The gateway shimmered, then solidified, revealing a world bathed in an unnatural stillness. A monochromatic landscape stretched before them, devoid of color – buildings of gray stone, a sky painted a uniform beige, and trees with skeletal branches reaching towards the muted heavens. An oppressive silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the rasping breaths escaping Alex's suit filter.
Anya crackled within Alex's mind, her voice laced with confusion. "Life signs… minimal… barely detectable emotional responses."
Echo, ever the pragmatist, adjusted his visor, scanning for any sign of activity. "This feels… artificial. Like a world built on logic, devoid of creativity or emotion."
The melody within them, a haunting piano piece now, resonated with a sense of sterile emptiness. This world felt devoid of the vibrant chaos that characterized life.
