《Beyond the Edge of the Rift》 Volume 1 Prologue Volume I Prologue ¡°Attention all personnel, this is the final countdown for the release of the Vanguard capsule from the United Nations Orbital Dock. Please ensure all systems are green and personnel are in their designated positions. T-minus 10 minutes and counting.¡± The announcement crackled through my headset, the voice calm yet tinged with an unmistakable weight of expectation. In response, I performed my final checks¡ªor, to be precise, I let the onboard AI handle them. ¡°Scanning for the 120th time,¡± Claire, my artificial companion, reported in a voice I recognized. Smooth, familiar, distinctly human. The United Nations had hired a famous voice actress for her, supposedly to make my journey "a little less lonely." I could appreciate the effort, though it only served as a reminder of how alone I truly was up here. Through the monitor in front of me, I gazed down at Earth¡ªa stunning blue marble suspended in the void. Beneath me stretched the North American continent, basking in daylight. The sight was humbling, the kind that made you reflect on humanity¡¯s place in the universe. But that peace was stained by it. Even from orbit, the Wave was visible¡ªa distortion in the atmosphere, like a gash in reality itself. The first Wave appeared on Christmas Day, 1960, over the Manhattan skyline. Without warning, monstrous creatures poured out¡ªthings torn straight from nightmares. Goblins, hulking ogres, and later, five-story flying dragons impervious to early armor-piercing rounds. The attack was catastrophic, claiming tens of thousands of lives within hours. Panic spread like wildfire, and in sheer desperation, the U.S. government nearly resorted to hydrogen bombs to wipe out the creatures. Accusations followed. The Cold War was at its peak, and Washington was quick to blame Moscow. Skirmishes flared between East and West Germany. Fleets clashed in the Baltic, the Bering Strait, and the Black Sea. NATO invoked Article 5, and the Soviet Bloc countered in kind. The world teetered on the brink of nuclear annihilation¡ªnot against the monsters, but against each other. Then, a year later, it happened again. This time, the Wave didn¡¯t just open over New York. London, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro¡ªseventeen major cities worldwide were caught in the onslaught. Despite warnings from American intelligence, most nations were unprepared. The resulting death toll was beyond comprehension. The United Nations intervened, deploying international forces to contain the outbreaks. It took three months to exterminate the creatures and another three for cleanup. The panic that followed nearly toppled governments. In response, the UN forced drastic reforms, taking control of global security measures. Over the following decades, the Waves continued¡ªeach time more devastating than the last. Every five years, a Calamity Wave would strike, unleashing beings so massive and so incomprehensible they defied physics itself. A twenty-story Hydra. A winged leviathan that burned cities to cinders. In sheer terror, humanity turned to its deadliest weapons. Nuclear fire wiped out the first two Calamity Waves, proving that while these monsters were beyond reason, they were not invincible. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! By the dawn of the 21st century, the world had changed beyond recognition. Germany and Korea were forcibly unified under UN administration. The Cold War, once the defining conflict of humanity, ended in 2001 with the dissolution of NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The greatest discovery, however, was found within the monsters themselves. Anomalous Matter. Colloquially known as magic, traces of it were discovered in the corpses of the creatures. Dragons, in particular, possessed high concentrations. Though Earth¡¯s ambient levels remained low, scientists theorized that magic was seeping into our world with every Wave. Its applications were still confined to laboratories, but the implications were staggering. ¡°T-minus 5 minutes and counting. All systems are nominal. The Vanguard capsule is secured and ready for release.¡± December 25, 2024. Humanity¡¯s first attempt to breach a Wave. And I¡ªFirst Lieutenant Erika C. Albert, United Nations Earth Defense Space Force¡ªwas chosen for the mission. When I received my assignment six years ago, I was overwhelmed with pride. But I also understood why I was selected. It wasn¡¯t just because of my skill or endurance. It was because I had no family. If something went wrong, if I never returned, there would be no grieving parents, no siblings left behind. I had friends, of course¡ªpeople I already missed. But they were part of why I was doing this. For them. For the millions who had lost their families to the Waves. For a future where no child would be orphaned by these monsters ever again. This was for all of them. ¡°T-minus 1 minute. Final checks are complete. The capsule¡¯s trajectory is locked, and the descent path is clear.¡± The Vanguard capsule was a marvel of engineering. A craft designed for any scenario¡ªwhether I found myself in deep space, the crushing depths of the ocean, or even the heart of a star. It was part spacecraft, part submarine, part home. In the worst-case scenario, I could survive inside for up to two years. ¡°T-minus 30 seconds. Initiating final release sequence.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Claire, do we have a copy of the entertainment materials I requested?¡± [ ¡°Affirmative.¡± ] A wave of relief washed over me. ¡°Oh, thank God. Do you have a name?¡± [ ¡°I am Deep Space Artificial Intelligence Companion Version I, developed by the United Nations Space Exploration Council.¡± ] ¡°That¡¯s way too long¡­ Hmm¡­ How about Claire?¡± [ ¡°Nickname Claire, registered.¡± ] ¡°Nice! Looks like we¡¯re stuck with each other for a while.¡± [ ¡°Affirmative.¡± ] I smirked. At least I wouldn¡¯t be completely alone. ¡°T-minus 10 seconds. 10¡­ 9¡­ 8¡­ 7¡­ 6¡­ 5¡­ 4¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­¡± I whispered, ¡°Everyone¡­ see you on the other side.¡± ¡°Release! The Vanguard capsule is now descending from orbit. All systems are functioning within normal parameters. Mission Control to Vanguard, you are clear for atmospheric entry. Godspeed.¡± The capsule detached. Small thrusters fired, correcting my trajectory. I watched the monitors as Earth grew closer. The blue sky slowly replaced the black void of space. Then¡ª Static. ¡°Mission Control?¡± I frowned. ¡°Do you copy?¡± [ ¡°Warning: Unknown interference detected.¡± ] It was expected. Communications often faltered around a Wave. Then, the emergency alarms blared. [ ¡°Alert: Surge of Anomalous Matter detected. Levels exceeding maximum threshold¡ª<>¡ªBeyond measurable range.¡± ] My chest tightened. Breathing became difficult. And then¡ªI saw it. A figure. Otherworldly. Beautiful beyond comprehension. Its gaze turned toward me. And everything went black. The Vanguard capsule was never found. From that moment on, the Waves vanished worldwide. Despite an exhaustive five-year-long search, not a single trace of the capsule was recovered. First Lieutenant Erika C. Albert was declared lost. Posthumously, she was awarded the Defender of Earth Against Extra Dimensional Beings medal. She would be the last to ever receive it. Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Pain. A deep, dull ache seeped through my body, reminiscent of the brutal first months of my EVA training¡ªmuscles stiff, joints sore, the kind of exhaustion that makes even breathing feel like a task. But pain meant I was alive. I groaned, shifting slightly as my senses returned. My eyelids feel heavy, but I forced them open. The dim interior of the Vanguard¡¯s cabin greeted me, flickering emergency lights barely illuminating the cramped space. I survived. I sucked in a breath, steadying my nerves before turning my head toward the only remaining operational monitor. It displayed a status report¡ªan unsettling sea of red. Six out of eight emergency redundancy measures had activated while I was unconscious. Not good. I reached for the communication panel, flipping the switch with a gloved hand. "This is Vanguard to Mission Control. Operation Knocking Heaven¡¯s Gate is a failure. Requesting immediate extraction at¡ª" The words died in my throat as a blinking ERROR message replaced the expected coordinates. "No navigation satellites detected." What? I frowned and switched to the capsule¡¯s Astro-Inertial Navigation System. A more primitive, but still highly reliable backup, meant to track my position based on the stars. But instead of pinpointing my location, another error flashed on the screen: "Star map mismatch. Celestial alignment does not correspond to any known Earth hemisphere." I sat there, gripping the edge of the console, staring at the screen. No satellites. No communications. The stars were wrong. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. My heart was already hammering in my chest, but panic wouldn''t solve anything. Deep breaths. Stick to protocol. I ran a full system diagnostic. Five minutes later, the results confirmed what I already suspected. The Vanguard had barely managed to deploy its parachutes before hitting the ground. The main thrusters burned through every drop of reserve fuel to slow my descent. Four out of four communication relay drones were offline. Six out of eight exterior cameras were destroyed. Environmental sensors were operational, but¡­ I hesitated as the readings came in. External temperature: -15¡ãC. Humidity: 80%. Wind: 5 km/h, eastward. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Anomalous Matter Concentration: Twenty times the Earth¡¯s recorded maximum. I exhaled slowly. That last reading was bad. Magic¡ªAnomalous Matter, as scientists preferred to call it¡ªhad been steadily increasing on Earth since the first Wave in 1960. But even in the most concentrated laboratory environments, the levels never came close to this. I pushed those thoughts aside and accessed the remaining two operational cameras. By sheer luck, they were the ones mounted on the extendable boom, giving me a better field of view. A snow-covered expanse filled the screen, stretching endlessly in every direction. Boreal forest. Tall, frost-coated pines. Deep snow. A distant mountain range. I frowned. Siberia? Canada? The Urals? But that didn''t make sense. Even in the most remote parts of the world, some form of satellite coverage should be present¡ªespecially in the modern era, where the Waves made global surveillance an absolute necessity. The silence in my headset was suffocating. I clenched my fists and focused on my next move. I had to confirm my surroundings. First, I fired up one of the distress flares. A sharp whoosh filled the cabin as the flare ignited, streaking into the sky in a trail of red smoke. Two kilometers up, the parachute deployed, suspending a 60,000-candela light. It would burn as long as it remained airborne¡ªan unmistakable beacon in this desolate wilderness. I turned my attention to the Vanguard¡¯s exterior. The capsule had seen better days. Its once-pristine white surface was scorched and peeling, the United Nations emblem barely recognizable. Most of the lettering on the "Vanguard Capsule" had been scraped away by the sheer violence of atmospheric reentry. I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Yeah¡­ I really don¡¯t like where this is going." Shaking off the unease creeping up my spine, I turned to my supplies. Food? Five years¡¯ worth of flavored nutrient paste. Depressing, but nutritionally complete. At least they gave me flavors I liked¡ªShawarma, Chicken Curry, Bluefin Tuna Sushi. Water? Two weeks¡¯ worth of bottled reserves, plus filtration systems capable of extracting and purifying water from moisture, streams, or even seawater. Medical supplies? Portable prosthetics printer. Weird. Enough materials to print twenty-six legs. Even weirder. Then I noticed a handwritten note. "In case you get lonely, you can print a di¡ª" I nearly choked. My best friend Yuri had written this. I wiped my eyes, snorting despite myself. Another note underneath it read: "You now owe me 7 million Yen. Pay me back with interest when you return." I shook my head, exhaling a shaky breath. ¡°Damn it, Yuri.¡± I checked for equipment: PIPS Mark IV Power Armor ¨C self-repairing nanomachine-enhanced NBC suit. Can withstand extreme conditions (including direct exposure to a star¡¯s surface). SIG Sauer XM-16 ¡®Aegis¡¯ Plasma Rifle ¨C integrated microfusion reactor, self-repairing via nanomachines. 60 shots per solar-charged magazine. FN Five-seveN pistol ¨C standard-issue. Nothing fancy. Tactical shovel ¨C because why not? I took out my hiking pack and started methodically organizing everything. Unlike my past laziness in training, this time I made sure to do it right. An hour later, I was suited up. A notification appeared on my visor. [ "Deep Space AI Companion, Claire: Successfully Rebooted." ] I turned toward one of the operational drones and activated the proxy link. ¡°Claire, status check?¡± [ "Proxy drone operational." ] I nodded. "Alright. I''m heading out. Full power mode on the suit. Anomalous Matter levels are too high to risk unprotected exposure." [ "Understood. I advise destroying the probe before moving forward." ] ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s just grab the distress beacon first.¡± I pressed the button to equalize pressure. The hiss of depressurization filled the cabin. A warning flashed on my HUD: "External Mana Radiation: EXTREME." I ignored it. With a slow creak, the hatch opened. Natural light spilled in, blinding after so long in the dim interior. Snowflakes drifted through the air, catching the sunlight, casting tiny rainbows across the landscape. I took my first step outside. The ground was firm. The snow crunched beneath my boots. I lifted my gaze to the sky, tracking the flare still burning above me, as bright as the sun. I exhaled, my breath fogging against my visor. "Yeah," I muttered, scanning the endless, untouched wilderness. "I don''t have a fucking clue where I am." Chapter 2 Chapter 2 First, survive. Then, understand. Snow crunched beneath my boots as I took another step. The cold bit at me despite the PIPS Mark IV suit regulating my body temperature. A pale sun hung in the sky, casting long shadows across the frozen landscape. The wind howled softly, whispering through the trees. I turned back toward the Vanguard Capsule. It sat there¡ªscarred, battered, but intact. Charring and scratching marred the once-pristine white shell, making the United Nations emblem barely distinguishable. It looked more like a relic than the peak of modern engineering. Despite its rough shape, it wasn¡¯t completely dead. I crouched beside the capsule, running a diagnostic through my visor interface. As I expected, the damage fried most systems. But to my surprise¡­ The mobility system is operational. Both legs and tracks survived reentry. I let out a breath I didn¡¯t realize I was holding. That was a game-changer. The Vanguard wasn¡¯t just a glorified shelter¡ªit was a mobile outpost. If I could repair and refuel it, I wouldn¡¯t have to be stuck in one place. "Claire, confirm the status of the mobility system." [ "Legs and tracks are intact. Minor repairs required, but movement is possible." ] I exhaled. "Good. That means we have options." My voice came out steadier than I felt. Having the capsule mobile was reassuring, but where would I even go? I shook the thought away for now. First, I needed to secure the area. I turned toward the vast, snowy forest. Tall conifer-like trees surrounded the crash site, their trunks covered in thick, blackish bark instead of the familiar brown. The needles had an odd blue hue¡ªnot artificial, but subtly different from anything I¡¯d seen on Earth. I ran a gloved hand over the rough surface of the nearest tree. The PIPS suit performed a quick material analysis. [Composition: 70% cellulose, 15% unknown organic compound, 5% anomalous trace elements.] I frowned. "Unknown organic compound?" That wasn¡¯t something I wanted to see in a survival situation. Claire, ever efficient, seemed to sense my concern. [ "Preliminary analysis suggests biological similarity to Earth-based conifers. However, molecular structure contains foreign elements. Further study recommended." ] "Yeah, no kidding." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. I moved to the ground, scooping up a handful of snow. It looked normal enough, but when I activated the chemical scanner, the results were¡­ puzzling. [H?O detected. Additional trace elements present: Non-toxic. Anomalous matter density: 3x standard.] Three times the usual mana concentration in something as simple as snow. I let the snow trickle through my fingers, watching the way it caught the light. Was I really still on Earth? I dismissed the thought. Jumping to conclusions wouldn¡¯t help me. Instead, I focused on fortifying my position. I retrieved my tactical shovel and began digging a trench around the Vanguard. The frozen soil made it a slow, exhausting process, but I welcomed the effort. It kept my mind occupied. After a while, I gathered branches from the alien conifers to construct makeshift barricades. Using the PIPS suit¡¯s built-in nanomachines, I reinforced them with a hardened layer of material extracted from the trees. The result wasn¡¯t pretty, but it would serve as a basic deterrent. The more I worked, the more I noticed subtle differences in the environment. The trees, the snow, even the air¡ªeverything was just slightly wrong. Unfamiliar. And that realization unsettled me. [ "Perimeter fortifications: 35% complete. Initiating scouting protocol. ] Claire¡¯s drone proxy whirred to life, its sleek metal frame hovering above me. The other three drones followed, dispersing outward in a synchronized sweep. I watched them disappear into the tree line. "Claire, focus on mapping resources¡ªfood, water, anything useful. Also, look for signs of life. If we¡¯re in some isolated part of the world, we should at least find evidence of local wildlife." [ "Understood. Sweep radius: 5 kilometers." ] With Claire gone, silence returned. I sat against the Vanguard¡¯s hull, running my fingers over the UN emblem. The once-bold letters faded, scratched beyond recognition. It reminded me of how quickly things could fall apart. I sighed, pressing my visor against my knee. Alone. I wasn''t the sentimental type, but having Claire around helped. Even if she was just a voice in my head. An hour passed before Claire¡¯s voice crackled back to life. [ "Recon sweep complete. Compiling report." ] I sat up. "Let¡¯s hear it." [ "Detected multiple potential resource sites. Summary as follows: ]
  1. Water source: 2.4 kilometers north. Possible freshwater stream.
  2. Edible flora: Unknown plant species resembling berries. Further analysis required.
  3. Animal life: Unidentified fauna detected. No visual match to Earth-based species.
  4. Additional anomaly: Evidence of human activity.
I straightened. "Human activity?" [ "Remnants of a controlled fire. Estimated time of last use: 3-5 days ago." ] A cold chill ran down my spine, and for once, it wasn''t the wind. I processed the information carefully. If someone made a fire here, that meant at least one other person was out there. But the fact that someone had abandoned the fire suggested... what? That they had moved on? That they didn¡¯t want to be found? Or that something had happened to them? I rubbed my temples, exhaling sharply. First real sign of civilization, and it¡¯s a damn campfire. I looked at the sky¡ªthe flare was still burning. If anyone was nearby, they would have seen it. Claire, can you determine whether Earth-native materials were used to make the fire? [ "Analysis inconclusive. Fire remnants suggest combustion from organic material similar to Earth¡¯s, but trace elements are inconsistent with standard wood ash." ] More unknowns. I wanted to believe I was still on Earth. That I had just crashed in some uncharted wilderness. But the trees, the sky, the lack of satellites, and now¡­ this? I clenched my fists. "Alright," I muttered. "New plan." I opened my HUD, setting new objectives.
  1. Secure a water source.
  2. Investigate edible plant life.
  3. Analyze local wildlife.
  4. Decide whether to approach the abandoned campfire.
I shut off the HUD and stood up, stretching my arms. "Claire," I said. "Looks like we¡¯ve got work to do." [ "Affirmative." ] I exhaled, staring toward the forest. For now, survival came first. The answers would come later. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Curiosity is dangerous, but ignoring it is worse. The Vanguard Capsule was in better shape than I had expected, but that didn¡¯t mean it was in good shape. I ran my gloved hand along the battered hull, feeling the rough patches where someone had stripped away the thermal shielding. Despite everything, the legs and tracks were functional, meaning I had some mobility if I needed it. That was one problem solved. I exhaled, my breath fogging inside my visor. The cold had settled into my bones¡ªnot from the temperature, but from the unease creeping at the edges of my thoughts. I turned toward the distant abandoned campfire. Even though it was kilometers away, I felt its presence like an itch at the back of my mind. Someone had been there. But who? And where were they now? My fingers hovered over the navigation controls on my HUD, debating whether to reroute my plans and investigate now. But common sense won out. I wasn¡¯t ready for a first encounter. Instead, I issued an order. "Claire, assign one drone to monitor the campfire site at all times. I want movement alerts and infrared scans running on a loop." [ "Acknowledged. Recon drone assigned. Real-time feed available on request." ] I nodded. That was one precaution taken. For now, repairs came first. The repairs were minor, but necessary. With the Vanguard still operational, I could use it as a base camp. The nanomachine repair system took care of the worst of the hull damage, and I spent the next few hours reinforcing the exterior armor plating. I also ran full diagnostics on the life-support system, ensuring that¡ªif needed¡ªI could stay inside for extended periods. The solar panels were a mess, but some were salvageable. Enough to keep the capsule functional. As I worked, I kept glancing at the horizon, as if expecting someone¡ªor something¡ªto emerge from the tree line. But nothing came. The forest remained silent. Too silent. After fixing the Vanguard to the best of my ability, I proceeded to my next objective. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Survival Rule #1: Secure water. "Claire, set tomorrow¡¯s primary objective to investigate the water source two kilometers north." [ "Objective set. Do you wish to depart at first light?" ] I hesitated, rolling my shoulders. "Depends on how bad my exhaustion hits. But yeah, that¡¯s the plan." [ "Acknowledged. Would you like a reminder of your secondary objectives?" ] I smirked. "Let me guess. ''Stop getting distracted, Erika?''" [ "That is an informal way of putting it, but yes." ] I chuckled softly. "Got it, Mom." Claire didn¡¯t respond to that, but I could almost imagine her exasperation. By the time I finished repairs, exhaustion weighed on me like a lead blanket. I should have gone inside the Vanguard to sleep properly. But that meant full decontamination procedures. And I just didn¡¯t have the energy for that tonight. Instead, I sat against the capsule¡¯s hull and set my PIPS suit to rest mode. The self-adjusting gel layers inside adjusted for comfort, and the visor dimmed automatically. [ "Would you like me to monitor your vitals while you rest?" ] Claire asked. I hesitated for only a moment. "Yeah. Thanks." There was a short pause. Then, Claire¡¯s voice softened. [ "Good night, Erika." ] I blinked. It was the first time she had ever said that to me. "...Good night, Claire." The forest was still silent, but it felt less lonely. I woke up to static in my ears. [ "Erika, vitals stable. External temperature: -13¡ãC. No movement detected near perimeter." ] I grunted, stretching inside the PIPS suit. Sleeping inside armor wasn¡¯t ideal, but I¡¯d had worse during survival training. I grabbed one of my filtered water bottles and took a sip of the recycled moisture from the suit¡¯s reserves. It wasn¡¯t bad, but it wasn¡¯t good either. Fresh water was priority. After a quick check of my equipment, I set out toward the water source. The stream was exactly where Claire had mapped it. A narrow, winding ribbon of dark water, flowing sluggishly between banks lined with thick, frost-covered reeds. I crouched near the edge and dipped my filtered bottle into the current. The onboard nano-purification system kicked in, scanning for contaminants. The results came back safe. In fact¡­ [H?O detected. Trace minerals present. Purity level: 98.7%.] I blinked. That was cleaner than most bottled water back home. But there was something else. The scanner detected faint traces of Anomalous Matter in the water¡ªnot harmful, but unnatural. I ran my gloved fingers through the water, watching the ripples distort oddly. "Yeah," I muttered. "Not Earth." I quickly shook off the thought. Not jumping to conclusions. Claire, of course, wasn¡¯t having it. [ "Erika, you are deviating from your primary objective." ] I sighed, capping my bottle. "Fine, fine. Moving on." The next objective was identifying potential food sources. The first plants I found were berry-like clusters hanging from deep-purple bushes. They looked like blackberries, but the scanner flagged them as having unclassified organic compounds. "Edible or poisonous?" I mused. [ "Unknown. Further testing required." ] "Yeah, I figured." Then, I found tracks. The footprints were large, clawed, and not remotely human. Something big had passed through here recently. I exhaled slowly. "Well. That¡¯s not terrifying at all." Claire was silent for a moment. [ "Erika, I recommend establishing a perimeter security system." ] I smirked. "What, afraid of monsters?" [ "I am incapable of fear. You, however, should be concerned." ] Fair point. I spent the next few hours setting up rudimentary early-warning systems. Using tripwires, motion sensors, and some basic nanotech modifications, I rigged a system that would alert me if anything large entered my camp. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was better than nothing. Finally, exhaustion set in again. This time, I climbed onto the Vanguard¡¯s probe platform, sitting against the cool metal. The sky above was clear, the stars unfamiliar but beautiful. "...Hey, Claire?" [ "Yes?" ] "Thanks for keeping me sane." A pause. Then¡ª [ "That is my function." ] I smirked, closing my eyes. "Good night, Claire." [ "Good night, Erika." ] And for the first time since landing, I felt safe. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The difference between life and death is knowing when something is wrong. Day 3. I spent the morning mapping the surrounding terrain, expanding my knowledge of the land beyond the sweep area. The boreal forest stretched endlessly, the snow-covered ground unmarred except for the occasional animal track. The campfire loomed at the edge of my thoughts, but I wasn¡¯t going to stumble into it blindly. Caution first. Always. It was a tiny thing. A brittle fragment sticking out of the snow, barely noticeable. If I hadn¡¯t been scanning the area so methodically, I would have walked right past it. I crouched, brushing away the snow with gloved fingers. The object was about four centimeters long, metallic but weathered, dulled by exposure. At first, I thought it was a shard of natural ore¡ªmaybe iron or nickel, something pulled from deep underground. But the way it reflected light in uneven patches made me pause. I pulled out a sensor tool from my belt, running a quick scan. The readings came back normal. Too normal. It was processed metal. I frowned, turning it over in my hand. A perfectly straight edge. Slight curvature. I felt something crawl up my spine. This wasn¡¯t a naturally occurring fragment. It was manufactured. But who had made it? And when? For a long moment, I just stared at it. It could have belonged to anything¡ªa rusted tool, a broken knife, even a piece of armor. Claire''s voice broke my thoughts. [ "Erika, you are deviating from your primary objective." ] I blinked. ¡°Yeah, yeah. I know.¡± Still, I placed the fragment inside my sample pouch. I¡¯d analyze it later. With the campfire site still an unknown, I decided to prepare the approach. I spent the next few hours setting up temporary defensive emplacements along the direct path toward it. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The terrain was mostly flat, but I used the environment to my advantage¡ªpositioning reinforced barricades of fallen logs, digging shallow pits, and strategically placing tripwires that connected to small, non-lethal noise traps. I wasn¡¯t expecting a fight. But I wasn¡¯t going to be caught unprepared. Once I had secured my position, I returned to the Vanguard and prepared another distress signal. I fired the flare, watching as it soared into the sky, burning with an intense red glow. At the same time, I activated the broadband distress broadcast. Nothing. The same deafening silence. I clenched my jaw, staring at the signal monitor, waiting for something¡ªanything¡ªto change. Static. I gripped the console tightly, feeling frustration bubble up inside me. Three days. Three flares. Three broadcasts. And nothing. Not even an automated satellite response. I forced myself to inhale deeply, calming my pulse. Claire, ever the observer, intervened. [ "Your heart rate has increased by 17%. I recommend breathing exercises." ] I exhaled, closing my eyes for a second. "I¡¯m fine, Claire." [ "That statement contradicts available data." ] I chuckled dryly. ¡°You really don¡¯t let things slide, huh?¡± [ "Correct." ] I shook my head, letting the tension fade. No use wasting energy on frustration. I had other things to focus on. The sky darkened. The forest changed. During the day, the boreal landscape had felt quiet, serene. Now, it felt vast, hollow, unknowable. As I secured the Vanguard for the night, I did my final checks. The tripwires were in place. The defensive structures were stable. The drones were still patrolling. Everything was in order. And yet¡­ A deep unease settled in my gut. It was the kind of silence that wasn¡¯t normal. Not a single branch cracked. Not a single animal stirred. I knew this feeling. Something was watching. Then¡ª A sudden, sharp tremor. It wasn¡¯t natural. It wasn¡¯t random. The ground shook once, as if something had slammed into the earth¡ªfar away, but heavy enough that I could feel it through my boots. I immediately switched my visor to infrared scan, but the distance was too great. Claire¡¯s voice came through, steady but alert. [ "Seismic disturbance detected. Source: Unknown. Distance: Estimated 6-10 kilometers." ] I swallowed. "Was that¡­ a natural quake?" [ "The pattern is inconsistent with tectonic activity. Likely caused by external force." ] I stared toward the darkness. My mind immediately flickered to the campfire. Had something happened there? A battle? A struggle? Had someone been attacked? I took an unconscious step forward¡ªthen stopped myself. No. Not yet. Too soon to jump in blind. I had to gather more information. Then, five seconds later¡ª A roar. Deep. Monstrous. Ancient. My blood ran cold. I knew that sound. I had heard it in old UN footage. I had seen the grainy black-and-white recordings from 1960. The first Wave. The roar of a Juggernaut. Massive, four-legged beasts that had ripped through entire battalions in the early days of the invasion. Thick armored hides, tusks that could impale a tank, and unrelenting aggression. Humanity had feared them in the first three Waves¡ªbefore learning how to bring them down. But this wasn''t Earth. And if that was truly a Juggernaut¡­ I felt my fingers twitch toward my plasma rifle. Claire¡¯s voice came through, softer than usual. [ "Erika." ] I exhaled, slowly lowering my hand. ¡°I know.¡± We weren¡¯t ready. I turned my gaze toward the dark forest beyond the perimeter. The roar faded into the night. But something had changed. Until now, I had been clinging to the belief that I was simply stranded in an unknown part of Earth. That belief was crumbling. Because if the creatures from the Wave existed here¡­ Then what exactly had I stepped into? Chapter 4.1 Chapter 4.1 A Day Before the Crash The six rangers moved silently through the undergrowth, their dark cloaks blending with the shadows cast by the towering trees. The Forest of Vetrarhold¡ªa vast, untamed expanse of ancient woodlands¡ªwas always dangerous, but tonight, it felt different. They were hunting something. Or rather, tracking it. A Hr?zla-Bein. The Bone Terror. The mere thought of it sent a chill through the leader¡¯s spine. The old texts claimed that these creatures were once thought extinct, but in the past decade, sightings had increased, always near the Zones. One of these monsters could raze a fortified city, tear through legions of trained soldiers, and render the land cursed for decades. The fact that it had been sighted this deep in the forest was more than a cause for concern¡ªit was a threat to the entire kingdom. The rangers weren¡¯t here to kill it. That was impossible. Their mission was simpler¡ªcast a tracking spell on the beast. Once it was marked, the kingdom¡¯s mages could follow its movements and, with enough preparation, a force capable of slaying it could be assembled. The trick was getting close enough to cast it. As night fell, the rangers sought shelter in a cave, their training preventing them from making the mistake of camping out in the open. They had long abandoned the use of campfires this deep into Vetrarhold¡ªthe creatures here had an unnatural draw to light and warmth. They took turns standing watch, the eerie stillness of the forest amplifying every rustling leaf, every distant cry of unseen predators. Then, at midnight, as one of the rangers moved to wake his replacement, a sound like the heavens shattering ripped through the sky. A burning orb of fire descended from the clouds, illuminating the night for several brief, terrifying seconds. The rangers instinctively pressed themselves against the cave walls, eyes tracking the brilliant light as it streaked downward and vanished beyond the treetops. It had fallen in the direction of their previous campsite¡ªfive days'' journey behind them. Silence followed, save for the quiet hiss of burning embers in the distance. For a long moment, none of them spoke. Then, one of the rangers¡ªRurik, the sharp-eyed scout¡ªbroke the silence. ¡°¡­A fallen star?¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The leader, Eirik, frowned. ¡°No. That¡­ wasn¡¯t natural.¡± The others exchanged uneasy glances. None of them were scholars, but they knew what they had seen. Something descended from the sky. Something wasn¡¯t right. A part of Eirik wanted to send scouts, but they couldn¡¯t afford distractions. Their mission was far too critical. ¡°The kingdom will know of it soon enough,¡± he said finally. ¡°If it was worth investigating, we¡¯ll be ordered to check on it after we finish our mission.¡± He expected protests, but there were none. The others understood. This close to the Zone, losing focus meant death. Whatever had fallen from the sky would have to wait. They moved on the next morning. Two Days Later The forest was wrong. By now, they should have encountered monsters¡ªplenty of them. Instead, they had seen nothing. Not even the usual roaming beasts that stalked the deeper regions of Vetrarhold. It was unnatural. And then they found the first corpse. Rurik spotted it first¡ªa severed hand, half-buried in the snow. The skin had darkened with decay, the flesh gnawed away. It still gripped the hilt of a blade. No one spoke. They didn¡¯t have to. As they moved forward, the carnage became clear. Shattered armor, discarded weapons, splintered shields bearing familiar heraldry. The bodies were scattered, broken, torn apart. Some had been crushed beyond recognition. A battle had taken place here. A slaughter. Eirik crouched, brushing his fingers against a fallen shield. The crest was mangled, but he still recognized it. ¡°The noble lord¡¯s hunting party,¡± he muttered. That meant this wasn¡¯t just a minor skirmish. A great house had sent its warriors here, and they had been annihilated. One of the rangers¡ªVigdis, the spellcaster¡ªspoke grimly. ¡°If an entire force of nobles and their guards fell here, it means we¡¯re standing on a battlefield of ghosts.¡± They kept moving, their hands now hovering near their weapons. Whatever did this was still out there. The trail of wreckage led them to a makeshift encampment¡ªa fortified cave, surrounded by crude barricades hastily thrown together. At first, they thought it was deserted. Then movement. Soldiers¡ªweary, starving, and heavily wounded¡ª emerged from the defenses, their weapons drawn in an instant. The tension was immediate. The rangers made no sudden moves. They expected hostility. Rangers and common soldiers had little love for each other, but these weren¡¯t ordinary men. These were knights and retainers of noble houses. And nobles hated rangers. Yet, before the tension could escalate, the commander of the soldiers emerged¡ªhis armor dented, his face lined with exhaustion. The moment he saw them, his expression softened with relief. ¡°Rangers?¡± Eirik nodded. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The commander exhaled. ¡°Good. You¡¯ll want to see this.¡± The makeshift command tent was as chaotic as the outside. At its center sat a familiar man. A nobleman. One Eirik had hoped never to see. The first son of a Great Duke. A lecherous bastard who had taken whatever he wanted in life¡ªwomen, land, power¡ªwithout consequence. Yet now, he was barely clinging to life. Covered in bandages, struggling to breathe, he barely acknowledged Eirik¡¯s presence. Instead, one of his trusted aides explained what had happened. The noble¡¯s hunting party had been lost for a week, straying deeper than they should have. When they finally encountered the Hr?zla-Bein, it had torn through them like paper. Out of five hundred men, less than a dozen survived. The rescue force¡ªa larger army of 1,500 men¡ªhad also been wiped out, its remnants barely making it back to this cave. And now¡­ They had decided to fight it. Eirik clenched his jaw as he learned why. The nobles had dueled over the decision. The first son¡¯s faction had won. So they were going to hunt the Hr?zla-Bein tomorrow. It was suicide. And the rangers were given a choice. They could join the battle. Or they could walk away. Eirik looked at his men. He already knew what they would choose. Chapter 4.2 Chapter 4.2 ¡°One battle, one hunt, one victory. That is all it will take." The rangers watched in silence as the camp around them stirred to life. After days of exhaustion, they had rested only for a few short hours, but there was no time to spare for real recovery. The hunt was set for dawn, and the noble commanders were moving with certainty, their men preparing for war. Eirik, the ranger leader, sat on the edge of the crude wooden palisade, observing the organized chaos below. He had seen many armies prepare for battle before. But this one¡­ Something felt off. The soldiers of the noble¡¯s house moved with trained precision, their armor polished and their weapons meticulously inspected. In contrast, the rescue party¡¯s survivors were a disordered, ragged bunch¡ªmercenaries, common levies, and knights of lesser noble families. Many of them had despair in their eyes. Eirik had no doubt who was being sent in first. Near the center of the camp, he noticed a group of specialists¡ªmen wielding strange, oversized matchlock arquebuses unlike anything he had seen before. Vigdis, crouched beside him, whispered, "Have you ever seen an arquebus that size?" Eirik shook his head. "No¡­ but that barrel looks thick enough to punch through armor." The massive firearms had extended barrels reinforced with ornate silver inlays, and near the stocks, engraved runes faintly glowed. Enchanted firearms. A noble privilege. Few had the means to infuse firearms with magic, and those who could came from royal bloodlines of the great noble houses. Mages stood nearby, chanting incantations, passing their hands over rows of weapons, leaving behind a faint shimmer. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. There weren¡¯t many of them. Eirik wasn¡¯t surprised. True battle mages were rare. Magic, though coveted, was still a luxury of the ruling elite. Most lesser nobles barely had enough magical ability to light a candle without flint. That made these three mages valuable assets. And it meant that if they fell, the battle would fall with them. The rangers had no interest in standing idly by while nobles prepared their war. They approached one of the noble officers and offered to join the forward scouts¡ªan easy request, since nobody cared if common-born rangers got themselves killed in the wilds. By nightfall, they had moved ahead of the main force, traveling light through the dense forest. The noble-led scouts insisted on pushing farther, eager to gather every bit of terrain information possible before the battle. Eirik reluctantly agreed, knowing that he and his men could always pull back on their own if things turned bad. And then they found it. A clearing. Barely illuminated by the pale moonlight filtering through the canopy. At the center of it lay the Hr?zla-Bein. Its enormous bone-plated hide rose and fell with every breath, the beast completely at rest. Eirik felt his blood turn cold. They were too close. How the hell did we not see it sooner? It was perfectly still, its color blending with the frost-covered stones around it. Had they moved just a few meters more, they might have stepped directly into its range. The rangers froze. Even the noble scouts hesitated. For a moment, none of them moved. Then, very slowly, they backed away. They had found their prey. But they hadn¡¯t noticed what they missed. When they made it back to camp, the rangers reported their findings. The noble officers were pleased. The beast was resting. Vulnerable. Tomorrow, it would be slain before it could even react. Eirik still had doubts. But doubt had no place in the presence of nobles. Instead, they listened as the lord¡¯s aide delivered a rousing speech, his voice ringing through the cave. "Tomorrow, we purge this horror from the forest. We will strike with the fury of our ancestors, with the might of our kingdom, and with the blessings of the gods!" "Our arquebusiers shall fire as one. Our mages shall bind the beast. And our steel shall finish the hunt!" "This shall be a hunt sung of for generations! A victory that will be ours alone!" The soldiers cheered. Even the demoralized commoners seemed reignited. The rangers stayed silent. The plan was simple. They would ambush the beast before dawn, opening with the most powerful spells their mages could cast. Then, the arquebusiers would unleash a volley, their massive enchanted barrels designed to punch through anything. The infantry would charge, cutting the beast down before it could react. And finally, the mages would pin it down with chains of magic, ensuring its death. It was flawless. It was precise. It was confident. Eirik wanted to believe it. He really did. But deep in his gut, something was wrong. Something felt too easy. Something felt too perfect. Yet before that doubt could take root, the noble aide spoke once more. "One battle, one hunt, one victory. That is all it will take." And the rangers knew. Tomorrow, there will be no turning back. Chapter 4.3 Chapter 4.3 "One battle, one hunt, one victory." A glacial wind whispered through the trees, rustling the branches overhead. The forest of Vetrarhold stretched before them¡ªdark, quiet, and waiting. The soldiers stood in disciplined silence, their breaths misting in the freezing air. This was it. The battle they had prepared for. The hunt that would bring glory to the noble houses and revenge for the dead. The rangers, crouched in the shadows of the trees, watched and listened. A young footman gripped his sword tightly, whispering to the man beside him. "The beast was sleeping when the scouts found it. Maybe it¡¯ll stay that way." His companion¡ªa hardened veteran with a scar across his cheek¡ª scoffed. "Nothing sleeps through cannon fire, boy. That thing will wake up angry." Nearby, a knight adjusted his armor, muttering under his breath. "It¡¯s just a beast. We kill it like any other. The gods will favor us today." But not all were so confident. One man¡ªa levy conscript from the rescue party¡ªwhispered a prayer, his hands shaking around his spear. His eyes darted between the noble troops and the front lines. He knew his place. Disposable. The rangers kept their thoughts to themselves. They had hunted countless creatures before. But this was different. They weren¡¯t leading this hunt. They were merely along for the ride. A soft chant rippled through the ranks as the lead mage raised his hands. The air shimmered, and a faint wind barrier swept over the assembled men, dampening the sound of their footsteps on the frozen earth. It was an impressive spell¡ªair magic, designed to suppress noise. A rare ability. The rangers knew that only a handful of nobles could command such magic. Not long after, another group of soldiers split off, reinforcing the cave entrance where the wounded, the lord, and his personal guard remained. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. They did everything right. They hid their tracks, they sealed their scent with alchemic compounds, and they moved like ghosts through the trees. The rangers split off, taking positions in the higher branches, moving slightly ahead with the scouts. From their vantage point, they had a clear view of the beast. The Hr?zla-Bein lay in the clearing, its massive, bone-plated form still as stone. Just as they had seen before. Eirik exhaled, steadying himself. The mages lined up, their hands glowing. The arquebusiers took aim, steadying their heavy matchlocks on iron tripods. The infantry tightened their grips on their weapons. The ranger tasked with casting the tracking spell prepared his incantation, but even now, it felt pointless. "This thing will be dead in minutes," one noble had laughed. Eirik wasn''t so sure. The signal was given. The battle began. A thunderous explosion of magic shattered the stillness of the night. Fire erupted from the mages'' hands, lightning crackled through the air, and spears of ice launched toward the beast''s exposed flank. The force of the bombardment was immense. The ground shook. The beast roared, its body convulsing as fire, ice, and lightning tore into its armored hide. But before it could even rise¡ª The arquebusiers fired. A deafening volley of enchanted lead and iron. Smoke billowed as the monstrous rounds slammed into the beast''s body, tearing through bone and sinew. The infantry surged forward, blades flashing in the moonlight. And above them all¡ª The mages raised their staffs, casting chains of binding magic, wrapping the beast in spectral chains of energy. The Hr?zla-Bein was pinned. It howled, writhing against its bindings. But it was trapped. The rangers should have felt relief. But they didn''t. Something was wrong. And then they heard it. A second howl. From behind them. The first attack came from the rear. Before anyone could turn, before anyone could process what was happening¡ª The second Hr?zla-Bein was already among them. It tore through the rear guard, cleaving men in half with its massive, clawed limbs. Then the third one emerged from the darkness. And the fourth. And the fifth¡ªlarger than the rest, its eyes burning with rage. The battlefield became a slaughterhouse. Screams erupted as rows of soldiers collapsed, bodies torn, crushed, impaled. The disciplined formation shattered. Mages, once confident in their spellcraft, were the first to flee. One was caught mid-incantation, impaled through the chest by a bony talon and lifted off the ground before being torn in half. A ranger¡ªthe one who had tried to save him¡ªwas caught in the same blow. Blood sprayed against the snow. The tracking spell had been cast. But it no longer mattered. Some men fought. Most ran. Those who stood their ground died first. Some tried to rally. The noble commander bellowed orders, his sword flashing as he tried to restore control. But there was no army left to command. Men trampled over one another, desperate to escape the jaws of the beasts. Two more rangers fell in the confusion, one crushed under the weight of a panicked knight''s horse. The noble aide¡ªwho had been so sure of victory¡ªwas ripped apart, his screams cut short as the largest Hr?zla-Bein tore him in half. The first son of the Great Duke, watching from the cave, realized his folly too late. The rangers, the last mage, a noble officer, and a handful of surviving soldiers did not hesitate. They ran. Not back to the cave. That was a death trap. They ran toward the only other place that might give them a chance. The place they camped five days ago. The place where, unbeknownst to them, something else had already fallen from the sky. And as they fled, the beasts howled into the night. The hunt had only just begun.