After a month of rigorous training, Anty's voice echoed through Saland's laboratory. Christy was still pushing her limits in another training chamber, but Anty had a different task in mind for Saland. "Saland," she began, her tone carrying a hint of urgency, "I called you today because the Supreme Admin himself has dispatched a mission to us, the anti-glitch squad. However, considering your training isn't fully complete yet, we've decided that you and Haytham are the perfect candidates for this assignment."
A flicker of curiosity crossed Saland's features. "The Supreme Admin…" he mused, recalling the name. "Benamoth mentioned him. Who exactly is this Supreme Admin?"
Anty's explanation held a note of reverence. "The Supreme Admin is the apex of all admins, the strongest being among us. He's the linchpin that holds our entire association together. Your mission is to secure the safety of a woman named Sylene, a former admin whose intellect rivals even Sharon's. The Supreme Admin wishes for her to rejoin our ranks. Her sharp mind is crucial for a weapon he envisions creating."
Saland's brow furrowed slightly. "And where exactly is this Sylene located?"
"She resides in the treacherous Desert of the Sands of Death," Anty revealed, the name itself carrying a weight of danger. "You and Haytham must locate her and bring her back here."
A spark of anticipation ignited in Saland's eyes. "Alright," he agreed, a hint of eagerness in his voice. "When do we begin? It's been too long since I've had a chance to truly test my improvements against a worthy opponent."
"Head over to Haytham," Anty instructed. "Kyofei will have already briefed him on the necessary details."
Without delay, Saland set off towards Kyofei's floating island. As he approached, the colossal mountain rose before him, its peak seemingly piercing the clouds. A dizzying spiral staircase snaked its way upwards. Saland stared at the daunting ascent and muttered to himself, "I doubt even my teleportation can easily get me all the way up there."
Lost in thought about how to overcome this natural barrier, he was unaware of the conversation unfolding above. Inside Kyofei's training grounds, Haytham stood facing his mentor. "Saland is down below," Kyofei informed him, his voice calm yet firm. "He'll fill you in on the mission. Now, you need to descend. You have two options: the fast way or the slow way."
Haytham, ever the pragmatist, inquired, "What's the fast way?"
In a blur of motion, Kyofei lunged forward, aiming a swift punch at Haytham. But Haytham's senses, honed by weeks of rigorous training under Kyofei's tutelage, reacted instantly. He sidestepped the blow with newfound agility. A hint of pride flickered across Kyofei's face. "I see my training hasn't been wasted on you," he remarked. "But now you must go. A mission awaits!"
With another lightning-fast movement, Kyofei swept his leg, sending Haytham tumbling over the edge of the enormous mountain. A startled cry ripped from Haytham's throat. "AIIIEEE! I'M FALLINGGGG!"
Below, Saland was still contemplating his ascent when he happened to glance upwards. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw Haytham plummeting towards him. He barely had time to register the sight before the impact. Haytham crashed down upon him, creating a small, dust-filled crater. Groaning, Haytham pushed himself up, a hand rubbing his aching back. "Ouchouch… you saved me again, Saland," he mumbled, a touch of sheepishness in his tone.
Saland, equally dazed, climbed out of the shallow depression. "This is giving me a serious sense of déjà vu," he grumbled, dusting himself off. "That hurt! Did you really have to land right on top of me?!"
"Sorry!" Haytham exclaimed, still slightly disoriented. "But Kyofei… he kind of pushed me off the mountain."
Saland sighed, the initial annoyance fading. "Never mind," he said, shaking his head. "Let's just go. I'll explain the situation on the way."
The two companions left the admin territory and began their journey towards Valley. As they walked, Saland recounted the details of Anty's mission. Haytham listened intently, his initial surprise giving way to a focused determination. "So, all we have to do is find her," he summarized, a hint of his usual straightforwardness returning. "Sounds simple enough."
Saland cautioned him, "Don't underestimate this mission, Haytham. The place we're heading to is incredibly dangerous. Powerful monsters roam those sands, and we might even encounter glitches who want to eliminate the scientist, just like what happened to Sharon."
Haytham's expression turned serious. "So, our task is to find her and become her bodyguards?"
"Precisely," Saland confirmed. "Anty stressed that she will be crucial in our fight against the glitches."
Haytham remained silent for a moment, absorbing the gravity of their task. They passed through Valley, the familiar landscapes giving way to the arid expanse that lay ahead. Their path led them through a dense forest, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and rustling leaves. It was here that Saland's keen senses picked up an anomaly. He halted abruptly, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilts of his twin swords. "Who's there?" he called out, his voice sharp. "Show yourself!"
From behind the thick trunk of an ancient tree, a figure emerged. It was Sting. "I sensed you in Valley," he explained, a hint of boredom in his tone. "I followed you because I got tired of doing those tedious missions like gathering flowers."
Haytham raised an eyebrow in surprise. "But weren't you with Ken and Rick?"
Sting shrugged. "Those two can handle things on their own. I wanted to tag along with you guys. It's been too long since we last saw each other."
Saland regarded Sting with a cautious gaze. "You need to understand, Sting, we're heading to a very dangerous place. Are you truly willing to follow us?"
A confident smirk spread across Sting's face. "In this past month, I've become far stronger than I was back in that glitch's fortress. You'll see."
Saland exchanged a brief glance with Haytham before nodding in acceptance. "Alright, Sting," he conceded. "You can join us."
The trio finally stood at the edge of the dreaded Desert of the Sands of Death. A wave of oppressive heat washed over them, the air shimmering above the endless expanse of dunes. Without hesitation, our heroes ventured into the desolate landscape. But their entry was far from peaceful. The sand beneath their feet began to tremble violently. Suddenly, enormous, serpentine creatures erupted from the depths, their gaping maws lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, lunging towards the intruders.
Instinct took over. Saland's twin blades flashed in the harsh sunlight as he expertly sliced through the massive body of one of the sand worms, bisecting it with swift, precise movements. Haytham, with equal efficiency, faced a gigantic scorpion. He dodged its snapping claws and with a swift strike, severed its venomous stinger before blasting the creature with a focused beam of energy from his pistol.
Sting watched the display of power with wide, incredulous eyes. He was utterly speechless as he witnessed Saland and Haytham effortlessly dispatching these colossal monsters. Saland and Haytham exchanged a knowing glance. "You've truly become strong," Saland commented, a hint of respect in his voice.
"I was about to say the same thing," Haytham replied, a rare smile gracing his lips.
The two continued to cut down the monstrous threats with practiced ease, their movements fluid and deadly. Sting found himself struggling to keep pace, following in their wake, awestruck by their enhanced abilities. After a while, he finally caught up to Saland and Haytham, the trail of monstrous carcasses marking their passage. In the distance, amidst the endless dunes, a peculiar structure emerged – a circular building topped with an enormous antenna.
"Should we go investigate that?" Haytham suggested, his curiosity piqued.
"Definitely!" Saland agreed without hesitation. And with that, the two began their trek towards the mysterious antenna, leaving Sting to hurry after them, calling out, "Wait for me!"