The sun scorched the sand, its glare relentless.
The car rattled along a half-collapsed road winding between dunes. Diffu, gripping the wheel, glanced at Valisia.
"How far to Base M763U5?"
Valisia stretched each syllable lazily.
*"Let's see… We're north of Emirtars. Base is east, near the fourth city—so twenty-two kilometers left."*
*"Damn. Only enough benzodiesel for fifteen. Guess we're walking the rest. You plot a route yet?"*
Diffu swerved sharply to avoid a boulder.
*"Hey! What kind of driving's that? How'd you even get a license?!"*
*"Relax, it was just a rock. Quit yelling."* He shot a look at Karuv. *"You're quiet. What's on your mind?"*
*"Huh? Just thinking… Who's behind this guild? A factory boss? Another exile like me? If he's got connections, we're screwed."*
*"Agreed."* Diffu adjusted the rearview mirror. *"Valisia, any intel on city weapons?"*
She smirked. *"They try to keep it secret, but I've dug up plenty. Like their new magic-conductive alloy—merge it with spells, and you can weaponize it. Imagine ice blades, Diffu."*
*"Shit. If that guild's got it, we're in trouble. No clue how it interacts with Icarus…"* Karuv trailed off, lost in thought.
Silence settled as the car plowed through the wasteland.
Soon, ruins of a village emerged—crumbling houses, abandoned forges.
Diffu exhaled. *"I lived here before the cities walled up. Guilds slaughtered so many… Wonder if anyone I knew survived."*
*"So *that's* why you're magicless but forge like an Emirite!"* Valisia tapped her tablet, routing their path. *"Diffu, why only use Icarus for armor? Offense would help."*
Ignoring a turn, he explained:
*"It's brittle as a weapon. Blocks magic alloy strikes, but shatters—can't adapt to the heat flux. Needs a regulator."*
*"Got it. Next right to a barn. We ditch the car, walk by dusk."*
Diffu nodded, veering onto a sand-choked path.
The barn loomed ahead—gray, sagging, its massive doors barely intact. They parked. Valisia hopped out and yanked Karuv's door.
*"Help me with these? Too heavy alone."*
No response.
*"Earth to Karuv! Stop daydreaming!"*
*"Huh? Oh—sorry. Just strategizing. After the base, which guild first? Aver or Faut?"*
He stepped out; Valisia followed.
*"Fauts. They've got a spy—if I contact him, he'll plan our exfil. Avers would shoot us on sight."*
*"Then we decide at the base."* Karuv turned. *"Diffu, you listening?"*
*"Hah! You two yell loud enough for every spy in the desert. Move it!"*
They heaved the doors open. Inside: a cavernous space, animal pens decayed, sand drifts piled where the roof had caved.
*"Sunset in twenty,"* Valisia announced, checking her tablet.
Diffu scratched his head. *"Seven hours driving?"*
*"Six hundred kilometers, give or take. Lucky I checked your fuel *before* we left."*
*"Thought you were just stalling."*
They shared a grin.
Karuv knelt, pressing his ear to the floorboards.
*"Feel that? Tremors."*
The ground shuddered violently.
*"Quake! Out—*now*!"* Valisia bolted for the exit.
They barely cleared the doorway before the barn collapsed. Diffu sank to his knees.
*"No… Not my car. I *built* her…"*
The earth kept shaking—then *split*. A sand-colored drill machine erupted from the dunes, gears screeching. Thunder rumbled as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Karuv shielded his eyes from the sandstorm.
*"They tracked us!"*
He barked orders:
*"Valisia—ice ready?"*
*"Yep! Cool enough now."* She winked.
*"Diffu, play dead. You're our ambush."*
*"Roger."*
Diffu's katanas morphed into a shield. A dial-click, and it camouflaged with the dunes.
Karuv and Valisia braced. The drill's gears whirred—hatches slid open.
*Rockets.*
Explosions rocked the desert.
Through the smoke, a voice groaned:
*"My shins…"*