Chapter 10: The Boiling Channel

  The Mactan Channel stretched out before them, a murky expanse of steaming water that shimmered like liquid fire under the faint light of the dying sun. It was an unforgiving place—boiling waters and thick, acrid fog clouding the air, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. The surface was alive with movement, the water rippling in unnatural ways, as Boiler-Crabs swam just beneath the surface, their glowing eyes gleaming in the dim light.

  Adrian paused at the edge of the channel, looking out at the dangerous waters. His mind worked through the plan they had laid out. It was risky—too risky—but Sarah’s signal had been clear. She was close. Too close for Adrian to ignore.

  "How are we going to cross this?" Mike asked, his voice cutting through the thick silence. He stood a few paces behind Adrian, eyes scanning the boiling water and the sharp outlines of the Boiler-Crabs darting beneath the surface.

  Adrian took a slow breath, the air thick with the smell of sulfur and steam. "We’re not walking across, Mike," he said, his voice steady. "We’re going to walk across."

  Mike raised an eyebrow. "What? You’re not serious, right?"

  Adrian’s eyes glinted with a cold, confident focus as he turned to face Mike. "I’m serious. The Genesis Ring gives me the ability to manipulate gravitational fields. I can make the surface of the water solid enough for us to walk on."

  Mike’s jaw tightened. "That sounds insane."

  Adrian nodded. "It is. But if we want to get to Sarah, we don’t have a choice."

  Mike took a long look at the water. "So, you’re saying we’re going to walk across that?"

  Adrian smiled faintly, stepping forward, his fingers grazing the surface of the Genesis Ring. "It’s either that or risk getting caught by the Boiler-Crabs. And I’m not interested in swimming."

  With a concentrated breath, Adrian extended his hand toward the boiling water. He focused on the gravity field, stretching it across the surface of the Channel. For a moment, nothing happened. The air was still, and the only sound was the constant hiss of steam rising from the water’s surface.

  And then, it started. The water calmed. Slowly at first, then faster, as Adrian manipulated the gravitational field, pulling the surface of the water together into a solid layer beneath their feet. The heat from the boiling water shifted, contained by the gravity well Adrian had formed, but the water itself remained still.

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  The surface was solid.

  Adrian stepped forward cautiously, testing the strength of the field. His foot landed on the surface of the water, and it held firm beneath him. He exhaled slowly, then turned to Mike. “It’s safe. For now.”

  Mike hesitated, looking out at the shimmering expanse of the boiling Channel. “You’re telling me this will hold?”

  Adrian nodded. “For the next few minutes, at least. We don’t have time to waste. Let’s move.”

  With one last look at the hellish waters, Mike followed Adrian, stepping carefully onto the solidified surface. It was like walking on ice, slick and unstable, but with each step, he felt more confident that the gravity manipulation would hold. The water beneath them bubbled occasionally, but the gravity field kept it from boiling over. They were walking on a thin veil of stability.

  Adrian led the way, moving swiftly, his eyes scanning the Channel for any sign of danger. The Boiler-Crabs were lurking beneath the surface, their large, spindly legs occasionally skimming just below their feet. The creatures’ eyes glowed with a strange, ominous light, watching them as they passed.

  Mike, trying to shake the feeling of being watched, picked up his pace. “How much further?” he asked, the tension in his voice evident.

  Adrian didn’t answer immediately, his focus on maintaining the gravity field. Every step was calculated, each movement deliberate. He had to keep the field stable—or they would both fall through.

  “We’re almost there,” Adrian replied, his voice steady despite the risk. "Just stay focused."

  They moved in silence for a few moments, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the weight of the gravity field. The Channel stretched out before them, a glowing web of danger beneath the surface. Every step felt like an eternity, the surface of the water constantly shifting beneath them, but the field held firm.

  Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the far end of the Channel, the southern shore just ahead. The air felt thicker here, charged with the energy of the System, but they were close. Sarah’s distress signal was growing stronger, a faint static that pulsed through the air, guiding them toward the small building on the outskirts of the South District.

  Adrian exhaled sharply. “We’re almost there.”

  Mike looked around, keeping an eye on the water. The Boiler-Crabs hadn’t made a move yet, but their glowing eyes remained fixed on the two of them. He could feel their presence—watching, waiting. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

  Suddenly, a loud screech split the air, echoing across the Channel. Mike froze, eyes snapping to the water. A massive Boiler-Crab emerged from the depths, its massive pincers snapping as it rose toward them. The creature’s spiny back glistened in the dim light, and its large, bulbous eyes glowed red, tracking their every movement.

  Adrian’s eyes flicked toward the creature, and without hesitation, he raised his hand, manipulating the gravity field beneath their feet once more. The surface of the water rippled violently as he pushed the gravity to its limits, forcing the water beneath them to solidify even more.

  “We need to move, NOW!” Adrian shouted, his voice tight with urgency.

  The Boiler-Crab surged forward, its pincers snapping dangerously close. Adrian didn’t wait for Mike to react. With a sudden burst of force, he lifted both himself and Mike off the ground, propelling them forward with the gravity field.

  They surged ahead, the massive creature just behind them, its screeches filling the air as it lunged toward them. But Adrian’s gravity manipulation was swift, and with each step, they moved faster, closer to safety.

  Mike’s heart pounded in his chest as the creature’s claws grazed the edge of his foot, but they were already past it. They reached the shore just as the Boiler-Crab’s screeches began to fade into the distance.

  Adrian didn’t stop. He kept moving, pushing forward with purpose, until they reached the edge of the South District.

  “We made it,” Mike gasped, his body shaking from the rush of adrenaline.

  Adrian didn’t slow down. His eyes were already on the building ahead, where Sarah’s signal was coming from. “We’re not done yet,” he said, his voice cold and focused. “Let’s move.”

  With no time to waste, the two of them sprinted toward the building. The System had thrown its first real test at them, and they had made it through. But Adrian knew better than to think they were safe.

  They were about to meet Sarah. And whatever she had to offer, it was going to change everything.

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