Alpha squad

The cold, strange landscape surrounding James seemed to pulse with the strange energy that had drawn him in. The glassy ground beneath his feet felt like it was shifting with every step he took. It was as if he were walking through a world that didn't quite belong, one where reality bent and twisted at the edges. His mind raced—he had to find a way out, but the figure in front of him was still watching, its cold, blue eyes fixed on him.

"You still don't understand, do you?" the figure said, its voice low and almost sympathetic. "Alex Nolan is the chosen one, James. He's been marked from the moment he was born. And now… now you've all come to him too late."

James's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean, 'too late'? What are you doing to him?"

The figure stepped forward, its movements fluid and deliberate, as though it was made of shadows itself. "The fire Alex wields isn't just power. It's a key—one that unlocks the potential to reshape everything. And soon, he'll be more than just a weapon. He'll be the gateway."

"A gateway?" James repeated, his heart racing. "What are you talking about?"

The figure raised a hand, and the world around them seemed to shudder, the air thickening. For a moment, James couldn't breathe, the weight of the energy pressing down on him like a thousand tons. The figure's mask glowed with an eerie, bluish light as it spoke again, each word filled with an unsettling certainty.

"The gateway to the true power, James. To the one who rules over all."

Before James could respond, the ground beneath him cracked, the surface splitting open with a violent tremor. The world seemed to tilt sideways, the air crackling with raw energy. James stumbled, barely catching himself on the shifting surface as it seemed to unravel.

"What's happening?" James shouted, but the figure was already retreating into the shadows, its laughter echoing in the strange dimension. "No! I'm not letting you get away!"

But it was too late.

The ground broke apart completely, and James fell, tumbling through the cracks of reality itself. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, everything was darkness. Then, he crashed onto solid ground with a heavy thud, gasping for air as his body ached from the fall.

He lay there, trying to catch his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. His surroundings were unfamiliar—dark, silent, and cold. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he could just make out the shape of an abandoned building in the distance, its silhouette a looming shadow against the dim sky.

"What…?" James muttered, slowly pushing himself to his feet. He glanced around, but there was no sign of the figure. The world felt strangely empty, as if it were frozen in time.

Then he heard it—faint at first, but growing louder. A low, guttural sound, like something breathing. Something… waiting.

"James." The voice came from behind him, familiar yet distorted. His pulse quickened as he spun around, his instincts screaming. Standing in the doorway of the ruined building was a figure—someone he knew, someone he feared.

It was Alex.

But it wasn't Alex.

His friend's body was surrounded by an unholy aura of blue flames, the fire twisting and shifting like a living thing. His eyes, once full of life, were now empty, replaced by a chilling, soulless glow.

"Alex?" James called out, his voice trembling. He stepped forward cautiously, his heart sinking with each step. This wasn't his friend. Not anymore.

The figure—Alex—took a step forward, the flames around him flickering dangerously. He opened his mouth, but instead of Alex's voice, it was the cold, eerie voice of the figure that had spoken to him earlier.

"You've come to witness the end, James. The beginning of a new era."

James's throat tightened. "No. This isn't you, Alex. You have to fight this."

But the creature in Alex's form only smiled—a twisted, hollow smile.

"The fire has consumed him, James. He is beyond saving."

James's stomach churned. He couldn't accept it. Alex was strong—he had to be. There was no way he was going to let his friend be lost like this.

"Alex, fight it!" James yelled, his voice desperate. "Please, you have to fight it!"

But Alex didn't respond. Instead, the blue flames around him surged, and with a crack of thunder, they erupted toward James. He barely had time to react, activating his alchemy to shield himself, but the force of the blast sent him flying backward, crashing into a nearby pillar.

Everything was a blur. Pain seared through his body, and as he struggled to get back to his feet, the world around him seemed to warp again, like reality itself was being torn apart.

"James…" The voice again. But this time, it wasn't the cold, eerie version of Alex—it was the real Alex, struggling to break through.

"Alex?" James gasped, his eyes wide as the flames around his friend flickered and flickered. "Alex, please! Come back!"

The blue flames intensified, surrounding Alex's form as the distorted figure stepped forward again, the mask glowing brightly. "It's too late," it said. "He's already lost."

James's heart sank. This was it. Alex was slipping away—this was their last chance. The fire was devouring him, body and soul. There was no more time.

But just as the flames seemed to reach their peak, everything froze.

A high-pitched, unnatural screech echoed through the air, like metal against stone. And then, a crack.

The air shimmered, and for the briefest moment, the entire world seemed to tear apart at the seams.

And then, everything went dark.

To be continued...