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Layer 3:
Among heroes

Webcomic Title: The Five Layers of Earth. Story and art: Hannah Josette Blank. Music: Kateryna Storcheus. Special thanks: Andrew Blank. The white background gradients into a dark grayish blue hue, showing a city with tall gray building. Down in an alley stands a young man with brown hair, pale skin, and pale green eyes. He has a gray shirt and teal green jacket on. He sighs as his eyes stop glowing and he removes lifts his jacket's hood up. A rift suddenly appears with a Whoooosh sound, and the young man is startled. He sees Aryes run out from the rift.
Image shows the second part of the webcomic's 3rd chapter. "I made it!" Aryes shouts before he notices the other guy standing nearby, who puts his hood back over his head and starts to walk away. "Excuse me... You saw that, right? I can imagine how freaked out you must be, but I could really use some help," Aryes says and the other young man stops. "It's been a while since I was around anyone... I hope I'm communicating well. Could you tell me where I am, and a bit about the area? Can you understand me?" Aryes asks and the stranger turns around. "I um... I understand, but I uh, I'm not really... I think you should talk to this guy I know..."
Word bubble from the stranger with his flip phone pulled out, “I'll text him and see if he can help.” Aryes thought, The technology looks ancient. “How old is that thing?” he asks. “What, my cellphone? I just got it a few months ago.” the stranger replies. Aryes thoughts, “From everything I've read to the things I've seen... there's still so much more that I don't know about the layers.” Aryes is staring up at the sky. “He um... answered already. He'll be here soon, so...” the stranger says while avoiding eye contact. “Well thanks for the help--” Aryes says while leaning in closer to the socially drained stranger, then adds, “I... just realized I don't know your name.” The stranger glances up at him with eyes glowing a pale green and says, “It's... Lance.”
The Five Layers pf Earth Chapter 3 Part 4, Aryes, looking rough with facial hair and overall unkempt, smiles and starts to say, “I'm Aryes--” “The one I'm here to meet,” says another man in a dark gray jumpsuit with red stripes up the sides, a long cape, and black armor over the calves, knees, forearms, chest, shoulders, and a helmet over his head. “Hold still for a moment,” he instructs Aryes who holds still as he's scanned by what looks like a watch on the man's wrist. “Negative. Tell me, how did you get here?” he asks and Aryes holds up his brown travel stone. “It's kind of a long story, but I use this stone to go through cracks I find,” Aryes explains to the man and Lance who's standing in the city's alleyway nearby. “It's a little complicated, but I'm from a different layer of Earth.”
Comic shows man in dark gray look at Aryes and say, “I can't say I understand, but I would like to. Might I treat you to dinner so you can tell me more?” Aryes crosses his arms looking confident and says, “I ate a short while ago, but if I can get a fresh shirt, I'm in. I've been outdoors a long time.” “I can help with that. Follow me,” the man instructs him as he turns to lead. “I'm gonna head out,” Lance says as he walks the other way, adjusting his hood. “See you, De-I mean, King,” he says as he goes. “Whoa!” Aryes exclaims as they arrive at their intended destination, and an image shows a room built with glass and mahogany, a matching carpet over the brown hardwood floors, and potted plants as décor. “This place makes my house look like nothing!” Aryes exclaims as he takes it all in. “I bought this bungalow for meetings and lodging while in uniform,” King explains. “If you don't mind, I'd like to sit and talk first, then you may help yourself to anything here,” King offered.
Comic continues, Of course, thank you! I guess I should start by showing you this book and my journal...” Aryes says as the comic scene fades to white. A panel shows Aryes shaving as he looks in the mirror of a large bathroom and thinks to himself, “It was nice, talking to someone. I was away from people for so long, I thought I'd go crazy. I couldn't help but think about how different things would be if Xander and I had this journey together.” Shows Aryes thinking in bed, “I sometimes called him the brother I never had, but I had him then. ...I've been fortunate, Xander. Everything has come easy on this trip. Well, I did miss having a bed. And a razor. The technology here is both advanced and behind, and the people here dress like villains, but they're generous. I wish you were here.” Scene change to Aryes walking out of a rift, wearing a green jacket and red scarf.

This chapter included a crossover with Comic Book Hero, a novel which you can read for free here!

Image of Lance from Comic Book Hero, semi-realism of him in a dark green hoodie.
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