"Target eliminated."
Elen's cold, mechanical voice rang out across the battlefield, reverberating through the dunes as it stood atop the massive corpse of the Tendregulon. The creature's chitinous body lay motionless, its grotesque mandibles slack, the eerie glow of its segmented eyes now darkened in death.
Ryan stared at the lifeless husk, momentarily stunned. Then, as the realization settled in, his expression shifted from shock to exhilaration. His lips curled into a triumphant grin, and he let out a victorious yell.
"Finally!!" he shouted, stepping off the metallic flooring and onto the sand. His boots sank slightly into the warm grains as he stretched his arms wide, relishing the newfound freedom. A deep breath filled his lungs with the dry, sunbaked air.
"I can finally walk wherever I want!" he exclaimed, dropping to one knee and scooping up a handful of sand, letting the golden grains trickle between his fingers before tossing them into the air in celebration. The sunlight caught the swirling dust, creating a fleeting shimmer.
But his triumph was short-lived.
The ground trembled.
At first, it was a subtle vibration beneath his feet, like a distant quake. Then, a violent shudder rippled through the desert, sending waves through the sand, churning it unnaturally. The grains no longer settled in their usual patterns; instead, they swirled and shifted, as if something massive was stirring beneath.
A shadow passed over him.
Ryan's stomach twisted as he looked up. Elen, still standing atop the fallen Tendregulon, remained motionless, unaware of the impending danger.
And then, the ground split apart.
Two enormous mouths erupted from opposite sides of the battlefield—gaping maws lined with jagged, interlocking teeth. Chitinous plates glistened in the harsh sunlight as segmented bodies emerged from the dunes like monstrous tidal waves. The Tendregulon wasn't alone.
Ryan barely had time to process the horror before the creatures struck.
Their attack was precise, ruthless. Mandibles like serrated blades clamped down on Elen's metallic limbs, tearing into it with a sickening screech. Sparks erupted as reinforced plating gave way, twisted and ripped apart. The air filled with the shrill, mechanical wail of Elen's systems failing. Within moments, all that remained was the shifting sand swallowing its shattered remains.
Ryan took an instinctive step back, his breath hitching. His gaze traveled up the writhing exoskeletons of the creatures, where grotesque, human-like faces surfaced between the segmented plates. Five faces on each side, their hollow, lifeless eyes peering at him with eerie awareness.
Ryan inhaled sharply, then exhaled in resignation.
"Again... I spoke too soon."
Without hesitation, he spun on his heels and sprinted back toward the entrance of the Elenatia. The metal flooring was a beacon of safety, its cold, unyielding surface a stark contrast to the treacherous sands behind him.
Sliding to a halt beside Elain, he doubled over, catching his breath. Sweat clung to his forehead despite the arid air.
"Well, that idea was terrible."
Elain tilted slightly, its mechanical eye scanning him.
"Creak?"
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "What we need isn't brute force. It's knowledge." His fingers rested against his chin as his mind churned, piecing together a plan.
Elain observed him closely. "You're surprisingly calm for someone in a dire situation."
Ryan blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Huh?"
Elain's optic flickered. "Most in your position would be panicking."
A dry chuckle escaped Ryan's lips. "Maybe because I'm getting way too used to feeling hopeless." He exhaled through his nose, then grinned. "Or maybe it's because I know Elen will come back. That means no real loss."
Elain was silent for a moment before responding, "Perhaps the answer lies elsewhere... within the Elenatia."
Ryan glanced at the entrance, then back at Elain. He could tell it was trying to lift his spirits.
"Yeah... you're right." He smirked, rubbing the back of his neck. "We can always come back to this later."
Later That Day...
"Creak!" Elain chipped. "Should we not wait until Core Combat Guide Elen is rebuilt?"
Ryan smirked. "Haven't you heard? The early bird gets the worm."
Elain tilted. "Creak??"
Ryan and Elain pressed deeper into the ruins of the Elenatia. Ryan moved with a quiet determination, his steps careful as he navigated the uneven ground. Elain hovered beside him, its light casting long shadows against the walls, acting as both guide and companion.
They traversed the ancient corridors for what felt like hours, moving past rusted machinery and shattered displays. The further they went, the stiller the air became. Dust and cobwebs draped the walls like forgotten memories, remnants of a civilization long past.
Ryan's eyes adjusted to the darkness as he stepped over broken debris. Then—
Light.
It struck his eyes all at once. He flinched, raising a hand instinctively to shield them. Blinking, he stepped closer to the shattered remains of a window.
And beyond it…
An oasis.
His breath hitched.
Lush greenery stretched out before him. Trees—real trees—stood tall, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. A river, clear as glass, wove its way through the landscape, feeding into a serene pond. Sunlight streamed through the foliage, casting golden patches across the soft grass.
Ryan gulped. 'I don't want to say anything that'll ruin this moment…'
Then—
Laughter.
Soft at first, barely audible. A strange, chattering sound that seemed to ripple through the ruins like an unnatural echo.
"Ooh ooh, ahh ahh ahh!"
Ryan's blood ran cold.
The laughter grew louder. More voices joined in.
"Ahh, aah!"
"Ooh ahh! Ooh ooh ah!"
It was everywhere. Above. Behind. Beneath.
Ryan swallowed hard, his fingers curling into fists.
"Fxck."