The man with the deadly aura stepped forward, his sharp eyes fixed on Zack and Josh. He spoke again, his voice calm but firm, the words flowing in the same strange language as before.
Zack and Josh exchanged a confused glance, their grips tightening on their weapons. But before either could respond, one of the men behind the leader reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out two sleek wristbands. The wristbands were black and featureless, resembling thick watches with a faint metallic sheen.
The man tossed the wristbands toward them, gesturing for them to put them on.
Zack caught one, inspecting it briefly before glancing at the leader. "What is this?"
The leader didn't reply, his expression remaining neutral as he gestured again, more insistently this time.
"Guess we're doing this," Josh muttered, slipping the band onto his wrist.
Zack hesitated for a moment before doing the same. As soon as the wristband clicked into place, a faint warmth spread through his arm. The sensation was strange but not unpleasant, like a soft pulse syncing with his heartbeat.
And then the voices became clear.
"Can you understand us now?" the leader asked, his tone smooth and authoritative.
Zack blinked, glancing at Josh, who nodded slowly. "Yeah," Zack replied cautiously.
The leader gave a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Good. These are basic translation bands. They'll let you understand any spoken language, including those of other races."
"Other races?" Josh asked, his brows furrowing.
The leader ignored the question for now, continuing. "You're lucky to have survived. Running into the ship was the best thing you could've done. Most of the Ithra-infected people come here to avoid the light. If you'd gone into the forest instead, the Ithra beasts would've gotten you before our teams were sent to the rift location to find survivors—or eliminate any other races."
Josh swallowed hard, glancing at Zack. "And the Human Alliance?"
The leader's expression turned serious. "It's exactly what it sounds like. A coalition of humans who've adapted to this world and banded together for survival. You're fortunate to have landed in our territory. If you'd fallen into the domain of another race, you wouldn't be standing here."
Zack's grip on his pole tightened. "What do you mean by 'other races?'"
The leader's lips twitched into a faint smile. "This world isn't just home to humans. There are many others—some allies, most not. But that's a conversation for another time."
"And the wristbands?" Zack asked, his voice still tense. "How do they work?"
"They use Ithra," the leader explained. "The translation bands you're wearing are the simplest form. They convert spoken language into something you can understand. But that's all they can do."
He gestured to his own wrist, where a more intricate band glimmered faintly. "A proper wristband can do much more. It can measure your Ithra potential, track your level of adaptation, and even enhance certain abilities. Unfortunately, we didn't bring those. These are just for translation."
Zack's mind raced as he processed the information. "Why are you here?" he asked finally.
The leader's expression softened slightly. "We've been searching for survivors. You're not the only ones who've fallen through the rift. Outside this ship, we have a camp of people we've rescued—others like you, trying to make sense of this world."
Josh's posture relaxed slightly at the mention of others. "A camp? So, what happens now?"
The leader gestured toward the exit. "We're heading to the nearest city. It's where you'll learn to adapt, to survive in this world. You're welcome to join us."
Zack exchanged a glance with Josh, his grip on the pole loosening slightly. The offer was tempting, but the danger radiating from the man's aura wasn't something Zack could ignore.
"Your choice," the leader added, his voice calm but firm. "But I'd advise you to come with us. Alone, you won't last long."