in perfect motion as he effortlessly hurled the water bottle directly at the sleeping beast’s skull.


    The bottle struck true, bouncing off its forehead with an audible ‘thunk’ before rebounding back through the air, straight into Kite’s waiting hand as he continued running.


    The Tithonos Strider’s golden eyes snapped open. A shriek—deep, guttural, and alien—ripped through the desert as the creature jolted upright, its barbed tail flicking violently as it scanned the surroundings. Then, its piercing gaze locked onto Rad.


    Rad’s face drained of all color. “Crap. Crap. CRAP!” he screamed as the beast lunged toward him, its fangs bared, drool dripping from its maw as it let out a monstrous shriek.


    Rad bolted, his feet barely kicking off the sand before the Tithonos Strider was upon him. He could feel the heat of its breath, could hear the rush of air as its powerful muscles coiled. It lunged, its maw stretching wide, fangs inches from his throat.


    Rad barely managed to dive out of the way, rolling across the burning sand just as the beast’s jaws snapped shut where his neck had been. The creature skidded a few feet away, sand flying in all directions as it whipped around with terrifying speed, golden eyes glowing with primal fury.


    Rad panted, his heart hammering like a war drum, his muscles tense as he slowly got to his feet. He raised his hands in a poor attempt at diplomacy, his breath ragged.


    “There, there… nice kitty?” he tried. The Tithonos Strider hissed in response, its long whisker-tendrils bristling as it lunged forward once more.


    Rad let out a panicked yelp, scrambling backward—but the beast struck first.


    Its fangs bore down on his neck, its momentum carrying them both into the sand in a blur of motion. Rad screamed hysterically—and then—the moment the beast’s fangs grazed his skin—its entire form exploded into a swirling storm of butterflies.


    Rad froze in shock, his scream cutting off mid-gasp as he watched the creature vanish into thousands of fluttering wings. The air shimmered with vibrant color as the massive kaleidoscope of butterflies soared into the sky, their hues shifting between brilliant oranges, deep purples, and metallic blues. Their translucent wings flickered beneath the sunlight, reflecting the twin suns in a mesmerizing dance of prismatic light.


    The once ferocious predator was now nothing more than a cloud of breathtaking beauty. Rad, still sprawled on the ground, stared in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend what just happened.


    And then—Ray’s calm, amused voice cut through the silence. “You’re falling behind, Rad.”


    Rad whipped his head toward the voice. “Wha—”


    Before he could finish, a massive gust of cosmic wind ripped through the desert, slamming into him like an invisible wave.


    The next thing he knew—he was airborne. “waaaaahhhh!” Rad screamed as he was hurled into the sky, his limbs flailing wildly as he soared through the air.


    Below him, the desert stretched endlessly, the dunes shrinking beneath his feet as the powerful gust carried him high above the wasteland. His eyes darted wildly, searching for any sign of stability, of ground, of anything that wasn’t just a whole lot of empty sky.


    And then, his gaze landed on Kite. From this height, Kite was nothing more than a speck, a blur of movement streaking across the sand.


    A massive dust cloud trailed behind him, kicked up from the sheer speed at which he was moving. His small figure dashed effortlessly across the landscape, dodging dunes, weaving between scattered ruins, his newfound superhuman agility on full display.


    And then Rad’s eyes caught the massive sinkhole in the distance—the gaping maw of the desert, waiting silently, as Kite sped directly toward it.


    Rad’s stomach dropped. Since when was he so agile?! he thought in absolute disbelief, his body still helplessly carried through the sky by the powerful winds.


    Kite’s pace quickened, his breath steady, his body practically weightless as his superhuman momentum built up. The air around him crackled with raw energy, the Twin Bracelets thrumming faintly as their ancient power bled into his movements.


    His beige shoes sparked violently as they tore across the dunes, each footstep scorching the sand beneath him, melting it into smooth, glistening glass for just a split second before it shattered under the weight of his next step. And then—he saw it.


    The sinkhole. A massive, gaping vortex in the desert floor, its edges unstable, shifting slightly as a faint crimson shimmer pulsed across its center.


    A thin layer of floating liquid, deep and red like freshly spilled blood, stretched across the hole, suspended in mid-air by some unseen force. The surface of the mystical barrier rippled faintly, almost breathing, as if aware of the world around it.


    Kite’s pulse quickened. His usual instincts, the careful, cautious part of him, screamed at him to stop. To think.


    But another part of him—the new part, the reckless, thrill-seeking surge pulsing through his veins since donning the bracelets—ignored it completely. A wild grin stretched across his face. What’s the worst that could happen? Kite thought to himself excitedly


    Without hesitation, without even thinking—he jumped. The wind rushed past his face, his hair whipping wildly as he fell toward the shimmering red veil. The air here felt thicker, warmer, charged with an energy that made the hairs on his arms stand up.


    He took a deep breath—And plunged through. The moment he hit the surface, the crimson liquid enveloped him, wrapping around his body like a living entity.


    The sensation was strange—thick and heavy, yet weightless at the same time. It muted all sound, swallowing him into a moment of pure, eerie silence.


    Kite held his breath, his eyes straining against the murky red haze as he sank deeper. For a brief moment, he felt like he was floating in nothingness, trapped in a liminal space between two worlds.


    And then—gravity returned. With a sudden jolt, Kite burst out of the liquid barrier, free-falling as he tumbled down a steep, slanted platform. “Whoa!” Kite exclaimed in surprise.


    Kite hit the smooth stone surface feet first, immediately sliding down the incline at high speed. His arms flailed briefly before he steadied himself, his feet moving instinctively to control the descent.


    The sight before him stole his breath away. An entire city lay beneath the desert.


    Towering stone buildings, some half-buried in the sand, stretched toward the cavernous ceiling above, their ancient architecture untouched by time. Colossal statues stood guard at the edges of streets, their faces worn but their presence still imposing.


    Arched bridges connected tall, rectangular towers, their structures lined with glowing blue markings, flickering weakly, like dying embers of a long-forgotten civilization. Strange glyphs and symbols were carved into nearly every pillar, wall, and cobblestone, telling stories in a language lost to time. Dust-coated stone lanterns, their light extinguished centuries ago, stood along cobblestone pathways, guiding the way through a city frozen in slumber.


    Kite’s jaw hung open, his voice barely a whisper. “How long has this place been down here…?”


    Then, in the distance—something even more incredible caught his eye. A massive, ancient construct, humanoid in shape, sat slumped against the cavern wall, its monolithic frame covered in cracks, vines, and layers of dust.


    The Sentinel. Its face, sculpted from dark obsidian-like metal, bore a solemn, weathered expression, its hollow eye sockets empty, staring into nothingness.


    Ornate golden plates lined its shoulders and chest, though most were fractured or missing, revealing the intricate network of mechanical gears and sigils beneath. But what was most astounding was its right arm. A gigantic, outstretched hand, large enough to cradle an entire city.


    And that’s exactly what it was doing. The entire forgotten city sat nestled in the Sentinel’s colossal palm, as if the titan had been holding it up for centuries, protecting it even as it fell into eternal slumber.


    Kite grinned, his heart pounding. With a single, powerful jump, he launched himself off the slant, flipping through the air before landing gracefully on the Sentinel’s massive arm.


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    His feet barely touched the dust-covered surface before he took off running, dashing up the colossal metal limb, dodging cracked armor plates and deep gouges along the way. Every step echoed across the cavern, the remnants of history vibrating beneath his feet.


    Finally, he reached the Sentinel’s shoulder, standing just below its massive, stoic face. Kite stood still, taking in the sheer scale of the ancient construct.


    “This thing’s gotta be older than anything on the surface,” he murmured, his gaze sweeping over its fractured metallic visage. “Probably been dead for centuries…”


    “Not dead.”


    Kite jumped, startled. Beside him, Anansi had materialized, her silken robes fluttering in the still air, her many golden eyes scanning the Sentinel’s massive frame with intrigue. Her arms were folded, and her lips curled into a knowing smirk.


    Kite let out an exasperated sigh. “Jeez, can you warn me before you do that?” He placed a hand over his racing heart before smirking. “Where’s the big guy anyways, still not fond of my presence?”


    Anansi chuckled. “Shango has yet to warm up to you.”


    Kite grinned. “Figures.”


    Anansi’s gaze lingered on the Sentinel’s ancient frame, her expression growing more solemn. “This city… fell to tragedy long ago,” she murmured, her tone quieter than usual.


    Kite’s grin faded slightly. “Tragedy?”


    Anansi nodded. “Once, it was a thriving civilization, one of the greatest this world had ever seen.” Her golden eyes gleamed. “But something… went wrong.”


    Kite’s brow furrowed. “What happened?”


    Anansi exhaled softly. “A mistake. A war. A betrayal. Perhaps all of the above.” She glanced at him. “What matters now is that the city is trapped in an endless slumber. A dream that never ends.”


    Kite’s stomach twisted. His eyes flickered over the city below, imagining its people locked in a timeless dream, unaware of how much time had passed.


    “…That’s messed up.” Kite said quietly. Anansi studied him for a moment, then smiled faintly.


    Her golden eyes glimmered faintly as she gazed upon him, reflecting the ethereal glow of the slumbering city below. She tilted her head slightly, eying Kite with an almost knowing expression before finally speaking. “Indeed.”


    Kite raised an eyebrow, unsure whether her tone was one of amusement or caution. Anansi turned her gaze back to the ancient city, her many golden eyes flickering like woven constellations. “However, despite the inhabitants being dormant for centuries, they can still be reawakened with an incantation.”


    Kite’s eyes widened slightly. “Seriously?” he asked, incredulous.


    Anansi nodded, but this time, her voice carried a note of caution, the mirth from before fading into something more solemn. “But be warned,” she continued, her voice lowering as if the very walls of the cavern could hear her. “If you wake them… the locals may not be very friendly.”


    Kite felt his stomach tighten, but he said nothing. Then, Anansi’s form began to unravel, dissolving like threads of silk caught in the wind. Her body shimmered, her presence slowly fading into the dim glow of the cavern.


    “If you are to awaken this city and its inhabitants,” her voice whispered through the air as her body fragmented further, “you must utter this phrase…”


    A pause. And then… “Mwisho wa Ndoto, Mwanzo wa Ukweli.”


    Kite blinked, completely lost. “Huh?”


    Anansi’s amused smirk returned, but it was already half-lost to the void as she faded further. Kite scratched the back of his head, repeating the phrase under his breath.


    “Mwii-sho wa… Ndu… Uh— Mwa-no-saa wa— Agh, dang it!” He groaned in frustration, throwing his hands up. “How am I supposed to remember all that?!”


    Anansi’s disembodied voice whispered back, the last traces of her form dissolving into nothingness. “One’s power comes from within the soul, not the mind.”


    And with that, she was gone. A long silence followed, the cavern eerily still once more.


    Kite stood frozen, staring at the empty space where Anansi had once been, his thoughts racing. After a long moment, he let out a small, exasperated sigh. “…The heck?”


    Kite groaned, rubbing his temples before taking a few steps forward atop the Sentinel’s massive, weathered shoulder. The ancient metal beneath his feet was smooth yet cracked, etched with markings that had long since been worn by time.


    With a huff, he plopped down, crossing his legs as he let out a breath. The engraved ringed circle beneath him hummed faintly as he sat, its lines flickering to life with a weak blue glow, but Kite, deep in his own frustration, didn’t notice.


    He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as he tried to focus. “Okay, okay… I got this…” he muttered under his breath. “Mwisho wa… uh… Ndo-something—wait, no, it’s Mwanzo wa—ugh!”


    His voice echoed slightly through the cavern as he clenched his fists. “C’mon, c’mon…” Kite grumbled, his brow furrowing.


    As he stumbled over the words, the city below responded, its ancient lights flickering erratically, struggling against the ages of dormancy. Faint, crackling energy pulsed through the ruins, as if the very walls were breathing for the first time in centuries.


    Then—a deep groaning noise rumbled behind him. A distant, guttural sound, like stone grinding against metal, reverberated through the cavern. The air trembled, dust falling from unseen cracks in the ancient ceiling.


    Kite didn’t notice. With a frustrated sigh, he slumped forward, resting his elbows on his knees.


    “Alright, this isn’t working,” he mumbled. Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up with an idea.


    “Wait a second…” He brought his hands together, forming a familiar hand sign—one he’d seen in a movie once.


    “Yeah, yeah! That dude in that one old film did this before saying something cool!” Kite grinned to himself. “Maybe it helps with focus?”


    With that logic, he sat up straighter, inhaling deeply. The cavern rumbled again—a distant, heavy vibration, like the groaning of an ancient titan stirring from slumber. The flickering lights stabilized, glowing brighter, casting long shadows across the ruins.


    Kite remained oblivious. His breathing slowed, his mind clearing. And then—With perfect clarity, he spoke. “Mwisho wa Ndoto, Mwanzo wa Ukweli.”


    The ringed circle beneath him erupted into light. A brilliant blue glow surged from the engravings, illuminating the entire platform. The ancient city responded in kind, its ruined streets and buildings fully lighting up in a chain reaction, as if some long-forgotten power had finally returned.


    Kite’s eyes snapped open, his gaze sweeping over the now fully illuminated ruins below him. A slow, disbelieving smile crept across his face. “Huh… I actually did it?” He muttered to himself


    But before he could fully process his achievement, a cold gust of wind rushed past him, sending a shiver down his spine.


    Kite blinked, rubbing his arms. “The heck? Since when is there wind in a cave?” he muttered.


    Then, as he turned his head slightly to the right, his breath caught in his throat. Towering above him, the Sentinel’s massive head had shifted.


    It now tilted downward, its colossal, weathered face looming only a short distance away. Its features were cracked and battle-worn, its metallic plating darkened with age. Despite the erosion of time, its design was intricate, adorned with faded golden engravings, almost ceremonial in nature.


    Deep, ancient carvings traced across its forehead and cheeks, depicting forgotten stories of a civilization lost to time. Its expression was solemn, as if burdened by the weight of an existence it could barely remember.


    And then—its eyes. Twin orbs of radiant, burning light stared directly into Kite’s soul—not with malice, but with incomprehensible awareness. Kite’s eyes widened, his mouth falling slightly agape.


    Kite’s eyes widened, his pupils dilating as he took in the sheer, overwhelming sight before him. His breath hitched, his chest tightening, not from fear, but from a thrill so intense it sent shivers down his spine.


    The sheer monumental scale of the Sentinel, its ancient, burning eyes boring into him, filled him with a sense of awe he had never experienced before. His pulse hammered in his ears, his body thrumming with adrenaline as his lips parted slightly, a sharp, disbelieving breath escaping.


    And then—his expression morphed entirely. A massive, wild grin stretched across his face, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained excitement. Every nerve in his body buzzed with raw exhilaration, his mind barely able to process the insanity of the moment.


    His voice cracked with sheer enthusiasm as he spoke, his words cut off by the sheer grandeur of what stood before him. “Holy shi—”


    The winds howled through the endless desert, their sharp currents cutting through the sky like invisible blades as Rad spiraled uncontrollably, arms flailing as he struggled to stabilize himself. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his jacket billowing violently against the sheer force of the air rushing past him.


    Atop Rad’s back, Ray sat calmly, legs crossed as if he were lounging on a comfortable chair rather than a panicked, free-falling human. His mechanical frame remained perfectly composed, his bi-colored cybernetic eyes gleaming faintly as he watched Rad’s struggle with quiet amusement.


    Rad’s eyes darted rapidly between the gaping sinkhole below, where Kite had disappeared minutes ago, and the massive kaleidoscope of shimmering, magical butterflies that twisted and danced through the sky around him, their iridescent wings scattering faint trails of luminescent dust as they fluttered past.


    His voice cracked with desperation as he screamed. “Arent you gonna help!?”


    Ray didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he turned his calculating gaze to the expansive desert, scanning the horizon with a look of quiet intrigue. Then, after a moment of drawn-out silence, he let a mischievous smirk tug at his lips. “Not quite yet.” He finally replied.


    Rad let out a strangled yell of frustration, but before he could shout another plea, something shot out of the sinkhole below them—fast. Like a human comet, Kite came soaring out of the massive sinkhole, his body twisting and flipping effortlessly through the air, his joyous laughter echoing across the open skies.


    Rad barely had time to react before Kite nearly collided with him, missing by inches. “What did you do!?” Rad shrieked, flailing wildly as their hair and jackets were nearly ripped from their bodies by the powerful winds.


    Kite, however, only laughed harder, his expression absolutely ecstatic. He spread his arms out wide, embracing the rush of adrenaline coursing through him.


    “I think I woke them up!” he finally shouted in excitement, a grin stretching from ear to ear.


    Rad’s stomach dropped. “You what!?” he shrieked, his voice nearly lost to the roaring wind.


    But before either of them could process the chaos, the desert shook. The very earth beneath them trembled violently, sending ripples of shockwaves across the sandy expanse.


    Then, a deep, ancient groaning sound rumbled from below. The ground cracked open in jagged, uneven fractures, vast sinkholes swallowing entire dunes as colossal stone and metal hands erupted from beneath the surface.


    One after another, enormous fingers, carved from time-worn stone and gilded with faded gold, tore their way through the desert floor, pushing aside centuries of buried history. Then—they rose.


    The Sentinels. Towering humanoid constructs, standing at impossible heights, their massive frames crafted from ancient metals, weathered stone, and intricate carvings of civilizations long forgotten. Each Sentinel’s face was unique—some chiseled with the solemn expressions of eternal guardians, others bearing intricate masks adorned with runes of old gods.


    Their bodies were draped in remnants of ceremonial attire—tattered golden sashes, regal capes frayed at the edges, and layers of intricate armor fused with the very elements of the desert itself. Some wore ornate collars, etched with mystic sigils, while others carried engraved weapons, their blades dull with age but still brimming with dormant power.


    And in their massive, outstretched hands, they carried entire cities. Ancient metropolises, resting within the cradles of their palms, their stone towers rising like forgotten relics, their streets glowing faintly as the magic that once fueled them flickered weakly back to life.


    The ground continued to tremble as the Sentinels took their first steps in centuries, their movements slow, deliberate, yet filled with a purposeful grace. Rad’s breath caught in his throat as his entire body locked up in shock.


    Above him, Ray’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something almost nostalgic glinting in his gaze. Then, with a knowing smirk, he whispered under his breath. “It’s been years since I’ve gotten to see a Vantari Titan.”


    Then—without warning, Ray leaped off Rad’s back. His small frame glowed brightly, his cosmic aura flaring as he shot through the sky like a streak of celestial energy.


    His movements were fast—inhumanly fast. Rad, still tumbling through the air, reached out desperately, his voice full of panic.


    “Ray! Come back!” But his plea was lost as Ray became nothing more than a streak of violet light against the endless sunlit sky, racing toward the Sentinels vanishing into the distant sands.


    “Rad, look! Below us!” Kite shouted, his voice brimming with exhilaration as he thrust a finger downward. Rad barely had time to react before his eyes snapped to where Kite was pointing.


    The moment he saw it—his face drained of all color. His breath hitched violently, his entire body locking up in midair as sheer horror took hold of him. His pupils shrank, his heart hammering so hard it felt as though it would burst from his chest.


    Words tried to form—but his throat refused to work. Beneath them, the newly awakened Sentinel shifted, its titanic body groaning as it rose from the sand, ancient metal and stone creaking with unimaginable weight.


    Its colossal arm reached skyward, a massive shadow consuming the dunes below as the Sentinel stretched its fingers toward them, its sheer immensity swallowing the sky itself. A tidal wave of sand and shattered ruins cascaded off of its monolithic form, raining down in golden streams as ancient debris tumbled like falling meteors.


    Rad’s voice finally returned, but only in the form of an ear-splitting scream. Kite, however, only laughed.


    His face was alight with pure, reckless joy, his emerald eyes shimmering as he angled his descent, his body slicing through the air with precision. The two of them plummeted toward the Sentinel’s enormous, outstretched hand—and barely made it through the gaps between its rocky fingertips.


    The massive stone digits pulsed, glowing with swirling ethereal energy, the glow cascading through the engraved veins of the titan’s palm like liquid stardust. The very air trembled as the Sentinel released a deep, guttural roar, its voice a thunderous wave that rolled across the desert like an earthquake.


    The sudden burst of wind whipped through the sky, throwing Kite and Rad like weightless feathers in a hurricane. Their jackets and hair billowed violently, their cheeks tinged pink from the sheer force of the air pressure.


    The Sentinel’s eyes glowed brilliantly, two orbs of radiant blue and violet flame, illuminating the desert as it fully roused from its slumber. Kite’s grin widened as he dived toward its mouth.


    “Whoa!” he shouted, flipping effortlessly through the air as he sped toward the open maw. Rad, however, was not nearly as composed.


    “NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOO—!” Rad shrieked, his arms and legs flailing uncontrollably as he spun like a broken windmill, his descent an absolute chaotic disaster. Unbeknownst to him, a faint cosmic aura had surrounded his body, a thin, protective veil of energy ensuring he wouldn’t be crushed upon impact. But in his panic-stricken state, he was completely oblivious to it.


    The Sentinel’s gargantuan mouth loomed open, an ancient cavern within the titan’s face. Its jagged interior was cylindrical yet vast, a tunnel-like abyss that stretched deep into the heart of the construct.


    Its inner walls were lined with intricate carvings and forgotten scripts, each pulsing in unison with the Sentinel’s ethereal glow. Engravings of celestial maps, cryptic symbols, and battle-worn murals painted a story lost to time, their mystic light illuminating the descent.


    Yet—something else caught Kite’s eye as he plummeted deeper into the Sentinel’s gaping maw. Railways.


    Scattered metallic tracks, eerily smooth and almost alien in craftsmanship, ran through various tunnels branching off the main passageway. These ancient pathways, once used for transportation, now lay dormant. Except…


    Kite’s breath hitched as his gaze locked onto the eerie sight before him. Encased figures. Dozens—no, hundreds—of sleeping inhabitants, their bodies trapped within strange crystalline cocoons, sat motionless along the abandoned railways, as if frozen in time.


    But they were changing. Thin veins of emerald glowing cracks splintered across their prison-like shells, the light slowly spreading, like embers burning through a fragile parchment. They were awakening.


    Kite laughed wildly, his voice ringing through the tunnel as he twisted midair with effortless agility, landing perfectly on his feet. His beige shoes ignited with vibrant golden sparks, their friction against the Sentinel’s smooth metallic walls creating a dazzling display of energy.


    With practiced ease, he leaned forward, using the downward momentum to skate deeper into the titan’s vast, hollow esophagus. Rad, on the other hand, was in absolute chaos.


    Unlike Kite’s graceful descent, Rad’s back crashed against the curved walls as he quickly slid like an upside down turtle, his body flailing hysterically as he spun out of control. His panicked shrieks echoed violently through the tunnel, blending with the soft hum of awakening magic.


    His cosmic aura pulsed in erratic bursts, a deep, eerie violet light casting long, warped shadows along the walls and shimmering across the ancient mineshafts. Despite his disastrous trajectory, Rad somehow managed to match Kite’s speed, both of them racing deeper into the Sentinel’s body at breakneck velocity.


    As they careened through the winding tunnels, the Sentinel’s interior came alive. With each sharp turn, with each roaring gust of wind trailing in their wake, more and more inhabitants began to stir.


    They were encased in crystalline shells, once frozen in time, but now the fractures widened, their dreamlike prison crumbling as they stirred awake. At first, their expressions were sluggish, eyes filled with the fog of centuries lost to sleep. But the moment they saw two blurs of light racing past them—one golden, one violet—their confusion quickly turned to shock.


    A bewildered elderly man stumbled into Kite’s path, his frail body swaying as if he were still adjusting to the weight of being awake. Kite barely dodged him, his movements instinctive, precise—his body tilting just enough to weave around the man at the last second.


    For a moment, as Kite and the old man locked eyes, time seemed to slow. The elderly man’s eyes were wide, raw with fear, his mind struggling to comprehend the spectacle before him. Who are these strangers? Why is the city awake?


    Meanwhile, Kite’s own gaze held none of that confusion. His eyes were alight with pure, unbridled joy, the fire of adventure roaring within him.


    And just like that they were gone. Kite and Rad raced deeper and deeper, Rad’s hysterical wails growing louder, his body still twisting in chaotic spirals along the Sentinel’s smooth interior.


    Violet cosmic sparks erupted in his wake, tiny streaks of pure energy dancing through the air and illuminating the ancient carvings lining the tunnel walls. Then—the tunnel ended.


    A solid wall loomed ahead, stretching from floor to ceiling, its dark, shimmering surface pulsing ominously. He finally managed to right himself, just in time to recognize the horrifying reality of what they were about to collide with.


    The entire dead-end was made of Aetherium Stone—the strongest and most toxic material on the planet.


    Capable of dissolving even the most resilient of species upon contact. Rad’s breath caught in his throat as his body rocketed uncontrollably toward certain death.


    “OH, HELL NO!” he screeched, his voice breaking. Kite, who had finally caught up beside him, still wearing a massive grin, only now seemed to realize the problem.


    His slightly glowing eyes, still shimmering with thrill, darted to the wall in front of them, then back to Rad. Rad’s face was contorted in absolute horror.


    Kite’s, however, was still glowing with exhilaration as he laughed. And then—both of them screamed at the exact same time. “WE’RE GONNA DIE!”


    Their voices echoed violently, mixing into a single chaotic symphony of terror and glee. Then, just as their bodies neared inches from an agonizing fate, a portal sliced into existence before them. Its razor-sharp cosmic edges flickered violently, scattering a shower of celestial sparks into the air as the two of them plunged through at full speed.