Part 15 – In the Jungle of the Drift
Location: Kryonexus – Raw Drift Region Delta-09
For the first time, Arshan and Rayn were in a DAO-free zone —
No signal, no tech, and no map worked here.
Only a thick pressure hung in the air... as if even the air molecules were screaming.
Rayn (looking around):
"This is a jungle... but with digital glitches."
The branches were metallic. Leaves were transparent.
And every footstep kicked up pixelated dust from the ground.
Suddenly, a distant growl echoed.
---
Tribal Dengen Encounter
Arshan looked down from a ridge —
6-foot tall Dengens in humanoid form, marching with metal bones and tribal glitch tattoos.
Their eyes didn't pulse red… but white glitch lines —
A clear sign: they weren't corrupted… but naturally mutated.
Rayn (staring):
"Bro… this looks like a whole Drift tribe!"
Arshan:
"So DAO hid this too?
They were never even documented."
Suddenly, the Dengen tribe leader sensed their presence.
> "Non-Drift Blood! Outsiders!"
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Escape & Zyana's Whisper
Arshan and Rayn started running.
Branches snapped, and the ground beneath flickered unnaturally.
Then, a faint female whisper entered Arshan's left ear:
> "...Arshan… beneath the tree fold layer… jump now…"
Without hesitation, Arshan pulled Rayn and dove under a glitching tree.
BOOM.
An explosion hit right behind them. The Dengens missed.
Rayn (breathing heavily):
"How… how did you know?"
Arshan (quietly):
"I didn't... Zyana did."
---
Zyana's Backup Whisper Protocol
> [SYSTEM BACKUP LINK – WHISPER MODE: ACTIVE]
Signal Type: Emotional Sync Transmission
Output: Low-frequency warnings & guided prompts
Zyana (whisper, broken):
"I'm not fully functional…
But I'm reading your fear, heat, and instincts
to send you signals."
Arshan:
"Just come back… I'll survive till then."
---
DAO Council – Internal Conflict Grows
Location: High-Table Internal Briefing
Footage of the new Drift tribe had been leaked on screens.
Arguments broke out in the DAO Council.
Rika:
"The Council knew nothing about tribal Drift evolution."
Veylan:
"This information was kept from us.
DAO's internal data is being manipulated."
Another Officer (rebellious):
"So either the DAO itself is corrupted…
or we need to resign from this mission."
Council Status:
> [Status: Unstable – Internal Loyalty Splitting: 18%]
---
End of Part 15