Morning light was thin, struggling to pierce the twisted clouds of the Fallen Boundary. Wu had been moving cautiously, tracing energy patterns that rippled faintly across the terrain. Then he sensed it: a human presence, unfamiliar yet undeniably strong.
He crept closer, remaining in the shadows. Emerging from behind a jagged outcrop was a figure robed in muted gray, their aura calm but heavy, pushing subtly against the chaotic energy of the Boundary itself.
Wu's eyes narrowed. "A cultivator," he muttered, "and not a minor one."
The stranger's eyes met his, sharp and assessing. "You are… not like the others," they said softly, their voice carrying an authority that didn't rely on volume.
Wu allowed a faint, gray smile. "Good observation. I am outside Heaven's calculations."
The stranger tilted their head. "Interesting. Perhaps we can… cooperate."
Wu studied them. Allies were rare here, and trust rarer still. But this one had potential. Someone capable of matching strategy, at least partially, could be a tool, or a test.
The two moved through the chaotic terrain cautiously. Each fissure, each shard of energy, each unpredictable pulse became a part of their coordinated movement. Chaos creatures appeared, drawn by their energy. Wu acted first, weaving through the terrain, channeling energy to destabilize the beasts. The stranger followed, precise and efficient. Together, they eliminated the threats, a temporary symphony of survival.
By nightfall, they made camp near a jagged fissure, silent but alert. Wu sensed the stranger's caution, mirrored by his own. They were allies for now, yes—but mutual benefit, not trust, bound them.
"Perhaps I am not entirely alone," Wu thought, gray eyes reflecting the faint energy glimmers around them.