The blue flames crackled as they erupted from Zynth's hands, scorching the air between him and the creature. The skeletal figure hissed, recoiling from the energy as it washed over the barren landscape. The Blue Atomic Power surged through Zynth's veins, cold and raw, but it felt more controlled this time, as if the wasteland itself amplified his connection to it.
"I won't be trapped here," Zynth growled, stepping forward, his hands still aglow with the intense blue fire. His heart hammered in his chest, but he forced himself to focus on controlling the power, to keep it from spiraling out of control like it had before.
The creature lurched backward, its glowing yellow eyes narrowing with malice. "Fool… you cannot control what you do not understand," it rasped. "This place will consume you, as it has consumed all the others."
But Zynth didn't care about the creature's warnings. He had already survived the collapse of his home, and the wasteland wouldn't stop him. His only concern now was finding Aurelia—and if there were others trapped in this place, maybe she was among them.
"Tell me where they are," Zynth demanded, his voice tight with urgency. "The others. The ones like me."
The creature let out a rattling hiss, its skeletal form retreating further into the shadows. "They are scattered… lost… just as you will be soon enough."
Zynth's frustration flared, and the flames in his hands grew brighter, hotter. He stepped closer to the creature, ignoring the crackling tension in the air around him. "Tell me where they are, or I'll burn you to ash."
The creature's sneer twisted into something resembling fear. Its glowing eyes darted between Zynth and the flickering flames that danced around his fingers. "East… toward the shattered peaks," it croaked, its voice faltering. "You may find them… but they are broken… remnants, like everything here."
Zynth didn't wait for more answers. He had what he needed. With a flick of his wrist, the blue flames surged forward one last time, driving the creature deeper into the shadows. It let out a final, eerie hiss before disappearing into the swirling mist, leaving Zynth alone once more.
He extinguished the flames with a deep breath, the Blue Atomic Power still humming faintly beneath his skin. He could feel the strain of using it, the way it tugged at him, threatening to spiral out of his control. But he couldn't afford to stop. Not yet.
His eyes turned east, toward the direction the creature had pointed. In the distance, beyond the barren wasteland and the jagged landscape, he saw them—massive, shattered peaks rising from the ground, their edges sharp and uneven, as though they had been broken apart by some great force. It was a stark, ominous sight, but if the creature was right, that was where he would find the survivors of *Chroma-Veila*.
And hopefully, Aurelia.
Zynth adjusted the pendant around his neck, feeling its familiar weight against his chest, and started walking.
---
#### Hours Later
The journey toward the shattered peaks was grueling. The air in the Rift's Wasteland felt heavy, oppressive, and every step Zynth took seemed to take more effort than the last. The ground was uneven, littered with cracks and jagged stones, and the sky above remained a swirling mass of dark clouds, blocking out any semblance of light. The wasteland felt endless, stretching out in all directions like a void of forgotten worlds.
As Zynth made his way across the desolate landscape, he couldn't shake the growing feeling of dread that clung to him. The Blue Atomic Power stirred inside him, but it felt different here—more volatile, as though it was reacting to the instability of the realm itself. He kept his grip on it tight, refusing to let it slip from his control, but he could feel the strain building with every passing minute.
He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up.
After what felt like hours of walking, Zynth finally reached the base of the shattered peaks. The towering mountains loomed above him, their sharp edges casting long shadows across the ground. The wind howled through the jagged rock formations, carrying with it an eerie, ghostly sound that set Zynth's nerves on edge.
He paused, scanning the area for any signs of life. The creature had said that others were here—*survivors*—but so far, he had seen nothing but the twisted remnants of this dying realm.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement.
Zynth's heart leapt in his chest as he turned, his hand instinctively reaching for the Blue Atomic Power. But when he saw the figures emerging from the shadows, his breath caught in his throat.
It wasn't more creatures. It was people.
A group of survivors, ragged and weary, staggered out from behind a cluster of jagged rocks. Their clothes were torn, their faces gaunt, and their skin flickered with the faint glow of *Chroma-Veila's* magic. Zynth recognized some of them—fellow Hunters, civilians, Chromalites who had been caught in the collapse of their realm.
"Zynth?" a voice called out, shaky and filled with disbelief.
Zynth turned to see *Altair Voss* stepping forward, his eyes wide with shock. The senior Hunter looked worse for wear—his usually composed, confident demeanor was replaced by exhaustion, his skin flickering with dull shades of purple.
"Altair," Zynth breathed, relief washing over him. He hadn't expected to find the Hunters so soon, let alone Altair. "You survived."
Altair nodded, his expression grim. "Barely. After the rift collapsed, we were thrown into this wasteland. We've been trying to regroup ever since, but this place… it's tearing us apart."
Zynth scanned the group, noting the haunted looks in the eyes of the survivors. There were fewer of them than he had hoped—just a handful of Hunters and civilians, all of them looking just as lost as he felt. The collapse of *Chroma-Veila* had left them stranded in this broken realm, and it was clear they were struggling to hold on.
"We've been trying to find others," Altair continued, his voice low. "But it's getting harder. The wasteland… it does something to you. Drains you. I don't know how much longer we can last."
Zynth's stomach churned at the thought. This place—this wasteland—was more than just a realm between worlds. It was a place of ruin, a place that slowly broke down anyone who found themselves trapped within it. He could feel it too—the way the weight of the realm pressed down on him, pulling at his magic, his very being.
"Have you seen Aurelia?" Zynth asked, his voice tight with desperation. "Is she with you?"
Altair's expression darkened, and for a moment, he didn't answer. Zynth's heart sank. "No," Altair finally said, shaking his head. "We haven't seen her. She may have been thrown into a different part of the wasteland… or worse."
Zynth's chest tightened. He had feared this, but hearing it confirmed sent a wave of despair crashing over him. If Aurelia wasn't with the survivors, that meant she was still out there—lost, alone, or worse.
"I have to find her," Zynth said, his voice firm despite the growing weight of his emotions. "I have to know if she's alive."
Altair hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Zynth… I know you want to find her, but this place… it's dangerous. The longer we stay here, the more we risk losing ourselves. You've felt it, haven't you? The pull of this realm. It's not just a wasteland—it's a trap. If we don't leave soon, none of us will make it out."
Zynth clenched his fists, the Blue Atomic Power pulsing faintly in his chest. He knew Altair was right—this realm was dangerous, and the longer they stayed, the more they risked being consumed by it. But he couldn't leave without knowing what had happened to Aurelia. He couldn't abandon her.
"I can't leave without her," Zynth said quietly, his voice filled with resolve. "I won't."
Altair stared at him for a long moment before sighing. "Then we'll help you. We'll search for her… but we can't stay here for long. We have to find a way out of this realm, or it'll tear us apart."
Zynth nodded, relief and determination flooding through him. They would find her. He wasn't alone in this. With the Hunters by his side, there was still hope.
But as he looked out across the wasteland, the towering peaks looming above them, he couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
---
**End of Chapter 12**