"Huh?"
Kael's head whipped around. His eyes darted across the empty street. Shadows stretched long between crumbling buildings. Nothing moved. Nothing stirred. His frown deepened.
Max let out a shaky breath and rolled his shoulders.
"Damn… That was close. Too close."
He wiped his forehead, sweat streaking the dirt on his skin.
"We almost got torn apart."
Kael scoffed and shook off the tension, his boots grinding against the cracked ground. He crossed his arms and threw a look at Ash.
"Tch. I didn't need your help."
Ash met his eyes, calm and blunt.
"Yeah, sure."
He stepped forward.
The street swallowed his footsteps. Wind dragged thin waves of sand across broken stones and half-collapsed stalls. The silence pressed down, thick enough to taste. The air buzzed with something unseen.
Max rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing.
"Those sandworms stopped at the edge. No way that was natural. Someone strong must be here."
Kael shot him a sideways glance.
"Strong? At both stage 6 and tier 6? That's a stretch."
Max didn't flinch. His voice stayed sharp.
"Then explain it. Those things were all tier 4. Any normal ascended wouldn't scare them off like that. So I believe someone or something strong must be here."
Kael's mouth tightened. No answer came.
Ash barely heard them. His gaze moved through the street, sharp and restless. The buildings sagged with age. Wooden signs hung limp from rusty chains. Not a single door creaked open. No footsteps. No whispers. Nothing.
Then—a flicker.
A window. And inside was a figure.
A woman.
For a split second, their eyes locked. Dull curtains snapped shut a heartbeat later.
Cold crawled up Ash's spine.
"Guys, Something's wrong."
Max and Kael turned toward him, their faces hardening.
The air thickened.
Kael shifted his stance, fingers twitching like they wanted to catch something unseen.
"Yeah, is there really no one here?"
Ash kept his eyes on the window. His voice didn't waver.
"They are."
He pointed, slow and steady.
"Someone was just watching us."
Max's eyes shadowed. His voice dropped low.
"Yeah, Something is definitely wrong here. Let's find a place to rest, then use their communicator in their relay station to contact the base for help. If they even have one."
Kael scoffed, arms crossing tight over his chest.
"Help at the base?"
Max's smirk flickered, thin and forced.
"Oh yeah, did I forget to tell you guys… anyways, we've got a fourth member."
Ash and Kael traded quick looks, unspoken questions flashing between them.
Max waved them off.
"You'll meet them soon. For now, let's find an inn. A long break sounds perfect."
The words hung dead in the air. No one believed them.
Ash stepped forward, his boots scraping against dry stone. Max and Kael fell in beside him, their eyes sharp, scanning the empty streets.
The settlement rose around them, carved straight from the desert. Walls leaned against each other like tired giants, scarred and pitted by years of wind. Swirling marks, rough and worn, crawled along some of the stone—ancient beasts with hollow eyes staring into nothing.
Flat roofs stacked high, thick slabs packed together like bones. Narrow alleys cracked through the town, the sun barely reaching inside. Some doorways hung open, draped in heavy cloth that twitched with the breeze. Others hid behind thick, battered doors.
Windows stared out—some shuttered, some yawning empty. Stone balconies sagged under their own weight. Rusted iron hooks clung to the corners, holding broken lanterns that hadn't glowed in years.
It was a town built to survive. But not to welcome strangers.
Ash caught movement at the edge of his sight—a curtain snapping closed, a figure ducking into a doorway. Every step they took, the town swallowed its people deeper.
His hand curled into a fist.
'Something is definitely wrong here. Why are they avoiding us?'
Kael's fists tightened, veins rising under his skin.
"What the hell is going on? Can't someone just talk to us?"
Max's head tilted forward, eyes locked ahead.
"Wait. Someone's there."
Kael didn't wait. His body moved before thought could catch him, boots hammering the stone.
"Kael, wait! Don't hurt anyone!"
Max's shout cracked through the silence, but Kael was already there.
He caught the woman by the wrist.
She yelped, clutching a small child tighter against her chest.
"Got you," Kael said, breathing hard.
She flinched like he had struck her. Her whole body trembled, her arms wrapping around the child as if shielding against a blow.
"P-please… I'm sorry… It's not my fault. Forgive me. She's all I have."
Kael's hand fell away, his face twisting in confusion.
"What?"
Max caught up, grabbing Kael's shoulder with a firm squeeze.
"Let go."
Kael hesitated, jaw tight, then dropped his hand.
The woman didn't run. She just stood there, frozen, the child clinging to her like a shadow. Her fingers dug deep into the child's shoulders, holding on like the earth might tear them apart if she let go.
Ash's eyes swept the street. Curtains shifted. Doors cracked open, just enough for a flash of eyes to peek through before vanishing again.
The whole town watched from the dark.
A chill slid under his skin.
Max forced a grin, lifting his hands.
"Sorry about that. My brother's an idiot."
The woman didn't answer. Her lips parted, like she wanted to speak, but nothing came. Her knuckles pressed white around the child's shoulders.
Max's grin faded. His voice softened.
"Are you okay?"
Color drained from her face.
"I'm really sorry."
Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the nearest building. The door slammed shut behind her.
Kael let out a breath, slow and tight.
"That was weird."
"Yeah," Max muttered, eyes still on the door.
A rasping voice cut through the street.
"What's weird?"
They spun around, hands twitching toward their weapons.
An old man stood there, hunched over a thick wooden cane. His skin looked like cracked leather, stretched tight over sharp bones. A smile pulled at his mouth, but it didn't touch his eyes.
Ash's chest tightened.
'I didn't even hear him approaching us.'
Kael shifted a step back, hands half-raised.
"The hell?! How did I not see you coming?"
Max's gaze sharpened.
"Who are you? And what's going on here?"
The old man chuckled low, the sound dry and thin like dead leaves scratching stone.
"The name's Marcus, but folks here call me Old Man Mark."
His smile stayed, thin and hollow.
"Welcome to Dunehaven."
Max's brow pulled tight.
"Dunehaven?"
Ash crossed his arms, his voice steady.
"So… you don't know this place?"
Max shook his head once.
"No. It's not on any map."
The old man dipped his chin, slow and knowing.
"That's because no one's been able to leave. You know… the sandworms."
Kael scoffed under his breath.
"Yeah, no kidding."
Max dragged a hand down his jaw, thinking. His eyes narrowed.
"I've got a question."
The old man tilted his head.
"Go ahead."
"Is there any ascended here, where both stage and tier are on the same level. At least six."
The old man shrugged, the movement creaking through his bones.
"Apart from me? Most here are stage 0 to 3. No stage 5 or above."
Kael's stare sharpened, a thin line of suspicion in his voice.
"Then what are you?"
"Oh, I'm stage 4 and on the second tier."
The word slipped out flat, like he was reciting an old fact he barely cared about.
Max frowned, his mouth tight.
"Then why aren't the sandworms attacking this place?"
The old man's face stayed the same.
"Don't know. It was like this when we found it."
Ash narrowed his eyes, the thought creeping up before he could stop it.
'Huh. How did they even find a place like this in the first place?'
Max opened his mouth to push for more answers, but the old man waved him off with a lazy flick of his hand.
"You boys look tired. It's almost night time. Stay for the night. First meal's free. After that? Nothing comes free."
Max stretched, arms lifting over his head.
"Fine by me. My legs are killing me after all that walking."
A smirk pulled at the old man's mouth.
"Then follow me."
They followed, moving through the empty streets, the sound of their boots the only thing breaking the stillness. Buildings leaned close on either side, casting long shadows that seemed to watch them pass.
Ash stayed a few steps behind, eyes locked on the old man's back. His gut twisted. The old man's voice, the way he walked—too easy, too smooth. Like a trap waiting to snap shut.
Ash leaned toward Max, speaking under his breath.
"Are you sure we can trust him? He looks way too suspicious."
Max didn't even glance over.
"Relax. If he tries anything funny, we have Kael."
Ash flicked a look at Kael.
Kael was busy digging into his nose with one finger, then lazily flicking whatever he found into the street.
Ash sighed, heavy.
'Yeah. Real reassuring.'
The old man kept walking, leading them deeper into the town. The buildings around them stood firm, stone and wood holding strong against the desert wind. Yet not a single voice stirred. No children laughed. No doors opened. It was a town that looked alive but felt dead.
They reached a small inn, tucked between two taller buildings. A heavy wooden sign swung above the door, creaking when the wind caught it. The inn looked different. Lights glowed behind thick curtains. A faint smell of cooked meat drifted out.
The old man pushed the door open, stepping aside.
"You boys can stay here for now. Your food will be brought soon. Get some rest."
Max let out a breath, rolling his stiff shoulders.
"Thanks, old man. We owe you."
The old man dipped his head once, then shuffled off into the street, the tap of his cane fading into the distance.
Inside, warmth wrapped around them. A thick rug covered the floor. Worn chairs lined the walls. A fire crackled in the stone hearth, throwing soft light across the room.
Kael whistled low.
"Well, damn. Fancy."
The inside looked like something pulled straight out of an old warrior's hall. Smooth stone walls rose around them, each one carved deep with battles—warriors clashing against towering beasts, swords flashing, monsters falling. Thick rugs swallowed their footsteps. Lanterns hung from wooden beams above, spilling a soft golden light across the room.
Even with the town's silence pressing in from outside, the air here felt solid, like the walls held stories too heavy to fade.
Ash swept his gaze across the carvings.
"No way they're letting us stay here for free."
Max flexed his fingers, glancing at his right arm. The new limb still felt unfamiliar. Lighter than his old one, but just as strong. He curled his hand into a fist, testing the smooth movement.
"Yeah. We need to pay them back somehow."
He turned toward Ash.
"You got your band?"
Ash shook his head.
"Left it back at the base. Didn't think I'd need it."
Max let out a sharp breath.
"Great."
His eyes shifted to Kael.
Kael stretched like a lazy cat, throwing his arms behind his head.
"Mine got wrecked when I transformed."
Max groaned and pressed his palm against his forehead.
"So we're stuck. No money, no food, no clue where we even are."
Ash leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed..
"I could try running back to base, but without knowing where we are, I'd just be running blind."
Max's jaw tightened.
"We're somewhere in Sandworm Valley. That much I know. But where exactly?"
His fingers tapped a steady rhythm against his arm.
"We should ask the old man if they've got any kind of communication setup on his relay station."
Kael yawned so wide it looked like his jaw might unhinge. He flopped onto the nearest bed without a care.
"Yeah, yeah. Wake me up when you figure something out."
Max rubbed his temples, slow and tired.
"Unbelievable."
Ash watched Kael spread across the bed like he owned the place and let out a sharp breath.
'Yeah... we're screwed.'
A knock slammed against the door.
Kael sprang up like a spring trap.
"Finally, food!"
He reached for the handle and yanked the door open without even checking.
A woman stood there, a heavy tray balanced in her arms. Metal bowls rattled slightly as she shifted her weight. Her smile stayed steady, too steady, like it had been worn into her face by years of practice.
"Apologies for the wait,"
Her voice was smooth, almost rehearsed.
"We weren't expecting visitors, so we had to prepare something quickly."
She moved inside, each step careful and light, setting the tray down on the nearest table. The heavy covers lifted, and thick steam poured out, wrapping the room in the smell of cooked meat and warm bread.
The heat in the air shifted. Their empty stomachs tightened at the rich smell.
Max leaned closer, breathing deep. His shoulders dropped a little.
"That smells incredible."
The woman let out a small chuckle, light but careful.
"I hope it's to your liking."
She started to step away, but Ash's voice cut across the room.
"Wait."
His tone stayed calm, but his gaze sharpened, fixed on her.
"How do you grow food out here? And is that meat?"
The question dropped into the room like a stone.
Max blinked, glancing toward Ash. It hadn't crossed his mind either. All they had seen outside was endless sand. No fields. No gardens. Only the bones of dead things and the sound of wind.
Kael groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"Oh, come on, man. Can you stop treating everyone like criminals? They gave us food. Maybe try being grateful?"
The woman's smile didn't change, but something in the way she stood shifted. Small. Easy to miss if you weren't looking.
"It's no secret," she said.
Her fingers brushed the edge of the tray.
"Old Man Mark is an expert earth manipulator. He shifts the ground so we can farm, and he digs deep enough to find underground water. Without him, none of us would have survived out here. And for the meet, we have an edible creatures farm here"
Max nodded slowly, piecing it together.
"We owe him more than just a thank-you, then."
Kael had already grabbed a bowl. He shoveled a bite into his mouth without waiting. His jaw worked, and then his eyes widened.
"Holy hell, this is actually good."
The woman gave a small nod. No more words. She turned and slipped through the door, pulling it shut with a soft click.
Ash stayed still.
His hand hovered above the bowl, but his mind wasn't on the food. His eyes stayed locked on the door.
For a heartbeat, he caught it—a shadow flickering just beyond the edge of the doorway, too quick, too sharp.
His fingers tightened around the spoon.
Max leaned over, bumping Ash lightly with his elbow.
"Relax. Look—Kael's still breathing. That means it's safe, right?"
Kael shot him a look, cheeks puffed out from chewing.
"So I'm the test subject now?"
Ash didn't answer. His stare stayed on the door, his gut pulling tight.
Max chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.
"Man, I thought you'd be the hungriest one here. With how much you rely on speed, you should be starving."
Ash could feel it—the low ache deep in his stomach, the burn of empty energy reserves. Running at high speeds drained him faster than anything. Right now, every part of him screamed for food.
His gaze dropped to the bowl. The rich smell curled into his nose. The meat looked tender. The bread, warm and soft. Everything looked too good.
'Maybe I'm just being paranoid,' he thought.
Ash let out a slow breath and grabbed the spoon.
"Fine. Just a bite."