Chapter 18: Shattered Asteroid
Jagged rocks ground under Ash's boots as he ran, his breath steady despite the burn in his chest. The chaos of the battlefield slipped away, replaced by a heavy silence that gnawed at his senses. Something felt off. The air seemed to throb, like the distant pulse of a heart buried beneath the stone.
Ahead, a pale light flickered.
Ash slowed, weaving between the sharp edges of the boulders, his gaze locked on the source. The glow grew brighter as he approached. He stepped carefully, eyes narrowing. The light revealed itself—a perfect sphere, hovering just above the ground. Its surface gleamed, untouched by dust, its edges sharp and flawless. A faint hum radiated from it, the sound crawling beneath his skin.
Instinctively, Ash's fingers twitched, but his blade stayed at his side, its weight unbothered. He didn't reach for it.
'Is this what I'm looking for? Max didn't said anything about this... Didn't even warn me if it's good to touch. Just the coordinates.'
His hand hovered. The glow pulsed again.
WHOOSH.
A blast of wind hit him square in the chest.
He didn't have time to turn, no chance to react.
THUD!
A fist slammed into his ribs. Pain exploded through his side. His feet left the ground. The force hurled him across the rocks. He crashed, his body skidding and bouncing, his vision blurring. Through the haze, the orb still pulsed beside him, untouched. Its hum never stopped—sharp, relentless.