Rourke couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he walked through the camp, the preparations around him a blur. His thoughts were consumed by the city of Ferm, or whatever it had become. He knew he had left Bren and Sykes on that hill, but the image of those soldiers, the strange weapons they carried, and the unnatural transformation of the city gnawed at him. The urge to return to the hill and assess the situation himself grew stronger with each passing minute.
After ensuring that the camp was as secure as possible, Rourke made his decision. He needed to get back to Bren and Sykes. Whatever was happening in Ferm required more than just a distant observation—it demanded a closer look, a deeper understanding.
"Rourke," one of the senior mercenaries called out, pulling him from his thoughts. "Everything's set. The men are ready."
