The trek across the high ridge was a descent into a world stripped of its digital spine. Without the grid to stabilize the atmosphere, the Null Zone had become a volatile arena of shifting air currents and sudden, localized gravity wells. Every step Elian took felt like walking through viscous oil, his boots heavy with the weight of the encroaching fog. Sarah trailed behind, supporting Aris Thorne, whose physical presence seemed more like a liability than a prize.
"He’s not regaining consciousness," Sarah noted, her voice breathless as she adjusted Thorne’s dead weight on her shoulder. "He is just staring. Even when his eyes are open, he is not seeing the mountain."
"The interface destroyed his short-term anchor," Elian said, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of shelter. "He liv
