Gaia Chronicles: The Integral Saga

Location: Abyss Gate Omega-9 – Northern Rim, 4:32 PM

The icy mountain winds howled, sweeping over the frostbitten battlefield like a banshee's wail. Snow fell in thick, blinding sheets—only broken by the orange and gold radiance of Harriet Synthesis 10, who stood at the mouth of the latest Abyss gate.

"This one's different," warned Aria Synthesis 6, glancing at her radar. "The readings are unstable. And I don't like how quiet it is."

"Then we burn bright and end it fast," Harriet said, halberd flaring with flame.

Her Divine Artifact, Vermithar, responded like a living creature. The wings on her back unfolded, fire streaming from the edges as if tethered to her heartbeat.

"Reinforcements inbound in twenty," Aria noted. "We're alone till then."

"Then twenty minutes is all I need."

Harriet wasn't joking. She never joked in battle.

Location: Within the Gate – Abyss Rift

Inside, they were greeted by oppressive silence. The snow stopped. The light vanished.

And then—movement.

Out of the shadows emerged a creature twisted by madness. An Abyssal of Rank 2, shaped like a massive centipede fused with smoke and steel, eyes gleaming red like dying stars.

Aria drew her halberd. Harriet stepped forward.

"I've seen worse nightmares," Harriet muttered.

"You're shaking," Aria whispered, catching the subtle twitch in her shoulder.

"It's not fear."

"Then what?"

"Restraint."

Battle Commences

The Abyssal lunged. Harriet launched herself upward, fire wings trailing searing heat in the dim air. She brought Vermithar down in a flaming arc, but the creature coiled away—its body unnaturally flexible.

"Its core! Beneath the plated carapace!" Aria shouted.

Harriet grunted as the beast's tail slammed her into a wall, shattering ancient crystal. Blood lined her lips—but her eyes burned brighter.

"Let's try unchained fire, then," she growled.

Her aura shifted. The ambient temperature in the Rift spiked. Flames coiled up her legs, wrapping her arms, searing the tips of her lashes. She activated Divine Assimilation.

Vermithar ignited fully—its wings blazing wider, crown-like horns forming above Harriet's head like a phoenix reborn.

"Now that's a wildfire," Aria breathed in awe.

Flashback Interlude – 1 Month Prior

"You don't always need to control it," Cyg had told her.

"But if I don't, people burn."

"Then maybe you need to learn when to burn."

His voice still echoed in her.

Back in the Rift

The Abyssal lunged again—massive fangs descending on Aria. Harriet teleported mid-flame burst, catching the beast by its throat with the hook of her halberd, yanking it back and hurling it into a spire of ice.

She landed in front of Aria, scorched and bloodied—but smiling.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," Aria said, stunned. "But what about you?"

"I'm not angry anymore," Harriet said. "Just… ready."

With a primal cry, she launched herself into the air, spinning Vermithar in a fiery cyclone. The final blow split the beast in half, its shriek echoing into silence. Ash fell like black snow.

The Abyss trembled—and shattered.

Location: Gaia HQ – Command Room, 8:00 PM

Cyg waited by the entrance, arms crossed. He turned as Harriet entered—suit slightly charred, hair wet, but smiling.

"You're late," he said.

"Had to give the mountain a makeover."

He tried to suppress the flicker of pride in his eyes. Failed.

"Aria said you went Divine in there."

"I did," she said, tone softening. "And I didn't lose control."

A pause.

"You were right," she said. "I don't need to hide the fire."

"Then what will you do with it?"

She stepped forward. Inches from him.

"Give it to someone strong enough to hold it."

"Dangerous," he whispered.

"I am," she replied, lips brushing his cheek.

"But I'm yours… if you want the heat."

He said nothing. Only reached for her hand—burning hot and trembling, but alive.

"I want it all," he said.