Saladin Chamcha awoke in a daze, his body aching and his mind a fog. The crash had left him physically shattered, but it was the internal transformation that terrified him. His skin, once smooth and flawless, was now marred with grotesque scars. His reflection in a shattered piece of glass was almost unrecognizable.
He wandered through the desolate landscape, the weight of his disfigurement pressing on him. His thoughts swirled in confusion, a voice whispering in his ear, but when he turned to look, no one was there. He was alone in this strange new world.
Then, he spotted Gibreel lying among the wreckage. He knelt beside him, unsure of what had brought him here. Gibreel's body was still, but there was a glimmer of life in his eyes. As Saladin reached out, he heard the faintest murmur from Gibreel's lips: "The world needs you."
Saladin froze. The words seemed to carry a weight, as if they were not just a statement, but a prophecy.