The sun dipped low beyond the ragged horizon, bleeding streaks of orange and purple over the distant cityscape. From the mountains, the once bustling industrial district looked like a forgotten graveyard, a graveyard of metal bones and broken windows.
Kane's SUV rolled through the quiet streets, its tires whispering against cracked asphalt. Every step, every breath, was calculated. Tonight was not just another raid — tonight, he would put the lessons learned to their greatest test.
He parked a few blocks away from the largest target: an aging armory, its steel frame sagging but unyielding. The reinforced doors and blinking red surveillance cameras marked it as a fortress to many, but Kane saw it as a treasure trove. Past nights had seen him sneak in to snatch handfuls of ammo, rifles, and explosives. Tonight, none of that slow piecing together. Tonight, he would make the whole building disappear.
A soft gust of wind fluttered through the empty streets, carrying the scent of rust and oil, mingled with distant city noises slowly winding down. Kane adjusted the collar of his jacket and checked the system interface glowing faintly on his wrist.
The AR overlay painted ghostly blueprints of the armory over his vision. Crates piled high inside, racks of weapons, cases of explosives — all ripe for the taking.
He stepped into the shadow of the building, the chill of the night prickling his skin. His hand hovered over the cold steel exterior, fingers brushing gently over the rusted metal.
"Okay," he whispered, "let's see if you can take all of this."
Inside his home, the warm glow of the lamp illuminated the soft mess of toys scattered around Reina. Her chubby fingers gripped the little stuffed rabbit as she giggled, eyes bright with the flickering golden light that pulsed softly from the artifact nearby.
"Bun-bun, jump! Jump, Bun-bun!" she squealed in her two-year-old voice, clapping her hands with innocent delight. The rabbit bobbed and bounced, hopping toward her in playful response.
Kane's voice crackled softly from the comm-link, a steady anchor in the quiet room.
"Good job, Princess. You're doing really good."
Reina's tiny face lit up in a grin, missing teeth flashing. "I do it, Kane! I do it! Bun-bun listen!"
"Yes, Bun-bun listens," Kane smiled quietly, the warmth in his heart a rare bright spot in the darkness surrounding them.
She paused, her small brow furrowing in thought as if trying to explain something complicated. "Kane… I… I make 'em… all… jump! Big jump!"
"That's right. You're making them move, even from far away now, huh?" Kane asked.
She nodded eagerly, clutching the rabbit closer. "Yesh! I do it 'cross da room. I make 'em… jump big!"
Kane smiled, his eyes softening. "You're getting really strong, Reina. That's amazing."
Outside, Kane focused. His mind connected deeply with the system as the interface began to hum in response to his command.
The armory's metal walls shimmered faintly, like ripples across a still pond. The faint pulse grew stronger, the system pulling the entire building's physical mass into its dimensional inventory. Crates, walls, floors, even the bulky doors — all were gently lifted from the cityscape and stored safely.
Within moments, where the armory had stood was only empty space, the night air flowing undisturbed.
Kane took a steady breath and moved on to the next target — a two-story warehouse not far away.
Back home, Reina was trying something new. She sat cross-legged, eyes closed tight as she whispered, "Bun-bun… gimme… more jump! Mo' big jump! I give pow'ah!" Her voice was soft, focused, and strangely confident for a toddler.
The stuffed rabbit twitched its ears and spun in place, its movements smoother and more lively than ever before.
"Yesh… I give… pow'ah!" Reina repeated, opening her eyes to see the rabbit leap and twirl with joyful energy.
Kane's voice came again, gentle and proud. "You're sharing your energy now? That's incredible, Reina."
"Yesh!" she beamed. "I share! I share pow'ah! Make 'em strong! Make 'em jump!"
Night deepened as Kane repeated the procedure at the next warehouse, his fingers brushing over the rough exterior walls, the system swallowing the entire building without hesitation. Each structure was a prize, its contents folded neatly into his inventory.
His mind raced — drones to build, weapons to arm them with, an island fortress to prepare.
He stole a glance at the countdown on his wrist.
Global Collapse Countdown: 46 Days, 10 Hours, 5 Minutes
Nearly halfway gone.
The real fight was still ahead.
Reina's world was small but growing. Her toys danced in radiant life around her, their little bodies energized by her expanding gift. She giggled as the rabbit performed a high leap, then bounced toward her favorite wooden train, coaxing it awake.
"Choo-choo! Go, go, choo-choo!" she sang softly, hands waving as the train trundled across its tracks.
Kane watched on the comm-link, heart full despite the darkness closing in around them.
"You're amazing, kiddo," he said. "Keep practicing. We're going to need every bit of that power."
Reina giggled. "I do it, Kane! I help!"
The night stretched on, and Kane prepared his next moves, readying drones for assembly, designing new weapon systems, and planning supply runs. The weight of survival pressed on his shoulders, but he was no longer alone.
With each building vanished and every toy awakened, the line between hope and despair blurred — but Kane held firm.
Tomorrow, they would take another step toward a future worth fighting for.