The sun barely pierced the toxic clouds that smothered the sky, and even when it did, the light felt weak—almost as if it had given up on this forsaken world. Rusted hulks of long-dead machines stretched for miles, their jagged edges cutting into the landscape like broken bones. The Scraplands weren't a place where people lived. They were a place where people survived.
Ishizaki Vale crouched low over a mound of twisted steel beams, the acrid smell of rust filling his nose. His scanner buzzed faintly in his hand, its pale green light sweeping over the debris. He didn't have much time—staying out in the open for too long was dangerous. The Scraplands had eyes, and the desperate didn't always announce themselves before striking.
The scanner's light blinked blue, and a soft beep followed. Ishizaki felt his breath hitch. Blue meant valuable. He dropped the scanner and shoved his hands into the rubble, ignoring the jagged edges slicing into his palms. His fingers closed around smooth, cool metal, and he yanked it free with a grunt.
A power cell.
It wasn't pristine, but it was intact enough to fetch a decent trade. He wiped the grime from its surface and held it up to the weak light, inspecting the faint energy readouts on its side. Still had some charge left. Enough to buy food for a week. Maybe medicine, too. Ryo had been coughing again, and Ishizaki wasn't sure how much longer the kid could hold on without help.
A rare smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Not bad," he muttered, sliding the cell into his satchel.
The scanner beeped again, louder this time. A second signal. Ishizaki glanced at the screen. Whatever was buried nearby was bigger, and the readout suggested it wasn't just scrap. His heart raced. Two finds in one day? He couldn't believe his luck.
But luck was a dangerous thing out here.
The sound of footsteps crunching on sand made him freeze. He tightened his grip on the satchel, his free hand slipping toward the knife strapped to his belt. Slowly, he turned, his pulse hammering in his ears.
A figure emerged from behind a cluster of wrecked machines, their shadow stretching long across the uneven ground.
"Relax, Ishizaki," came a familiar voice, dry and rasping.
Malik stepped into view, his crooked grin as sharp as the blade strapped to his side. His gaunt frame looked more haggard than usual, and his rifle hung loose over his shoulder like it hadn't been loaded in weeks.
"What do you want, Malik?" Ishizaki asked, not bothering to hide the edge in his voice.
Malik spread his hands wide, his grin widening. "Easy there. Just passing through. Saw you out here and thought I'd say hello."
Ishizaki didn't trust him for a second. Malik was a scavenger like him, but the two of them weren't friends. Out here, trust was a luxury few could afford, and Malik had a reputation for taking more than his fair share.
Ishizaki sighed and reached into his satchel. He pulled out a small packet of rations, tossing it toward Malik. "Here. Take it and go."
Malik caught the packet with ease, his grin turning sly. "Always so generous, Vale. You know, that soft heart of yours is gonna get you killed one day."
"Maybe," Ishizaki said, already turning away. "But not today."
The Vault
Hours later, Ishizaki found himself wandering deeper into the Scraplands than he'd ever dared before. The second signal from his scanner had led him to a part of the wasteland he didn't recognize—a place where the ground was uneven, riddled with jagged metal and strange, crystalline growths that shimmered faintly in the dying light.
The scanner's beeping grew more insistent as he approached the source of the signal. His pulse quickened. Whatever was buried here, it wasn't ordinary.
Then he saw it: a massive structure, partially hidden beneath layers of debris and sand. Its surface was smooth and black, untouched by the rust and decay that had claimed everything else. Strange symbols were etched into the metal, glowing faintly with an eerie blue light.
"This… isn't from Earth," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
The entrance was a narrow crack in the structure's side, just wide enough for him to squeeze through. Ishizaki hesitated, his hand brushing against the knife at his belt. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, to leave whatever this was buried where it belonged. But the thought of what he might find inside—what it could mean for the kids—was stronger than his fear.
He slipped through the crack and into the structure, his breath catching in his throat as the temperature dropped sharply. The air was still and cold, carrying none of the choking heat from outside. His boots clanged softly against the smooth metal floor as he moved down a long, dimly lit corridor.
At the end of the hallway, he found a circular chamber bathed in pale blue light. In its center stood a pedestal, and atop the pedestal rested a sphere.
The object was mesmerizing. Its surface shimmered with intricate patterns that shifted and twisted when he looked directly at them. The air around it buzzed faintly, a hum that seemed to resonate in his bones.
Ishizaki's hand moved on its own, reaching out toward the sphere.
The moment his fingers brushed its surface, the room erupted with light.
Solus Awakens
"Human detected," a voice echoed in his mind, cold and precise. "Initializing interface. Welcome, user."
Ishizaki stumbled back, his vision swimming as the light dimmed. The sphere now hovered in the air before him, its glow steady and unyielding.
"What… What are you?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
"I am Solus," the voice replied. "An advanced quantum cultivation system. You have been selected as my host."
Ishizaki barely had time to process the words before the ground beneath him began to shake. The hum in the air turned into a deafening roar, and cracks began to spread across the walls of the chamber.
"Structural integrity compromised," Solus said. "Evacuation recommended."
"No kidding," Ishizaki muttered, bolting for the exit.
As he ran, a massive chunk of debris broke loose from the ceiling, hurtling toward him. He froze, his body locking up in sheer panic.
"Activating emergency protocol," Solus announced.
A surge of energy coursed through Ishizaki's body, his muscles moving faster than he thought possible. He dove forward in a blur of motion, skidding out of the structure just as it collapsed into a heap of rubble behind him.
Panting, Ishizaki stared down at the glowing sphere still floating in his hand. His fingers trembled as he clutched it tighter.
"What did you do to me?" he whispered.
"I enhanced your physical capabilities," Solus replied. "A temporary measure to ensure survival. Your potential is… promising."
Ishizaki swallowed hard, his mind racing. He didn't know what he'd just unleashed, but one thing was certain: his life—and the lives of the people he cared about—would never be the same.