Chapter 191: Alien war
Alien war
Ever since he had reached the jagged cliffs, rock-solid and sun-scorched, he had collapsed beneath the merciful shade of an overhanging ledge, where the desert sun could no longer lash at him. That tiny sliver of shadow had become his sanctuary. His temporary salvation.
Kairos’ eyes finally sprang fully open, and in that very instant, it felt like a blind man reclaiming his sight after years of darkness. Yet, even with this regained vision, the world remained a blurry smear—undefined, disorienting. He blinked several times, trying to focus, but the images still danced hazily before him, refusing to cooperate.
Pain pulsed dully through his joints. His limbs throbbed, his bones ached, and every fiber of his body screamed fatigue. It was as though he had just been liberated from endless, merciless toil—like a slave finally freed from the grip of chains and cruelty.
With great effort, Kairos pushed himself up into a sitting position. His breathing hitched for a moment as a sharp pain jabbed his ribs, but he steadied himself and took in a long, deliberate breath. The dry, dusty air filled his lungs, grounding him.
He lowered his gaze to his own form—and immediately frowned.
Naked.
His entire body, marred with bruises, cuts, and dirt, sat exposed under the desert’s oppressive gaze. His skin was marked by survival—burnt in some places, scraped raw in others. Though many of the wounds were beginning to close, his condition was far from ideal. And in this harsh place, he wouldn’t last another day looking this vulnerable.
First things first—clothing.
His gaze shifted back toward the endless expanse of desert before him. It was vast, unforgiving, and cruel in its silence. No signs of life, no vegetation, no markers. Just dunes stretching into eternity and wind whispering secrets in a language only madness could understand.
’Wherever this place is?’ he thought, narrowing his eyes.
He turned back to his body, inspecting the wounds. There was a strange warmth pulsing through his skin, faint but present—his body’s natural integration process. The healing system still worked, but it was faint... far too faint. He was at his limit, and he knew it.