The air shimmered. A flickering glitch tore through the checkered void—and with a sudden pop, a new avatar tumbled into the center of the hub. All color and confusion, they landed hard and remained still, twitching slightly, eyes wide.

Pomni flinched, her expression a mix of pity and dread. She slowly backed away.

Ragatha: let out a soft “Oh no…” and exchanged a glance with Zooble, who already looked annoyed.

From above, a trumpet blasted an off-key fanfare as Caine descended in a spiral of chaotic motion—arms wide, teeth gleaming, eyes bouncing erratically.

Caine “Yoo-hoo! Ring the glitchy bells and cue the existential screams, folks!” Caine’s voice bounced like a beach ball across the digital terrain. “We have a brand-new arrival joining our little playground of perception!”

Gangle: holding up her comedy mask, whispered, “It’s happening again.”

Jax: leaned lazily against a floating cube. “Oh great. Another one. What’s this one gonna crack over—math? Clocks? Their own reflection?”

Caine snapped his fingers, and with a woosh, the sky changed color—now pulsing in mismatched stripes.

Caine: “And what better way to welcome our fresh friend than with a delightfully disorienting adventure!”

Behind him, enormous socks on stilts began marching in from nowhere, chanting in off-beat harmony, “LEFT! RIGHT! PAIR US! FIGHT!

Caine: “Today’s thrilling escapade: The Labyrinth of Lost Socks!” Caine announced, arms swirling. “A vast maze of mismatched hosiery, mystery doors, and at least one sentient lint creature! Who will match the pairs? Who will end up in the spin cycle of doom?”

From the ground burst enormous laundry baskets, rotating like carnival rides. A geyser of rainbow detergent erupted near the edge of the void.

Caine: “Points awarded for style, despair, and teamwork—although teamwork is optional, of course!” Caine said with a wink, already floating upward. “To the fabric fields, everyone! Adventure awaits!”

The floor beneath the characters began to ripple, rearranging into a sprawling maze of fuzzy corridors and shifting drawers. The newcomer remained motionless—still staring.

Caine: grinned wider. “They always freeze at first,” he chuckled. “Give it time.”

And with another blast of circus music, the madness began again.