The Return to Reality
Rayen's mind was still reeling from the transformation. His body thrummed with raw energy, his senses heightened beyond human limits. He could feel the pulse of the Void Dimension around him—like a vast, endless ocean of energy waiting to be tapped.
But something else gnawed at him. How do I get back?
A flickering glow caught his eye. In the distance, a swirling rift hovered in the air, pulsing with unstable energy. The portal—the only way out.
Rayen pushed himself forward. The gravity of this place was strange, as if reality itself was bending around him. Every step felt both heavy and weightless at the same time. His new body adapted instinctively, and soon, he was moving with unnatural speed.
The closer he got, the more unstable the portal became. It crackled with violet and blue energy, distorting the space around it. If he didn't act fast, it might collapse entirely, trapping him in the Void forever.
Taking a deep breath, Rayen leaped forward—
—And the world shattered.
Neo Astra – A City Changed
Rayen's eyes snapped open as he crashed onto a cold, metallic floor. A blaring alarm echoed through the air. He groaned, pushing himself up. He was back in Quantum Nexus, but something was wrong.
The lab was in ruins.
Sparks rained down from shattered ceiling panels. Broken glass and debris littered the floor. The once-pristine facility looked like it had been hit by an explosion. Scientists lay unconscious around him, some groaning in pain.
E.I.V.A.'s voice crackled through the damaged speakers.
> "Warning… Dimensional anomaly detected… Quantum Nexus security compromised…"
Rayen's pulse quickened. What happened here? How much time had passed?
Suddenly, a series of heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. Rayen turned just in time to see a squad of armed enforcers storm into the room, their weapons trained directly on him. Their armor was different—darker, more militarized.
The lead soldier's visor glowed red as he spoke.
> "Target identified. Rayen Voss… or should I say—Neutron Shadow. You're coming with us."
Rayen's fingers crackled with energy. His instincts screamed at him.
Something was very, very wrong with this city.
And he was about to find out why.