Dirga continued trudging across the scorched wasteland.
The sun above blazed like a curse, heatwaves distorting the horizon. Each step sunk slightly into the burning sand, the soles of his boots near melting. But he kept moving, undeterred.
Then—he felt it.
A pulse. An imbalance in the gravity field.
Dirga's eyes narrowed. Far ahead, a shimmer of green.
An oasis.
But that wasn't what caught his attention.
It was the chaos around it.
From a ridge, Dirga crouched, eyes tracking the brawl unfolding below. Four figures fought like rabid animals over the water source, each one more bizarre than the last.
The first was a black-furred fae with unmistakable lupine traits—fangs, claws, and fur that rippled with every movement.
A wolf. No weapons. Just raw, feral strength.
His every motion screamed Aetherbody—enhanced physical stats powered by soul compression. He darted through the melee like a ghost, claws raking across the sand and stone.
The second fighter was taller. Broader.
