In, a desert that stretched endlessly, two mirage-like figures darted across the sand, distorted by the heat waves rising from the earth.
It was, Mira, Riven and Aiden riding atop two Dune Striders, gliding over the sands with effortless speed. Aiden sat behind Mira, gripping onto her waist for balance.
He didn't wanted to, its that her Strider barely tolerated him and riding with Riven wasn't an option.
Why did he go back to negative?
Aiden glance at Riven. 'Does he like me or hate me?' Aiden wondered, frustration gnawing at him. 'Why does he keep switching between tolerating me and acting like I don't belong?'
They rode in silence, ruins passing them by. Crumbling buildings, half-swallowed by the desert, stood like the skeletons of a forgotten age. Sand had buried streets, dust had eroded walls, and time had reduced civilization to a mere whisper.
Aiden couldn't help but ask. "Mira, what is this zone, really?"
Mira's expression darkened. "This is the Overrun Old World. A core zone above the Fixed Zone. The creatures here are weak compared to deeper in the desert, as the farther you go, the stronger and more dangerous the Exodites become."
"If it's so dangerous, why hasn't it been destroyed?"
Mira glanced around. "Because no one has ever found the zone crystal. This desert is vast… too vast."
'Hmm, Core Zone but didn't know that they can have many parts or is it just this zone. Getting dangerous.' Aiden thought.
He learned previously, that there multiple different zone types and this one, Core Zone The heart of the Phantom Dimension, where Exo Energy flows most intensely. However zones are chaotic, filled of unpredictable terrain and higher-level creatures…Only experienced Exodites dare to challenge.
After what felt like hours, they arrived, around multiple other Exodites moving pass, having different styles of creature transport.
Aiden and the other stopped. Beneath a rusted remains of a colossal wreck, a neon-lit signs saying "Drunkies" bar, it defying the barren wasteland around it.
The sand, littered of twisted metal and half-buried debris. Flickering holograms buzzing of static, and warped metal walls. Wires hung like dead vines, swaying from the wind as distant thunder rumbled across the desert.
Aiden followed Mira and Riven inside. The shift in temperature was immediate…the cool air made him relax. He exhaled in relief, he scanned the room
AC? In a wasteland like this? That's a luxury… wouldn't people kill for this? Seem like probably don't fear that.
Exodites filled the bar, their presence suffocating. Heavy cloth and metal armor on their bodies, the weight pressing down on Aiden's shoulders. He moved cautiously, instinct telling him that any wrong move would end with a knife at his throat.
So, he kept quiet this was a new location he didn't want to bring attention to himself, so followed all what they were doing. Sitting at the bar stools.
Riven smirked and strode to the counter. "Jackson! How's business?"
The bartender, a towering man with a thick brown beard and keen brown eyes, looked up. He was built like a brawler, a mix of muscle and fat.
"Iron Fang," Jackson greeted, his deep voice echoing across the room. "Back so soon? It's been a month."
"Yeah… having to take care of a little distraction."
Jackson chuckled, as he finished polishing a glass. "Well, if it's a pest problem, you know I can handle it."
Riven's grin. "If only. Babysitting an incompetent fool wasn't exactly on my agenda, but here we are."
A chair scraped loudly behind him.
"That incompetent fool can hear you, you know." Aiden muttered.
Riven didn't even turn around. "Good. Maybe you'll finally realize how much of my time you're wasting."
Jackson laughed, leaning on the counter. "Now, now. No need to start a brawl in my establishment…though I wouldn't mind the entertainment."
Aiden, eyes dropped before glaring at Riven. "I didn't ask for your help, Riven."
Riven rolled his eyes. "Yes. But not my decision for you be in the team. You think I'd waste my efforts on someone who can't even grasp the basics of the Exodite path?" He took a slow sip from his drink before setting it down with a dull thunk. "I should be out there searching, not stuck with a dead weight."
Mira's patience finally snapped. "Enough!Riven, Why do you hate Aiden so much?" She turned to him.
"Hate? No. I see the same potential in him…but that's the problem. Instead of making progress, we're stuck here. Wasting time." His eyes darkened. "And you're too quick to trust him. We still don't know what really happened in Kaven Town."
Mira crossed her arms. "You never had a problem following my orders before. You trained the last members of our group without complaint. So what's different now?"
She didn't say more, cause she was afraid he was right. That Aiden's presence might be a risk she wasn't prepared to happen.
"The difference is that every zone we cross takes us further from what actually matters." He hesitated, then muttered, "I don't follow orders blindly, Mira. But if it's for you, I'll follow them. That doesn't mean I have to like it."
Aiden, who had been silently absorbing every word. Every accusation hurled felt like a slap, leaving an invisible bruise.
He realized what he should have doing and what he alway been doing, finally stood up. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was sounded what he felt.
"Look, I never asked for this attention," he said. "But if this is on me… then I'll handle it myself."
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the bar.
"Aiden, wait!" Mira called after him, but he was already gone, only the by the endless desert, was in her sights.
She clenched her fists, frustration burning in her chest. She turned back to Riven, her sharp gazing landing on Riven.
…
Aiden ran through the endless desert, the heat pressing against his skin as sweat dripped down his back. In the distance, a sprawling city emerged from the sand cloud, its of skyline jagged with crumbling towers and rusted spires.
Where even am I?
As he approached, he saw another overrun ruin, half-buried in sand, yet still partially rebuilt by Exodites. He kept his steps light, moving through the narrow paths, but an unsettling sensation crawled up his spine.
With each step, the feeling intensified. His breath slowed. He turned sharply…then saw the feeling.
Five hulking figures emerged from the alley's darkness, closing in around him. All massive, muscular man with sunken eyes and blue-gray, scale-like skin towering over him.
An ambush? But who would even know me?
Aiden's hand shot to his dagger, but before he could grip it, a crushing kick sent it clattering into the shadows.
Now, he had nothing but his fists. So, he dropped into a battle stance.
"I don't know what you want. But let's do this."
The first attacker lunged, he sidestepped, driving an elbow into his ribs. Another swung from behind.
Aiden ducked, feeling the rush of air as the punch narrowly missed. He countered with a sharp kick to the knee, making the man stumble.
The two men, stood unfazed. My speed is working…but why aren't they reacting?
'Are my punches that weak? No… it's like they can't feel pain.'
In this mist of his thought, two more rushed in. Aiden twisted, weaving between them. He landed a solid strike on one's jaw, then spun and slammed his palm into another's throat. The impact should have sent him reeling…but it didn't.
Too many. Too big.
A massive hand clamped onto his shoulder like a vice. Aiden ripped free, but another caught him by the waist, lifting him like he weighed nothing. He drove his knee into the man's ribs once, twice forcing him to drop him.
The moment his feet hit the ground, he ducked under a wild swing and countered with a sharp uppercut.
It wasn't enough, despite the men being slower. It's almost like. I'm to fast, The longer I fight, the quicker I'm becoming. He smiled.
A fist crashed into Aiden gut, knocking the wind out of him. Another hit his side, sending pain shooting through his ribs. His speed helped him avoid some blows, but he couldn't dodge them all.
A arm wrapped around his throat from behind, squeezing tight. He struggled, twisting and turning, but a brutal punch slammed into his temple.
His vision stared getting vision blurry.
Another blow this time to the back of his head. His began world stared waving, everything sounded muffled.
Aiden collapsed, onto the cold pavement. The last thing he saw was the large shadows of the men looming over him before darkness swallowed everything.
…
The Bar, Riven ignored Mira's frustration, brushing off her concerns as he took another drink.
Jackson wiping down his counter, his usual carefree demeanor unshaken until Riven noticed something.
In the corner of the bar, several massive figures sat. Having blue-gray skin, thickly muscled forms, there skin even moves like somwthing underneath is alive and eerie stillness made Riven's instincts flare.
"Jack…" Riven leaned his voice low. "What's with them?"
Jackson hesitated, it was something Riven had never seen him do.
"I don't know," the Jackson muttered. "Just don't cause trouble with them, and they won't bother you."
Riven's eyes narrowed. That's not like Jackson at all. He's usually the most fearless guy here…
"Really?" Riven pressed. "What's their deal?"
Jackson exhaled, glancing at the figures. "No one knows. After you left, they just started appearing. First a few…then more. Now, they're everywhere."
Riven fell silent. In this zone, there was no structured economy nothing that should support such a sudden influx of people.
And the blue-gray skin… shouldn't that be a sign of Specters?
Yet, he felt nothing. No trace of Specter energy. Just like the Callin Clan, some species could mimic human form, hiding their true nature. But even they had tells. These figures, however, were different.
As he was in contemplation, the bar doors burst open. A panicked man rushed inside, his eyes wild with fear.
"Riven, Sarah was kidnapped!"
Riven's heart skipped a beat. "What?!"
The man's word's sobered him instantly. 'This can't be happening again.'