Lang's eyes snapped open, staring at the strange, ash-colored metal ceiling above him.
For a moment, he didn't move. His face tightened in confusion and disbelief.
Something wasn't right.
He blinked once, then twice, trying to gather his thoughts.
This wasn't the temple.
The air felt different, cold, sterile. His body was calm, too calm. No pain, no soreness.
But the last thing he remembered was Mika… and Mei.
' It's just a dream, right? Nothing more. But my body feels fine. Where… am I?'
His eyes stayed fixed on the metal surface until he turned his head to the side—and froze.
Dave sat on a nearby bed, staring back at him.
"Oh, great, you're awake," Dave said with a half-smile. "Well, I know you've got a million questions, but...."
"Where am I?"
Lang's voice cut sharply through the air. Low, steady, commanding.
He looked around, scanning every corner.
The walls were dull metal, humming faintly with hidden energy lines. Strange machines surrounded him, blinking lights reflected off smooth surfaces. Tubes ran from one of the devices into his right arm.
The thought hit him fast.
"Kidnapped. I've been kidnapped"
His eyes dropped to the light blue outfit he wore, thin, loose clothing that looked more like a patient's uniform than proper clothes. His muscles tensed. He grabbed the tubes connected to his arm and yanked them out with one swift pull. Then his eyes met Dave's again, cold and sharp.
"Hey, wait, hold on. that's not what...."
Lang moved before he finished. He jumped from the bed with explosive force.
The bed crashed down, its metal frame screeching as it slammed to the floor.
He spun mid-air, touched the ceiling lightly with his feet, then flipped down and landed hard enough to shake the room.
A burst of air rippled out, a small gravitational shockwave that shoved nearby items against the wall, including Dave's bed.
"The hell!?" Dave shouted, stunned.
Lang ignored him. He stepped toward the large reinforced glass wall ahead, pressing his palm against it. His right fist glowed faintly blue, a pulse of dense gravity forming around it.
Dave's voice rose. "Wait! You have to stop, let me explain.....!"
Too late.
Lang's fist slammed into the glass.
A violent shockwave exploded from the impact, knocking Dave off his feet and hurling loose objects to the walls.
The force filled the room like thunder. Lang didn't stop. He struck again and again, his fists blurring as waves of pressure exploded outward.
Dave struggled to stay down, his arms shielding his head.
'This guy's insane. What the hell'!
Each punch sent another tremor through the floor. The walls groaned under the pressure. The reinforced frame that held the glass began to twist and bend. Lang noticed it and doubled his speed.
The noise became deafening, vibrating through the air until it felt like the room itself was screaming.
THUD!
The glass finally gave way.
It shattered outward, the frame tearing loose and crashing into the corridor beyond.
Lang stepped through without a second's hesitation. But before he could move further, the sound changed.
Red lights flashed.
The hallway bathed in crimson glow as a loud alarm shrieked through the building.
Sirens wailed.
Somewhere deeper in the facility, footsteps echoed, staff and guards rushing into motion.
Lang didn't stop to think.
He dashed down the hallway, a streak of motion enhanced by gravitational bursts. His feet barely touched the ground as he ran, sometimes flipping sideways to the wall, sometimes upside-down across the ceiling, spiraling through the corridor like a streak of blue lightning.
"Wait up!" Dave yelled behind him.
But Lang was already gone, turning a sharp corner.
Dave clenched his fists, trying to gather energy. "Come on… I should be able to do something, right?"
He shook his hands, desperate, until his palms began to glow faint blue. His eyes widened. "There you go!"
He took off running, chasing Lang through the hall.
Lang reached the end of the corridor, a massive metal door, thick and sealed tight.
Without hesitation, he drew his arm back and began hammering against it. The echo boomed down the hall. The door didn't even dent, but Lang didn't care. His hits came faster, each one heavier than the last.
Dave finally reached him, panting. "Okay, you're gonna break your hands before you break that! Let me try something!"
He looked down at his glowing palms, unsure how to control them but he didn't have time to think.
"Here goes nothing."
Dave charged forward, timing his move with Lang's next punch. The instant Lang's fist swung forward, Dave's glowing hand connected with it.
A blinding light erupted between them.
The explosion tore through the door.
Metal screamed and split, bursting outward. Both of them were thrown into the air and hurled across the open field beyond the building.
The door landed upright, half-buried in the dirt with a deep metallic thud.
Dave hit the ground hard, his ears ringing, the world spinning.
Lang landed on his feet but didn't move.
He stood there, stunned by what he saw.
High silver buildings stretched across the horizon. Floating ships glided through a glowing blue sky. The air shimmered faintly, filled with energy he couldn't name.
" Where am I?" he whispered.
But before he could take another step, his vision blurred. His body swayed, heavy and unsteady.
The world tilted.
"Oh, shit…" Dave muttered, reaching out as Lang starts to fall.
Lang collapsed to the ground, the world fading to black. The last thing he felt was the faint vibration of footsteps closing in.
And then, nothing.
---