----
Roughly six hours passed, and the Desert of Crumbling Sands' environment grew harsher over this period. Altair and the others initially thought it was all in their minds, but that assumption was debunked when the Obsidian Criollos were affected by the environment despite their natural resistance to heat, cold, and ailments.
"I'm melting! Are you sure this is just a game? I want to take my armor off right now," Bastion exclaimed. Sweat pooled from his face as he panted from exhaustion. Although he didn't do anything physical, his expression reddened while his stamina declined steadily.
The reason for this change rested in the corner of everyone's eyes—the countdown until the world's metamorphosis reached its final stages. The gradual changes took place in real-time, allowing players to experience the changes occurring before their eyes.
