The Cairn shifted subtly around them, platforms drifting, clocks ticking in uneven rhythms, as if the building itself were unsettled.
Kasey rubbed the sore membranes, his gaze lingered on his mechanical scales for just a moment.
"…Well." He then trailed off, eyes darting at the drifting platforms.
Riven's dark fur caught the faint light, white tufts glowing as he stepped closer, paw extended.
"Start from the beginning. How did you even end up here?"
Kasey faces up, giving a weary yet serious look on Riven.
"…It all happened so fast. We… Catherine, Angelo, and I… we were helping Freddie and you escape that black sedan—the one that's been following you guys."
He shook his head.
"We fought them off, at least tried to… but then—someone grabbed us. Masked people. Four of them. I don't even know who they were. They… they captured me, Catherine, and Angelo. The rest… well, you know."
Riven was amused by this situation, he steps forward slightly. "Masked people…? Better not be who I think they are — and that's when you woke up here?"
Kasey nodded.
"Yeah. We were taken to an abandoned mall. That's when… the building started forming around us, shifting and shaping itself like it was alive. Catherine and Angelo—they got separated. I… I don't know where they went. I was left here, tied up…"
His claws dug slightly into the floor, frustration and exhaustion mixing.
"…and then I ended up like that. I saw shadows… I heard voices… I didn't even know who I was anymore."
Riven listened, he took the time to process this information. It was a bit, yes, but he still pondered on the "masked people".
"Okay… you went through a lot. No wonder you looked like that when we found you."
He didn't say much else—there was nothing he could add. He'll get to the bottom of who the "masked people" are.
Kasey's gaze shifted between Riven and Freddie. "…So, you two… you just found me here?"
Riven nodded once.
"Yeah. And now you're with us. That's what matters. You're alive, you're conscious… and you can move, right?"
Kasey's wings dropped slightly, "Yeah, but it still hurts from y'all beating my ass."
Riven's paw stayed extended, calm and steady.
"You'll recover. But listen—this place, whatever it is, it's unpredictable. The Cairn doesn't… it doesn't play fair. You can't assume anything. You just have to keep moving."
Kasey let out a short breath, processing.
"…Alright. I'll… try."
Freddie padded silently to the side, golden fur glinting faintly in the distorted light, giving Kasey a quiet presence without words. His shadow lingered as a soft pulse behind him, reassuring.
Riven glanced toward the stairwell.
"We can talk later. For now… let's move. Something waits further up. And whatever happens, stick close. We'll handle this together."
Kasey looked at the dark wolf, then at the golden bear beside him, uncertainty and relief warring in his chest.
"…Okay. I'll follow."
Step by step, they began to ascend the stairs. The Cairn shifted around them subtly, platforms tilting, clock hands twitching unnaturally. Nothing felt stable, and yet, for the first time in a long while, Kasey felt like he wasn't facing it alone.
———
Block One: Tumula
———
As they crossed into the space beyond, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
The light dimmed into a muted gray-blue, like the world had been filtered through ash. Platforms drifted lazily in the open air, stone slabs hovering over a depth that swallowed sound. The place felt heavy without being oppressive, solemn in a way that made everyone instinctively lower their voices.
A rhythm settled in around them.
Soft chimes echoed in uneven intervals, layered over a low pulse that never quite faded. It wasn't threatening, just… wrong enough to keep them alert. The beat stayed steady no matter where they stood, like the area had its own sense of time.
Kasey shifted his wings, glancing around.
"Okay, I hate this already."
Riven glances at Kasey, unamused.
"Good. Means you're paying attention."
"That wasn't a compliment, Riven."
Riven stepped closer to the edge of the first platform, eyes tracking how it drifted slightly as he approached.
"I should take point. If something moves or snaps, I can react faster."
Kasey crossed his arms.
"You say that, but you also hit things head-on. If this place has traps, that's not exactly ideal."
Riven shot him a look.
"I don't rush in blindly."
"You sound like you do, just with confidence."
Freddie stood a little behind them, gaze fixed on the platforms. He watched the way they shifted, how some eased closer while others pulled away, almost like they were responding to intent rather than motion. Riven noticed Freddie's behavior.
"Anything wrong?"
Freddie turned towards Riven, he gave a slight guilt as he realized something about Kasey.
"Um… we haven't taught him about combat."
Riven was dumbfounded.
…He was right.
They'd been so focused on surviving that they'd completely skipped over the part where Kasey needed to understand how any of this worked. Explaining it would be difficult. Explaining it without sounding insane would be worse.
"Alright, so…"
Riven paused for a brief moment, trying to add things together to make sense.
"This world isn't technically real. We are real—it's just this… this whole situation we're in, I can explain more later as we stop exploring."
Kasey listened without interrupting, surprisingly patient.
"Think of this world as, 'Let your imagination go wild' I guess you could put it. You need a weapon so try to imagine yourself what weapon would fit you. How would it fit yourself and that weapon you desire."
"Okay, I'll try."
Kasey's thought process goes beyond. Surprisingly, he was quick thinking as a weapon started forming in a holographic fashion. He reaches the handling of the weapon and another—which is a shield in its average size.
The formation completed, it appears to be the classic shortsword paired with a shield. He probably thought of himself as a knight; he always felt like a knight. Riven gave a small smirk, enjoying the way Kasey admired his weaponry.
"Nice one, rookie. Look at you, all shielded up."
"Oh shut it, you ol' grand fabulous wolf man."
Kasey and Riven laughed, knowing they were teasing each other like they are the best mates in the world.
"Alright, enough tomfoolery. We should move now—not waste time here."
"Right." Kasey responded.
"Hey, bub." Riven gently nudged at Freddie's shoulder. "You should take lead. I know you're quiet, but you've got the best handle on your power. And also… I respect you."
Kasey tilted his head toward Freddie.
"And you're good at keeping your shadow stable, right? Better than either of us."
Freddie hesitated, then shrugged slightly.
"I can manage it."
Riven exhaled through his nose, then gave a short nod.
"Alright. You lead. We have your back, always."
Despite himself, Freddie almost smiled.
He took the first step forward.
The platform beneath his foot hummed softly, adjusting its position just enough to meet him halfway. The rhythm in the air didn't change, but it felt… aligned now, like the place had acknowledged the decision.
They followed Freddie into the drifting stone path, the music looping steadily as the space opened up ahead, each step drawing them deeper into whatever this place had planned for them.
The music's low pulse dragged half a beat behind itself, like it tripped and caught up. One of the drifting platforms ahead dipped sharply, stone grinding as something tore free from beneath it.
Only two this time—Umbrins of course.
They climbed up slowly, pulling themselves onto the platform like corpses refusing to stay buried. Their bodies were rough and uneven, sculpted from packed soil and fractured stone, torsos hunched forward as if weighed down by centuries of dirt. Cracked masks clung to their faces, blue light seeping through the splits like breath through broken teeth.
They didn't rush.
They watched.
Riven's posture shifted instantly.
"Alright, let's kick their ass."
Freddie nodded once.
The left creature dragged its arm back, stone stretching and creaking as it wound up for a heavy strike. The motion was slow, obvious—almost considerate.
Freddie stepped forward.
Light snapped into place behind him.
Treddie manifested in a sharp, angular flare—his shadow rising just behind his shoulder, reinforcing his stance. Freddie swung, the dull blade humming as it cut across the creature's chest.
The impact didn't slice.
It forced.
Cracks spidered across the creature's torso as it staggered backward, feet scraping against the platform. The blue glow inside it flickered violently.
"Staggered," Riven said calmly.
The second creature lunged toward him, arm slamming down in a blunt arc. Riven didn't dodge.
"NIVER!"
Dark crimson energy erupted behind him as Niver took form, mirroring his movement perfectly. Riven caught the blow on his forearm, the impact rippling through his frame but stopping short. He twisted, driving a reinforced strike into the creature's side.
The creature reeled, mask splitting clean down the center.
Kasey stared.
They didn't just attack.
They summoned.
"…Okay," he breathed. "I see it."
The first creature recovered faster than expected, dragging itself upright and turning toward Freddie again. Its arm lifted, slashing Freddie as he loses HP. His clothes pretty torn from the rip.
Kasey flitched and grew in anger.
He reached inward, copying the feeling he'd just witnessed. Wanting to avenge his friend from being clawed.
Then, something answered in Kasey, his shadow telling him the name:
"Yesak."
The name wasn't spoken aloud—but it landed.
Shadow snapped into place behind him, taller, sharper, wings half-formed and rigid like dark glass. The presence locked onto Kasey's spine, steadying him instead of overwhelming him.
Kasey raised his sword and shield together.
Darkness flared.
He stepped in and slammed the shield forward, the strike clumsy but solid. The creature stumbled, balance broken just long enough.
Freddie finished it.
One clean follow-up strike—Treddie reinforcing the motion—and the creature fractured inward, collapsing into dust that dissolved before touching the stone.
The second creature tried to retreat.
Riven didn't let it.
He closed the distance in a single stride, Niver flaring brighter as he drove a final reinforced blow into its core. The creature convulsed once, blue light spilling out through every crack—
Then it fell apart.
Silence.
The music slipped back into its steady rhythm, unbothered.
Kasey stood there, breathing hard, Yesak still hovering behind him like an echo.
"…I did it," he said quietly. Then, louder, surprised, "I actually did it!"
Riven glanced back, a faint grin tugging at his muzzle.
"Yeah. You did."
Freddie lowered his blade. Treddie faded with him, shadow sinking back into stillness.
The platforms ahead drifted closer, aligning into a clearer path forward.
Freddie glanced down at the tear running across his town T-shirt, visible through the open front of his jacket.
"…Aw, man."
Riven looked over. "What's wrong, bub?"
"My shirt's torn."
Before either of them could respond, Freddie shrugged out of his jacket and tugged the shirt over his head. Kasey's eyes widened on instinct. Riven, meanwhile, just crossed his arms, unfazed.
Freddie paused mid-motion.
Something felt… off.
He looked down at himself—not touching, just aware. There was no weight, no presence where there should've been something beneath the pants. Not numbness. Just absence.
"…Wait," he said quickly. "Uh—don't look."
Riven turned his head away with a quiet sigh, a faint flush creeping into the fur along his muzzle despite himself. Kasey spun around immediately, wings stiff with embarrassment.
As Freddie finished undressing, he realized what his body had done without his input.
His animatronic frame had sealed itself—smooth, continuous plating where anatomy should've been. There was nothing exposed surprisingly. Just him, stripped of clothes but not of form.
A shallow scrape marred his torso where the earlier hit had landed. Freddie lifted a hand, light flickering briefly as he cast a minor heal. The mark knit itself shut with a soft hum.
"…Okay, you can look now."
Kasey turned first—and flinched out of habit. Then blinked.
"…Oh."
There was nothing to see. Freddie stood there bare but neutral, mechanical contours intact, no detail where flesh would normally betray vulnerability.
Riven turned next. His expression didn't change.
Which surprised even him.
"I thought you were about to pull something insane."
"No, it's just easier. And I don't like ruining my clothes."
Kasey glanced at Riven, silently asking are we really doing this.
Riven shrugged. "Honestly? Might not be a bad idea. Don't know if there's even a difference."
And with that, he started removing his own gear without ceremony.
Kasey yelped. "Nope. No way in hell I'm—"
Riven stopped, turned, and in one sharp motion grabbed the front of Kasey's shirt, yanking him forward just enough to break his momentum. Despite being shorter, the presence shift was immediate—controlled, firm.
"Listen, leaving one of us singled out over this is worse. I know your brain's spinning, but this isn't about comfort—it's about trust."
He loosened his grip slightly, eyes steady.
"We're all built male. You've seen yourself. There's nothing here to be ashamed of. So stop acting like a kid and stand with us."
He let go.
Kasey stood there, stunned, heart pounding.
After a long breath, he muttered, "…You're unbelievable," and started stripping anyway.
Freddie stood still as the others finished adjusting, his own form already settled back into what it had. Without clothes, the truth of what they were became impossible to ignore.
Riven finished removing the last of his gear and straightened.
Up close, his build was unmistakable.
He was broad and heavy through the shoulders, chest thick with layered plating hidden beneath dense, dark fur. The animatronic structure beneath it all gave him a weight that flesh alone never could—reinforced joints, compact servos seated deep along his arms and spine. His torso was powerful, almost exaggerated, like it had been forged for impact rather than speed.
The fur followed the shape naturally, wolfish and coarse, with white tufts breaking along his chest and collar where reinforced seams met softer material. Even at rest, there was tension in him—like a machine that never fully powered down. Wolverine-like wasn't just a comparison; it was the way his body looked meant to throw itself forward and survive whatever answered back.
Kasey couldn't help glancing—then looking again. It was just admirable, felt pretty comfortable. Riven was right however, there was nothing to be ashamed of.
By contrast, his own reflection felt almost foreign.
Kasey's animatronic body was lean, built for motion rather than collision. Blue-and-black scales traced clean lines along his arms, torso, and thighs, overlapping with precise uniformity. Where Riven was dense and compact, Kasey was streamlined—his joints narrower, his frame lighter, his balance centered around flexibility and flight.
The scales carried a faint metallic sheen beneath the color, especially where they thinned along his sides and abdomen, revealing subtle seams of engineered structure beneath. His wings folded neatly behind him, membranes reinforced with fine latticework that hummed softly when he shifted.
He looked… efficient.
Not fragile. Just different without the tone of flesh
For a moment, none of them spoke.
The silence was contemplative. A quiet understanding settling in as they stood there without armor, without clothing, without excuses.
Freddie broke it by trying to get his jacket, but it disappeared into pixels. The rest of their clothes did, they worried a bit and sat it aside for now.
Riven followed suit, stretching his arms once as his gear reattached, fur settling naturally around the plates beneath.
Kasey took a breath and did the same, wings relaxing before folding in tighter than before.
"…Well, if we get caught naked after this is over. I'm blaming it on you."
Riven smirked faintly. "Eh, I wouldn't care one bit."
Freddie said nothing, but he didn't look unsettled anymore.
If anything, he looked resolved.
The rhythm of the place continued—soft chimes, steady pulse—waiting.
Ahead of them, the path into the drifting stone stretched onward, quiet and uninviting.
Riven glanced forward, then back at the two of them.
"Alright, let's move. No more wasting time."
Freddie stepped forward without hesitation.
Kasey followed.
They began to jog with their weapons in hand. They moved deliberately as they follow behind Freddie—their leader.
This… was only Tumula, there are more… and more to go.