The river finally appeared again after what felt like far longer than it should have.

By the time Tyler and Tansy pushed through the last stretch of tangled forest growth, both of them were scratched by branches, their clothes carrying traces of dirt, dust, and dried leaves from everything that had happened underground.

The sight of flowing water felt strangely reassuring.

Cold current moved steadily between the trees, glinting under the afternoon light as if nothing unusual had happened anywhere nearby.

Behind them lay an old ruin.

Below that ruin lay a hidden laboratory from another age.

And inside that laboratory—machines, robots, preserved food, a spatial passage, strange videos, and a half-magma monster with gun barrels for arms that nearly turned them into smoke.

Yet somehow, despite all that, they were now simply walking beside a river again like ordinary people returning from a hunt.

Tansy adjusted the packets hidden inside her dress and looked at the current.

"If we follow the river, we’ll reach Sector 11 eventually."

Tyler nodded.

The river was safer than trusting memory in a forest full of giant ostriches that hunted in packs.

Even now, his body still remembered the sound of heavy feet crashing through trees.

For several minutes they walked in relative silence.

Tansy occasionally kicked stones into the water.

Tyler remained thoughtful.

His mind still lingered on what they had seen underground.

Carbonyx did not originate in Libria.

The old facility proved that clearly.

The ore in Sector 11 was only a derivative of something older—something connected to that dead creature and the strange liquid extracted from it.

And that woman who escaped through the portal...

That part felt even more important than the rest.

If someone had escaped carrying the extracted liquid, then whatever powered Libria today may have begun with that theft.

His thoughts were interrupted when something unusual caught his eye across the river.

He narrowed his gaze.

A figure lay motionless on the opposite bank.

Large enough to be unmistakably human.

Tyler casually lifted a hand and pointed.

"Isn’t that a full-grown man lying on the other side of the river?"

Tansy turned immediately.

The moment she saw the shape, she didn’t hesitate.

She ran.

Tyler watched her rush toward the shallow crossing with a small smile.

This was exactly how she had treated him too.

No calculation.

No suspicion first.

The instinct to help always came before caution.

It was reckless.

But somehow, that recklessness had not killed her yet.

He followed at a slower pace while Tansy crossed the shallower stones and reached the fallen man first.

The figure lay on his side near the muddy edge of the riverbank.

Broad shoulders.

Dark skin.

Tall— easily six feet even while half-curled on the ground.

His clothes were dirty brown leather reinforced with sections of worn synthetic material. The design looked unlike anything in Sector 11. Not luxury like the Capital, but structured— practical, almost military.

Tansy crouched.

But she did not touch him immediately.

Instead she took two careful steps back, grabbed a long stick from nearby, and cautiously poked his shoulder.

No reaction.

She poked again.

Still nothing.

Tyler arrived beside her and folded his arms.

"Hmmm... let me check," he said lightly, then looked at her and winked.

Tansy understood instantly.

"Alright," she replied, taking another step back and pulling her bow from her shoulder. "I’ll go to the blind spot and shoot if he ambushes."

She winked back.

The man on the ground flinched.

A second later his eyelids twitched.

Then slowly opened.

He stared upward first, then turned his head toward them.

"You two are so cautious."

His voice was rough but steady.

The moment he spoke, Tyler stepped back casually while Tansy nocked an arrow in one smooth motion and aimed directly at his chest.

The man noticed immediately and gave a tired laugh.

He slowly pushed himself upright, wincing as he moved his leg.

Now Tyler could see him clearly.

Black-skinned.

Strong frame.

Short dark hair.

The face of someone older than them, perhaps early thirties, hardened by survival rather than comfort.

His leather uniform looked damaged in several places, with one sleeve torn and dirt covering much of the chest.

He looked at both of them carefully.

"Young. Hunting gear. Forest smell." His gaze shifted between them. "Nearby sector... probably Sector 11."

He said it aloud as if solving a simple puzzle.

Then he leaned back slightly and raised one hand in peace.

"Alright... Sector 11 people. I’m Maximus. From Sector 16."

Tansy immediately frowned.

"Impossible."

Tyler glanced sideways.

Tansy lowered the bow slightly but did not relax.

"Sector 16 is gone," she said flatly. "They rebelled. The Capital nuked them. It doesn’t exist anymore."

Maximus gave another dry laugh.

"Hahaha... true."

Then his expression dimmed.

"But not fully true."

He exhaled heavily.

"There are survivors."

For the first time, Tyler saw something behind the man’s tired expression— not fear, but the kind of exhaustion carried only by someone who had watched too much disappear.

"What happened to you?" Tyler asked.

Maximus looked down at his leg.

"My leg got torn up. Some damned ostriches nearly took my life." He shifted slightly and grimaced. "Can you help me? I just need a Bronze-med."

Tansy immediately snorted.

"We don’t even have an Iron-med."

Her mocking tone came naturally. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Maximus smirked despite the pain.

"Figures."

He nodded toward the pack lying a little far away from him.

"I do have Bronze meds. There are two in my backpack. Help me and I’ll give you one."

Tyler crouched beside the bag.

Quietly, he asked Tansy:

"What’s a Bronze-med?"

Tansy answered immediately, still watching Maximus with narrowed eyes.

"It’s healing serum. Sector 5 medicine. There are Iron-med, Bronze-med, Silver-med, and Gold-med. Each stronger than the last."

She pointed slightly while speaking.

"They inject healing compounds and stimulants directly into the blood. Bronze heals serious wounds fast. Silver can even restore small limbs."

Maximus nodded approvingly.

"You know a lot, girl."

Then he added with a grin:

"I also heard rumors of legendary Diamond-med. Supposedly it can even revive dead people."

Tansy rolled her eyes.

"Sounds fake."

"Probably," Maximus admitted. "But rumors survive because rich people keep impossible things hidden."

Tyler opened the bag carefully.

Inside were several items packed neatly: preserved food packets, rope, bullet magazines, a handgun and folded paper documents.

Then he found a small hard case shaped like a pencil box with a red plus sign.

He opened it slowly.

Inside lay two syringes filled with bronze-colored liquid. The fluid shimmered faintly in the light. Tyler picked one up cautiously. Maximus watched him and smirked.

"Careful. The syringe will feel pain, if you are any faster."

He is clearly mocking Tyler for being so slow.

Tyler ignored him completely.

He examined the injury first.

The leg indeed had claw marks— deep enough that ordinary stitching would not solve it.

The wound looked recent. Still bleeding in places.

Tyler glanced at Tansy.

"Should I just inject it?"

Maximus groaned dramatically.

"No, just shove it in my ass."

Tyler immediately reached toward his waistband.

Maximus’ eyes widened.

"Bro! It was sarcasm!"

Tansy burst out laughing, snatched the syringe from Tyler’s hand, and without hesitation plunged it directly into the thigh above the wound.

"Aaahhhhhh!"

Maximus squealed. Not like a soldier. More like a pig being stepped on.

The bronze liquid emptied quickly. Then all three of them watched. The wound began closing, Not slowly but Visibly. The torn flesh pulled inward. Blood stopped almost instantly.

Even the damaged skin knitted together before their eyes.

Tyler’s eyes widened slightly. That speed was absurd.

Maximus breathed heavily for several seconds, then flexed his leg carefully.

"See?" he said, still grimacing. "cool , right?."

He slowly stood up.

No limp. No hesitation.The healing had worked completely. Tansy looked genuinely impressed.

"That’s cool." She wonder if she can heal her father.

Maximus stretched once, then looked at Tyler.

"You kept the box."

Tyler still held the case. Inside remained one Bronze-med syringe.

"I said I’d give you one," Maximus added, "so you can keep it."

Tyler gave Maximus a brief nod in thanks.

Maximus walked toward the muddy edge of the river and crouched beside his bag. From inside, he pulled out a rifle wrapped in cloth. He inspected it carefully, wiping mud from the barrel before checking the trigger and chamber. After confirming it was undamaged, he let out a quiet sigh of relief and slung it over his shoulder.

Then he turned around—

Only to find the riverbank empty.

Tyler and Tansy were gone.

For a moment he simply stared, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... these kids have the survival instinct of a tardigrade."

He shook his head, amused rather than offended.

"Don’t worry, Sector people," he muttered while adjusting the rifle strap. "Our only enemy is the Capital."

As he walked away along the riverbank, sunlight briefly caught the metal near the rifle grip.

A faded symbol was engraved there.

EMBERS.

---

Meanwhile, high above on a thick tree branch, Tyler and Tansy remained hidden among the leaves, watching him disappear through the forest.

"This guy... he’s definitely a Rebel," Tansy said quietly. "Maybe the surviving rebels from Sector 16 are living nearby."

Tyler kept his eyes on Maximus’s retreating figure.

"What happens if they enter Sector 11?"

Tansy’s expression turned serious.

"If the Capital finds out rebels entered our sector," she said, "they might decimate us too."