THE GREAT CATACLYSM

Pain was the first thing she registered. A sharp, stabbing pain that ran through every fiber of her being. Her fighting style had always been the same: a whirlwind of hard, fast punches. She was a glass cannon; she hit hard, but her defense was a mess. And now, she was paying the price. Every wound, though not serious, screamed in protest.

She opened her eyes. The air smelled of ash and ozone. She was in a forest she didn't recognize, the leaves of the trees tinged with green under the purple sky. She was alone. 

— Assimil? Ikel? Anyone? — Her voice was a hoarse whisper.

An icy panic seized her. The memory of the white explosion, the feeling of being torn apart? Had she lost them? With a strength of will she didn't know she had, she stood up, ignoring the screaming of her muscles. She had to find them.

She walked for minutes that seemed like hours, until she saw a flash of color that did not belong in that dying forest: the green of Asimil's tunic. He was lying on the bank of a river, half of his body submerged in the dark water and the other half in the earth.

— ASIMIL! — she shouted, a wave of relief and terror sweeping through her.

She ran towards him, but her legs, exhausted and injured, gave way. She fell to her knees a few feet away from him. Crawling with the last of her strength, she pulled him out of the icy water and into the safety of some bushes. She checked his pulse. He was still breathing, but he was pale, cold, and wouldn't wake up.

She could not leave him there. She looked at her small body and then at his figure; he was much taller and heavier. It was an impossible task. And yet, there was no other choice.

With a grunt of pure effort, she carried him on her back. The rest of the day was a blur of torture. Every step was agony. Her wounds screamed, her muscles burned, but the image of his unconscious face compelled her to keep going. I have to... go... on... for him.

The corrupt sun began to set. Her strength left her completely. She fell to her knees, and Asimil slid gently to her side. Her vision became blurry. Just before she passed out, she saw a pair of pink boots stopping in front of her. What a cheerful color for the end of the world, she thought. They look familiar...

She awoke to the smell of herbs and hot stew. She was in a soft bed, her wounds bandaged. She looked around her: a log cabin, simple and cozy. In the bed next to it, Asimil was resting peacefully.

She ran out and returned with an older man, the chief of the small village they were in.

— It's a relief to see you conscious, miss — said the old man in a kindly voice. — When that pink-haired girl brought you both in, we thought you wouldn't make it. They've been sleeping for several days. —

Just then, the door opened again.

— Oh, great! Sleeping beauty number two decides to join the party! — It was Mio. She entered with a joy that filled the little hut.

— You... Did you save us? — Luce asked, her voice still weak.

— Of course I did! — she said, sitting on the edge of her bed. — They were a mess, though. They were both badly hurt, but your friend? — she looked at Asimil... — he was worse. The Void energy was almost all-consuming. —

Hearing that, Luce couldn't help herself. The tension, the fear, the pain of the last few days and the immense relief of knowing that Asimil was safe... it all came flooding out. She began to cry, silent sobs shaking her body. Being such a normally cheerful girl, sadness, when it came, hit her hard.

That night, while Asimil still slept, Mio and Luce sat outside the hut, watching the strange stars in that broken sky.

— I have to leave soon — she said, her tone now serious. — And so must you and your friend. — What they saw in the ruins... the sky breaking... that was no accident. It was a revelation — she explained. — This world, Altverse, has always been covered by a "veil," a false sky to hide the true nature of the universe. My attack on the core shattered that veil. Now, the Void bleeds into our world. Entities, the Void Generals, have appeared and are causing disaster everywhere. —

— But how do we stop them? —

— That's the million question — Mio sighed. — There are few of us who can stand up to them. The so-called Eight Stars of the Firmament. I am one of them.— Luce looked at her, surprised. — But not all of us are willing to cooperate. And that girl, Karen... she matched me in power. If it weren't for the distraction you created, I might have lost. The fact that beings like that exist... it makes my skin crawl. —

She stood up. — I will leave for the northwest. I must find the others and forge an alliance. You two must return to your clan. Regroup. And if you can, help the villages along the way. Not everyone is lucky enough to have formidable warriors. —

— We will accompany you... —

— No —said Mio, shaking her head, — they have their own path to follow. —

— We will also help in any way we can. — The voice, though tired and somewhat sore, was firm. Asimil was standing in the doorway of the hut, having overheard the conversation.

Mio smiled at him. — I'm glad you are well. But take it easy. What's ahead of you won't be easy. —

As Asimil and Mio exchanged a few last words, Luce watched him. It was Asimil, yes. The same good-hearted, awkward boy she had decided to protect. But there was something different about his face. The doubt and fear that always swam in the back of his eyes were gone. In its place, there was something older, colder. A quiet, steel-sharp determination. It was the look of someone who had seen the end of the world and had decided not to blink. Something inside him had changed forever after Noelia's betrayal.