Kai's eyes flicked to his left, drawn by the faint scrawl of words on the wall beneath a haphazard pile of rusted cans. The words were stark, painted in jagged, uneven strokes: "I FEEL FINE."
The phrase struck a strange chord against the grim backdrop of the Divide. Just below the graffiti, half a corpse of a marked man hung limply from a shattered window. The body swayed slightly in the dry wind, as if clinging to the edge of life long since snuffed out. Blood had long dried on the jagged glass, a dull rust-brown that matched the decay of the world around it.
Kai stared at the scene for a moment, his expression unreadable. The message, while brief, felt pointed.
"Guess Alexander isn't the only one leaving graffiti," he thought, his tone internally sardonic.
The marked man's corpse told no further story, the details of his death lost to time. Yet the words on the wall carried an eerie resonance, like an echo of defiance…or denial in the face of the Divide's relentless decay.
Kai turned away, unwilling to linger.
Reaching the broken scaffolding, he retraced his steps. The structure creaked under his weight as he descended, his boots catching on rusted beams and warped metal bars. Each movement sent faint echoes into the ruins, a reminder of how empty yet watchful the Divide could feel.
As Kai reached the ground, his boots hit the rubble with a solid thud, the sound muffled by the dust that rose in faint plumes. His gear clanked softly as he adjusted it, the weight a familiar burden.
He cast one last glance at the building above, the words "I FEEL FINE" barely visible from this angle. The graffiti seemed almost mocking now, a ghostly reminder of the minds the Divide consumed before him.
Kai continued his trek down the cracked and crumbled remnants of the highroad, the looming skeleton of the broken skyscraper above casting long shadows across the rubble-strewn street. The wind whistled through the twisted steel beams, creating an eerie melody that only added to the desolation of the Divide.
As he moved, his sharp eyes caught a flicker of movement toward the southeast, near the edge of the highroad. Kai stilled, his hand instinctively reaching for his sniper rifle. He crouched low, using the scattered debris as cover, and brought the scope to his eye.
Through the lens, he spotted it—a lizard. Not like the ones he remembered from the safer lands beyond the Divide, but something twisted and monstrous. Its scaled body glinted faintly in the light, the texture of its armor-like hide seeming unnaturally thick, almost metallic. The creature moved with a deliberate, predatory grace, its forked tongue flicking the air as if tasting the ruins for prey.
Kai adjusted his aim, steadying his breathing. He fired a single shot, the crack of the sniper rifle echoing sharply through the desolation. The lizard reacted immediately, jerking its head up and swiveling toward his direction. Its glowing, reptilian eyes scanned the area, its movements unnervingly intelligent as it searched for the source of the attack.
Kai's pulse remained calm as he adjusted his aim once more. He noticed something peculiar—the thick armor plating that covered most of the lizard's body seemed absent in one critical spot: the narrow area between its eyes. A potential weakness.
Without hesitation, Kai exhaled and pulled the trigger. The bullet tore through the air with deadly precision, striking the creature squarely between the eyes. Its head snapped back as the force of the impact drove it into the ground. It twitched once, then went still, dark ichor pooling beneath its lifeless body.
Lowering the rifle, Kai studied the fallen creature from a distance, his expression thoughtful.
"So, that's the weak point," he muttered to himself. "Between the eyes. No armor there."
The encounter confirmed something vital: these lizards, while formidable, weren't invincible. Their natural armor was nearly impenetrable, but precision could exploit their flaws.
Kai continued his march along the highroad, his footsteps steady but cautious. The desolation around him was unyielding, the air heavy with the weight of the Divide's history. Ahead, his sharp eyes caught sight of a trailer perched precariously on the crumbling edge of the highroad.
As he approached, a grim tableau unfolded before him. The ground leading to the trailer was stained dark with blood, thick streaks of it trailing like a grotesque path toward the entrance. The metallic tang of iron hung in the air, mingling with the musty scent of decay. Kai instinctively unslung his rifle, scanning the area for any movement.
The trailer itself was battered and weathered, its once-bright paint peeling away in jagged strips. The door hung ajar, creaking faintly in the wind. Blood smeared the edges of the frame, as though someone—or something—had been dragged inside.
Kai stepped closer, his boots crunching softly against the gravel. At the base of the trailer, he saw what remained of human bodies—or at least, what he could make out of them. Torn limbs and shattered torsos were scattered haphazardly, the flesh marred with deep gashes. Flies buzzed in lazy circles, their incessant drone adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
The air inside the trailer was stifling, the smell of blood and decay pressing down on Kai as he carefully surveyed the scene. Then, without warning, a deafening thud reverberated above him. The ceiling groaned under the sudden weight, a few flecks of rust and debris raining down. Kai froze, his gaze snapping upward as the metal roof bowed inward slightly.
The drone near him went into a frenzy, its rapid beeping an urgent alarm. Whatever was on the roof wasn't small.
Before Kai could react, a shadow loomed across the trailer's fractured window. The glass splintered as the massive head of one of the lizard-like creatures thrust inside, its slit-pupiled eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Its nostrils flared as it sniffed the air, and then it let out a guttural growl that seemed to shake the very walls of the trailer.
Kai didn't hesitate. He threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding a massive, clawed arm that punched through the hole the creature had made. The swipe tore through the trailer's interior, shredding what little remained of the furnishings. Metal screeched as the beast's claws raked against the floor, leaving deep gouges in its wake.
Rolling to his feet, Kai's mind raced. The confined space left him at a disadvantage—he needed a way to turn the odds in his favor. His hand darted to his satchel, pulling out one of the charges he'd scavenged earlier.
Outside, the lizard circled the trailer, its claws clinking ominously against the metal as it walked. The drone buzzed frantically, its signals almost incomprehensible in its panic. Kai remained still, listening, his breath steady despite the chaos.
The lizard poked its head through another opening, its maw snapping viciously as it scanned for him. Its serrated teeth dripped with saliva, the rows of jagged ivory glinting in the dim light.
In a swift motion, he primed the satchel charge and lobbed it toward the creature. The explosive landed just below its jaw, sticking to the scales as the lizard jerked back in surprise. Kai dove to the floor, covering his head just as the charge detonated with a thunderous roar.
The trailer shook violently from the blast, and for a moment, everything was a cacophony of sound and flying debris. When the dust began to settle, Kai cautiously pushed himself up, scanning the area.
Chunks of the creature's head and neck were scattered across the ground outside the trailer, a grotesque mixture of flesh and bone glistening in the harsh light. The rest of its body lay limp, the massive frame sprawled across the road.
Kai's gaze lingered on the scene for a moment before he wiped a streak of blood—whether his or the creature's—from his face.
The drone floated closer, its beeping slowing to a more subdued rhythm. "Yeah, we're fine," he said, more to himself than the drone.
The dust had barely settled from the explosion when the unmistakable sound of heavy, thundering footsteps reached Kai's ears. He turned, rifle raised, as another lizard-like creature barreled toward him, its claws tearing into the road with each stride. This one was larger than the first, its scales gleaming darkly under the muted sunlight. Its yellow eyes locked onto Kai, filled with primal rage, and it let out a piercing screech that echoed through the desolate expanse.
Kai steadied his rifle, taking a deep breath as he activated his quirk. The world seemed to narrow, his focus homing in on the beast's movement. Every step it took, every shift of muscle was clear as day in his mind. The lizard was faster than the last one, and closing the gap quickly.
When it was just meters away, Kai pulled the trigger. The rifle roared, and the bullet found its mark—a precise shot between the creature's eyes. The beast stumbled mid-stride, a guttural growl escaping its throat before it collapsed forward, its momentum carrying it several feet as it skidded to a stop. Dust billowed around its lifeless form, pooling in the air like smoke.
Kai exhaled, lowering his rifle as he scanned the area. No more movement, at least for now. His quirk's intensity faded, the world returning to its usual, chaotic unpredictability.
As he stepped past the creature's corpse, something caught his eye farther down the road—a motorcycle, partially hidden behind a broken highway divider. Its blue paint was chipped and rusted, but the frame seemed intact. Tools were scattered around it, some lying in the dirt while others rested atop an open toolbox. Next to the toolbox was a tightly rolled camping kit, its canvas faded from exposure to the elements.
Kai approached cautiously, scanning the surroundings for any signs of more creatures or marked men. The drone hovered near the toolbox, letting out a soft series of beeps as if to reassure him.
The motorcycle was old, likely pre-war, but it looked functional. The tires were still inflated, though cracked with age, and the fuel tank bore a faded insignia of some long-forgotten company. Kai crouched down, inspecting the tools. Whoever had left them here had been working on the bike recently—there was a grease-stained rag draped over the seat, and one of the wrenches still had a faint sheen of oil.
He checked the toolbox next. Inside were a few useful items: a small canister of fuel, some spare parts, and even a spark plug. Kai's eyes flicked to the camping kit. It was a decent find—likely abandoned by someone trying to make a quick escape or meet a grim fate.
The road stretched ahead, broken and uneven, leading to a crumbling highway interchange. The remains of old-world engineering jutted into the sky like skeletal fingers, their once-proud arches now weathered by time and decay. As Kai moved cautiously, his boots crunching softly on the debris-strewn asphalt, he spotted movement near one of the overpasses.
Another lizard-like creature prowled the area, its massive form partially hidden by the shadow of the concrete structure. It hadn't noticed him yet, its attention focused on sniffing at the base of a rusted pillar. Its jagged claws scraped against the ground, and its tail swayed in deliberate, predatory arcs.
Kai dropped to one knee, his hands steady as he raised his sniper rifle. Through the scope, he tracked the creature's movements, studying the ridges of its thick, armored hide. His quirk activated instinctively, narrowing his focus and allowing him to find the perfect shot. Just between its eyes, where the armor was weakest.
The rifle barked, the sound sharp and echoing against the concrete walls. The bullet found its mark, piercing the lizard's skull. It collapsed instantly, its heavy body hitting the ground with a resonant thud that sent a faint tremor through the air. Dust kicked up around the corpse, settling slowly as silence returned to the interchange.
Kai exhaled, his quirk fading as he lowered the rifle. He scanned the area for more threats but saw nothing else moving. Satisfied, he slung the rifle back over his shoulder and approached cautiously.
Ahead, two large storage crates sat near the base of the interchange, their faded metal frames partially buried in debris. One crate was wide open, its contents long gone. The interior was scratched and empty, save for a few scraps of cloth and a broken wooden box.
The other crate, however, told a different story. Its door was propped open just enough to reveal what appeared to be a makeshift home. Kai stepped closer, his hand instinctively brushing against the hilt of his sidearm as he inspected the space.
Inside, someone had turned the back of the crate into a small, livable area. A thin mattress lay in one corner, with a patchwork blanket neatly folded on top. A collection of old, dog-eared books was stacked against one wall, their spines faded but intact. Near the entrance, a small set of cooking supplies rested on a battered metal shelf—a kettle, a frying pan, and a few utensils coated in dust.
Kai crouched to examine the space more carefully. There were remnants of an attempt at survival: a makeshift fire pit constructed from bricks, its charred remains hinting at meals prepared here long ago. A scattering of empty cans and jars was piled in a corner, along with a bundle of rags that might have been used as cleaning cloths.
On a smaller shelf near the mattress, Kai found some medical supplies. A few bandages, a bottle of antiseptic nearly empty, and a syringe with its label too faded to read. He picked up the items, turning them over in his hands. They weren't in great condition and wouldn't be worth the weight to carry, but the thought of someone having lived here, alone and exposed to the horrors of the Divide, lingered in his mind.
The drone floated closer, its beeping soft and questioning.
"Looks like someone tried to make a life here," Kai murmured.
He set the supplies back down and stepped out of the crate, his gaze sweeping the area. The scene was a stark reminder of the Divide's relentless nature—how it chewed up anyone who tried to carve out a semblance of normalcy.
Kai pressed on, his steps steady but deliberate as the road beneath him grew more fractured, the concrete scarred and pitted by years of neglect and conflict. To the southeast, the horizon seemed to shift, the hazy outline of the road beginning to thin as he neared its end.
Jagged rocks jutted up from the landscape like the teeth of some ancient beast, their sharp angles casting long, uneven shadows in the fading light. Among them stood broadcast towers, skeletal and rusting, their once-powerful presence now reduced to hollow metal sentinels. Their spindly frames groaned faintly in the wind, an eerie sound that carried across the desolation.
Kai's eyes narrowed as he spotted a military truck up ahead, its massive form tipped onto its side like a discarded toy. Its paint was faded and peeling, revealing the dull gray of its metal shell beneath. The truck's contents had long since spilled out—a tangled mess of rusted machinery, empty crates, and ammunition boxes now strewn across the ground. A section of its axle protruded awkwardly from beneath the chassis, twisted and broken from whatever had caused the wreck.
The road ahead was severed, a gaping chasm cutting through the overpass. The drop into the gorge below was steep and unforgiving, the bottom obscured by layers of debris and drifting sand. A makeshift bridge spanned the gap—wooden boards and scavenged planks precariously lashed together with rope and strips of fabric. It swayed slightly in the wind, its uneven surface a patchwork of mismatched materials that seemed ready to give way at any moment.
Kai approached cautiously, the drone hovering beside him, its occasional beeps a low murmur against the hum of the wind. The bridge didn't inspire much confidence, and he tested the first board with a careful press of his boot. It creaked but held, though the sound was less than reassuring.
Kai turned his head as the drone emitted a burst of static, followed by a tinny playback of an old recording. The voice was smooth but carried a faint edge of frustration, as if the speaker were balancing their words carefully.
"All due respect, sir," the voice began, strained but resolute. "I think you're making a mistake. We're close to a breakthrough with the Duraframe drones—I can feel it!"
The recording fell silent for a moment, then continued after the faint sound of a sigh.
"Yes, sir… I understand that we need the Duraframe assets for Hellfire armor. But… No, sir. Yes, sir. I understand, sir. I'll tell the team to start dismantling the IA-series prototypes right away."
The tone shifted, softening slightly, before another voice joined in—lighter, almost amused.
"Sahid, you little rascal. Were you eavesdropping again? I think those videos you watch are a bad influence on you. How much of that did you hear?" There was a pause, and a faint chuckle. "Hm… Didn't Dr. Grant say she'd upgraded your navigational systems? I think she has an idea. How'd you like to be just like Ralphie?"
The recording ended abruptly, leaving a faint hum in its wake. Kai stared at the drone, its metallic surface reflecting the dim light around them.
"Do you record everything said around you?" Kai asked, his tone measured but curious.
The drone emitted a single, drawn-out beep, the sound distinctly sly.
Kai frowned slightly, crossing his arms as he leaned back against a crumbling section of wall. "Guess I'll have to be careful around you, then. Don't want my words preserved for the ages. Or used against me someday."
The drone hovered closer, letting out a series of chirps that almost sounded like a mechanical chuckle.
Kai tilted his head, studying the machine. "So, I guess that means you've also got all of Alexander's ramblings stored away, don't you?"
The drone beeped twice in quick succession a confirmation.
"Well lets get going then."
Kai slowly walked over the planks and on the other side there was a tipped over toxic waste vehicle it's contents all over. There was a overpass looking over the divide on the other side of the truck, sand storms and destoryed buildings. Brright sun breaking through the sand.
Kai continued walking, his boots crunching over loose gravel and fragments of shattered asphalt. The remnants of civilization littered the road—bent and broken road signs, rusted car husks, and scattered debris that told the story of a world long past saving. Each step carried him closer to the edge of the high road, the horizon giving way to a stretch of desolation below.
As he reached the end of the elevated highway, the ground sloped down sharply, the high road giving way to the earth once more. The air was heavier here, tinged with the faint, metallic scent of rust and decay. Kai's eyes caught a flash of color against the dull palette of grays and browns—a familiar blue mark painted on the side of a crumbling wall.
The marks had been guiding him for miles, always leading to something, though the significance of each destination often felt elusive.
He turned off the main road, following the painted trail as it wound toward a collapsed tunnel. The entrance yawned before him, a jagged pile of rubble blocking any hope of entry. Kai stood at the edge, scanning the ruins with a critical eye. The tunnel was impassable its interior swallowed by darkness and debris.
"No way through here," he said, his voice low.
The drone buzzed softly beside him, its beeps offering no solution.
Kai's gaze shifted upward, tracing the faint blue streaks that climbed along the rubble. With a resigned sigh, he adjusted his pack and began scaling the uneven terrain. Each step sent small rocks skittering down the slope, the sound echoing faintly in the stillness.
At the top, the path leveled out, revealing another of Alexander's marks painted on a jagged rock. Beyond it, a small clearing came into view—a campsite nestled amidst the rubble.
The site was sparse but functional. A weathered tent leaned precariously against a cluster of rocks, its fabric bleached and frayed from years of exposure. A cold fire pit sat at its center, surrounded by a ring of charred stones. Scattered around it were the remnants of someone's life: a battered metal cooking pot, a bundle of rotting firewood, and a few rusted cans.
Kai approached cautiously, his eyes sweeping the area for any signs of recent activity. The drone circled above him, its soft hum the only sound in the oppressive silence.
Kai stood still as he carefully unrolled the log beside the rock, the words "LOG Y-17.22" scrawled across it in a faint, worn ink. With a slight hesitation, he slid the log into the cassette player, the machine clicking as it engaged, its whirring sound filling the stillness around him.
The drone hovered nearby, its beeps now quiet, almost reverent as Alexander's voice began to emerge from the static, slow and deliberate. The words were distant but cutting, each syllable carrying the weight of something deeply unsettling.
"I walked the great desert as Ayatollah's eye, then his hand," Alexander's voice began, his tone filled with cold authority. "Mongrels there, two legs and four. Saw the walls of Kaveh Darvashi the scavengers circled... hadn't the strength or fire to take. Too high, too strong."
Kai felt the chill run down his spine as the harsh reality of Alexander's words set in. The man's cold pragmatism bled through, his sense of duty—to what or whom, Kai wasn't sure—dripping with a disturbing detachment. It was a mindset Kai had seen before, in soldiers who believed their mission was everything, regardless of the cost.
"Sefid Payan, they were born for war, they run to it, hungry for battle... yet their hunger is to be part of history, something larger. Like the sword," the voice continued, a slight edge of respect coloring Alexander's words, but it was quickly overshadowed by disdain. "As always, brought them a message. From Ayatollah. If Kaveh Darvashi burns, Ayatollah might see them. 'Might.' Even the chance is a lie."
The words felt heavier now, laden with the weight of a decision that had been made long before Kai could even understand its true consequences. Alexander's decision, or perhaps his own—Kai wasn't certain. But he was learning that Alexander believed in the righteousness of actions, regardless of how brutal they were.
"To honor Ayatollah… destroy the history of Kaveh Darvashi, and the way they carry it… in their generations and families. Ayatollah respects such strength," Alexander's voice deepened as he spoke, the words coated in a cold, indifferent finality. "That… that was truth, even if strength wasn't the word. Obedience. You must be willing to kill anyone, children, mothers, the weak, elderly... if these Darvashi value their generations, that is what you must kill."
Kai's grip on the cassette tightened as the words sank in. He had witnessed the destruction of families, the loss of history, of culture. But this felt different. This wasn't just a byproduct of war—it was the war itself. A war to eradicate people, not just defeat them. It was a calculation Kai couldn't quite reconcile with his own existence. Obedience over strength, Kai thought bitterly, a strange knot forming in his gut.
"It was like Shahbaz was speaking through me. Use the night, silence, and fire to change their words to pleas to screams. No need for bombs when hate will do." Alexander's words were chilling in their simplicity, in their deliberate cruelty. The recounting of events was mechanical, as though Alexander had stripped himself of humanity in favor of a greater mission.
Kai's thoughts flickered to the landscape he had seen so far—ruins, destruction, echoes of lives long gone, all in the name of some higher purpose that only the few were allowed to truly understand. The end justifies the means. It was a notion that had always seemed empty, hollow. Now, he saw it played out before him.
"I asked the Sefid Payan to destroy a people with ancestry, going back thousands of years... another death in history, lost to time." Alexander's voice faltered slightly here, a subtle shift that Kai couldn't place. "The Darvashi... they supplied medicine. Food, traded with others. Civilization, a hand from the past, not history... but maybe a path deeper, farther than that to a place where this is... God really exists."
Kai felt the weight of those words. God really exists? Alexander's thoughts were a strange mixture of revelation and disillusionment. The sense of finality was palpable, but it was also haunting. What kind of person had made such a decision, had carried out such orders, and yet still wondered about the nature of a higher power? There was a hollow emptiness in Alexander's search for meaning, an endless drive for purpose that could never be filled.
"If so, his handiwork and people belong elsewhere, not in this place." There was no joy in Alexander's voice, no triumph. Just a finality that left no room for argument, no space for doubt.
"Another symbol, like Sword and Crescent, with no meaning in the present."
The words ended with a thud, the tape clicking off as silence once again enveloped Kai. His hand hovered over the cassette player, the weight of the recording heavy in his mind. He glanced toward the horizon, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just heard. A nation had been destroyed, not because of their strategic importance, but because Alexander had deemed them unworthy of this world.
Kai stood there the cold desert wind biting at his skin.