Fractured Dawn

By Elias Raynor

In a world shattered by an enigmatic force, humanity clings to survival amidst the ruins of the past. Vast crystalline structures pulse with unnatural energy, spreading chaos and birthing relentless constructs that hunt with chilling precision. What is the network's purpose? Who, or what, created it?

Five unlikely heroes must uncover the truth. Ryn, a warrior burdened by guilt; Lira, a fierce fighter with a mechanical arm and a sharper tongue; Milo, a nervous genius haunted by the weight of his knowledge; Viktor, a soldier who knows only discipline; and Kael, a thief whose humor masks deep scars. Together, they navigate a wasteland where every step leads closer to danger and an impossible choice.

When they confront the Architect, the mind behind the network, they face a harrowing ultimatum: embrace a system of control that promises salvation or destroy it, risking total collapse. As secrets unravel and trust frays, the group must decide if humanity is worth saving and if freedom is worth the cost.

Fractured Dawn is a post-apocalyptic adventure of sacrifice, resilience, and the fight for hope in a fractured world. The choice they make will define not only their fates but the future of everything. What would you risk for a new dawn?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Salvatore Manna
• Release date: Feb 19, 2025
• ISBN: 9798230996798

Book preview

Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1: The Edge of the Wasteland

Chapter 2: The Tunnels Beneath

Chapter 3: A Faint Light Ahead

Chapter 4: Echoes of the Past

Chapter 5: The Conduit’s Descent

Chapter 6: The Storm Within

Chapter 7: The Gate Opens

Chapter 8: A Fragile Calm

Chapter 9: The Broken Horizon

Chapter 10: The Crystalline Titan

Chapter 11: The Surface’s Veil

Chapter 12: Whispers in the Night

Chapter 13: The Unstable Titan

Chapter 14: The Heart of the Storm

Chapter 15: Fragments of the Unknown

Chapter 16: Signals in the Dark

Chapter 17: The Echo of the Network

Chapter 18: Into the Core

Chapter 19: Aftermath

Chapter 20: The Horizon Beckons

Chapter 21: The Black Ridge

Chapter 22: Shadows of the Unknown

Chapter 23: Echoes in the Wind

Chapter 24: The Source Revealed

Chapter 25: The Quiet Aftermath

Chapter 26: The Signal Returns

Chapter 27: The Heart of the Canyons

Chapter 28: A Fragile Calm

Chapter 29: Whispers of the Past

Chapter 30: Into the Frozen North

Chapter 31: The Silent Path

Chapter 32: Lights on the Horizon

Chapter 33: Echoes in the Void

Chapter 34: The Forgotten Horizon

Chapter 35: Fractured Realities

Chapter 36: Fragments of Revelation

Chapter 37: The Gathering Storm

Chapter 38: The Dead Peaks

Chapter 39: Shadows of the Creator

Chapter 40: The Signal Beyond

Chapter 41: The Weight of Silence

Chapter 42: Traces in the Ash

Chapter 43: Echoes of the Unknown

Chapter 44: The Veil of Silence

Chapter 45: The Beacon

Chapter 46: The Final Signal

Chapter 47: The Ascension

Chapter 48: The Echoes of Eternity

Chapter 49: The Quiet Before

Chapter 50: Into the Unknown

Chapter 51: The Weight of Choice

Chapter 52: Fractured Dawn

Chapter 53: A New Dawn

Copyright © 2024 Elias Raynor

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

Cover design by: Art Painter

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1: The Edge of the Wasteland

The wind howled through the shattered remains of what had once been a thriving city, whipping up clouds of ash and dust. Ryn Arker adjusted the scarf around his face and squinted against the harsh sunlight that pierced through the apocalyptic haze. The desolate expanse before him stretched endlessly, dotted with the skeletal remains of skyscrapers and the twisted wreckage of machines long abandoned.

Behind him, the sound of footsteps crunched on the brittle ground. Lira Vedra’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding. If you keep standing there brooding, we’ll never make it to the drop point.

Ryn turned to face her, his pale eyes narrowing. I’m thinking.

About what? The meaning of life? she quipped, adjusting the strap on her cybernetic arm. The faint hum of its servos was almost lost in the wind. Because if that’s the case, I have bad news: we’re about to lose ours if we don’t move.

In the distance, the faint hum of engines echoed, growing louder by the second. Lira’s eyes flicked toward the horizon, where plumes of dust rose like signal fires.

They’re close, Milo Gear Tavik said, jogging to join them. His oversized pack clinked and rattled with every step. I rigged a few surprises back there, but they won’t hold for long.

Ryn’s jaw tightened. The city-state of Caltheron didn’t take kindly to deserters, and its Enforcer squads were notoriously relentless. He knew this better than anyone. We stick to the plan. Lira, lead us to the tunnel. Gear, stay close. And for the love of all that’s left, don’t blow us up with one of your gadgets.

Milo smirked, his youthful face betraying no fear. No promises.

As they sprinted through the ruins, the oppressive silence of the wasteland was replaced by the mechanical roar of pursuit. The Enforcer vehicles were sleek and deadly, armored machines equipped with mounted turrets and reinforced tires that could handle even the roughest terrain.

Viktor Shade appeared from the shadows, his movements eerily silent despite his imposing size. The scarred man carried a long rifle slung across his back and a blade strapped to his thigh. They’ve split into two groups, he said, his voice low and gravelly. One heading for the main road, the other circling to cut us off.

Of course they are, Lira muttered. They’ve got us pinned.

Ryn’s mind raced. Not yet. Shade, can you take out the flanking squad?

The masked man nodded. Give me five minutes.

You have three, Ryn replied.

Shade vanished into the debris without another word, his silhouette blending seamlessly into the environment. Ryn motioned for the others to follow him as they darted into the shell of an old building. The structure creaked ominously, but it provided enough cover to mask their movements.

Inside, Milo began unpacking one of his devices. I can rig a diversion. It won’t last long, but it’ll give us an opening.

Lira crouched beside him, her eyes scanning the crumbling walls. Make it quick. They’re closing in.

The Enforcers arrived moments later, their boots pounding against the ground like a synchronized death march. Ryn held up a hand, signaling for silence. The group crouched in the shadows, watching as the soldiers, clad in black armor and glowing visors, swept the area with military precision.

Milo tapped Lira’s arm and whispered, It’s ready.

She nodded and pressed a button on the device. A high-pitched whine filled the air, followed by a burst of light that shattered the building’s fragile calm. The Enforcers turned sharply toward the source of the noise, weapons raised.

The team sprang into action. Lira’s cybernetic arm crackled with electricity as she launched herself at the nearest soldier, disabling him with a well-placed strike. Ryn moved with practiced precision, his blade flashing as he disarmed one Enforcer and used his weapon against another.

Milo hurled a small, buzzing orb into the group. It exploded in a cloud of thick, blinding smoke, causing chaos among the ranks. From the distance, a single gunshot rang out, and an Enforcer fell, a clean hole through his visor. Viktor’s timing was impeccable.

Keep moving! Ryn shouted as the remaining Enforcers scrambled to regroup.

They reached the tunnel entrance just as the second group of Enforcers arrived. Lira slammed her palm against the control panel, and the heavy metal door groaned as it slid open. The group rushed inside, the sound of pursuing soldiers echoing behind them.

As the door sealed shut, Ryn leaned against the wall, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Lira inspected her arm for damage, Milo rummaged through his pack, and Viktor calmly reloaded his rifle.

That wasn’t so bad, Milo said, grinning.

Lira shot him a glare. You’re insufferable.

Ryn straightened and faced the group. This is just the beginning. If we’re going to survive out here, we need to stay ahead of them. The wasteland doesn’t give second chances.

Viktor’s voice cut through the room like steel on stone. We don’t need second chances. We finish what we started.

The tunnel stretched out before them, dark and foreboding. Somewhere beyond it lay their next challenge, and perhaps the faint glimmer of hope they were all chasing.

Ryn tightened his grip on his blade. Let’s move.

Chapter 2: The Tunnels Beneath

The darkness of the tunnel was absolute. The only light came from the faint glow of Lira’s cybernetic arm and the occasional spark from Milo’s makeshift lantern, a cobbled-together device that emitted a bluish hue. The walls were damp, covered in moss and the remnants of some forgotten infrastructure. Every step echoed unnaturally, as if the tunnel were amplifying their presence to the unseen depths below.

Ryn led the way, his blade unsheathed and ready. He didn’t trust this place. The wasteland above might be a battlefield, but the tunnels beneath were a graveyard, and not just for the unlucky. He had heard the stories of people who vanished in these depths, swallowed by something worse than the Enforcers.

Where does this lead, exactly? Kael asked, breaking the tense silence.

To the Outskirts, Lira replied. A network of underground passages used during the Collapse. Some of them are stable. Most aren’t.

Comforting, Kael muttered, gripping one of his daggers tightly. And what are we expecting down here? Rats? Mutants? Or something worse?

Lira didn’t answer. She didn’t need to.

Milo adjusted his lantern, glancing at the walls. The energy readings are weird. There’s still power running through parts of this place.

That’s impossible, Ryn said without looking back. This system was abandoned decades ago.

Tell that to the conduits, Milo replied, pointing to a section of the wall where faint lines of blue light pulsed through old cables. Something’s feeding it.

That’s not all, Viktor’s deep voice rumbled from the back. We’re not alone.

The group froze.

Ryn’s grip on his sword tightened as he strained his ears. At first, there was only silence. Then, faintly, a scraping sound, like claws dragging against metal. It echoed from somewhere far ahead, but the tunnels twisted unpredictably, making it impossible to tell how close it truly was.

Stay together, Ryn whispered. And keep moving.

The group pressed forward, their pace cautious but deliberate. The scraping sound grew louder, interspersed with a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the tunnels. Whatever it was, it wasn’t hiding.

It’s driving us deeper, Viktor said, his voice calm but grim. This thing knows we’re here.

And it’s toying with us, Lira added. Be ready for an ambush.

The tunnel widened suddenly into a vast chamber. The walls were lined with machinery, ancient and rusting, but still functional. The air was heavy with the hum of unseen energy. At the center of the chamber stood a hulking figure, its form half-hidden in the shadows. Its glowing red eyes pierced the darkness.

That’s no mutant, Milo whispered, his voice shaking. That’s a Sentinel.

Ryn cursed under his breath. Sentinels were remnants of the old world’s defense systems, machines designed to patrol and protect vital infrastructure. But after the Collapse, many had been corrupted, their programming twisted into something monstrous.

The Sentinel stepped forward, its metallic limbs grinding against the floor. Its voice crackled, distorted and mechanical. Intruders detected. Elimination protocol initiated.

Scatter! Ryn shouted as the machine’s arm transformed into a cannon, unleashing a blast of searing energy.

The group dove for cover behind the rusted machinery. Ryn rolled to his feet, his mind racing. Milo, can you disable it?

Not with what I’ve got! Milo shouted back, frantically rummaging through his pack. That thing’s way out of my league.

Lira peeked out from her cover, her cybernetic arm sparking as she calculated her next move. We need to overload its core. Viktor, can you keep it distracted?

The scarred man didn’t reply, but he moved immediately, firing his rifle in rapid succession. The bullets sparked harmlessly against the Sentinel’s armor, but they succeeded in drawing its attention.

Ryn charged from the side, his blade slicing through one of the machine’s exposed cables. The Sentinel staggered, its movements jerky and unpredictable, but it quickly recalibrated, targeting him with its cannon.

Before it could fire, Lira leapt onto its back, her arm sparking with energy as she jammed it into an access panel. I need ten seconds! she yelled.

Cover her! Ryn commanded.

Kael darted out from his hiding spot, his daggers flashing as he targeted the Sentinel’s joints. Milo hurled a grenade-like device at its legs, creating a plume of smoke and sparks. The machine roared, swiping blindly as it tried to shake Lira off.

With a final surge of power, Lira’s arm discharged a pulse of energy directly into the Sentinel’s core. The machine convulsed violently before collapsing in a heap of twisted metal.

The chamber fell silent.

Is everyone okay? Ryn asked, scanning the group.

Lira slid off the remains of the Sentinel, her breathing heavy. Define ‘okay.’

Milo grinned nervously. I mean, we’re not dead, so that’s a win.

Viktor reloaded his rifle, his movements methodical. This was no accident. Someone activated it.

Someone who doesn’t want us getting out of here, Lira said, her eyes narrowing as she examined the damaged machine. And they’re watching.

Ryn nodded, his expression grim. Then we’ll give them something to watch. Let’s keep moving.

As they exited the chamber, the hum of the remaining machinery grew fainter, replaced once again by the ominous silence of the tunnels. But now, the group knew they weren’t just running from danger. They were heading straight into its heart.

Chapter 3: A Faint Light Ahead

The oppressive silence of the tunnels was now laced with tension. Every step echoed louder in their minds, amplified by the knowledge that something—or someone—was watching them. The faint blue glow of Milo’s lantern cast eerie shadows on the walls, flickering with each uneven step.

What are the odds that Sentinel was just an old relic acting on its own? Kael asked, though his voice carried little hope.

Zero, Lira said flatly. She adjusted her cybernetic arm, inspecting the scorched servos from her encounter with the machine. It was reactivated. Someone wanted it to stop us.

Which means they know where we’re going, Ryn added, scanning the walls for any signs of movement. We need to assume we’re being tracked.

Milo’s gaze darted nervously across the tunnel ahead. Tracked by what, though? More Sentinels? Or something worse?

Doesn’t matter, Viktor said from the rear, his rifle cradled in his arms. We’ll handle it.

Lira shot him a glance. Easy for you to say, Shade. You’re not the one carrying half a ton of tools.

Quiet, Ryn interrupted, raising his hand.

The group froze.

At first, there was nothing but the faint hum of energy in the walls. Then, just barely audible, came the sound of rushing water. It was faint but unmistakable.

There’s an underground river ahead, Ryn said, lowering his hand. It might lead us closer to the Outskirts.

Or straight into an ambush, Lira countered.

Kael sighed, spinning one of his daggers idly. Isn’t everything down here an ambush waiting to happen?

They pressed on, the sound of water growing louder with each step. The tunnel opened into a vast cavern, illuminated by bioluminescent fungi clinging to the damp walls. A wide river cut through the cavern floor, its dark waters swirling with a dangerous current.

There’s a passage on the other side, Milo said, pointing to a crumbling stone staircase that led into another tunnel. But, uh... I don’t see a bridge.

Ryn surveyed the cavern. We’ll need to cross it somehow.

Lira knelt by the riverbank, dipping her cybernetic fingers into the water. She pulled back quickly, frowning. There’s energy in this water. It’s not natural.

Milo crouched beside her, holding up a small scanner. The device beeped erratically as its display flashed red. She’s right. This river’s saturated with some kind of residual charge. Probably from whatever powered these tunnels.

Can we wade through it? Kael asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.

Not without frying our nervous systems, Lira replied.

So, what’s the plan? Milo asked, looking up at Ryn.

Before Ryn could answer, Viktor pointed