It's getting harder as the days go by—we're holding up for now, but it's a struggle just to catch animals to eat with only the two of us. Sera's thoughts drifted as she stared into the dense forest, her eyes tracing the fading trails left by the wildlife. Food was growing increasingly scarce, and it was taking a toll on her mind. Supplies were critically low—food, water, even the basic tools they needed to open up new areas of the abandoned landship. The group's morale was starting to crack under the pressure. Every scavenging run that ended in empty hands felt like a weight dragging them closer to despair.
We need more hands too, Sera mused, a flicker of frustration crossing her face, but it'll take time before we find more people willing to join us.
Zyra's voice snapped her out of her reverie, accompanied by a light tap on her shoulder. "Sera, are you sure this relic is worth it?" Zyra asked, her voice laced with concern. "I mean, don't get me wrong, it's impressive and all, but we need more supplies again. And it's getting harder to keep up."
Sera turned to meet Zyra's worried gaze. "We're not finding anything useful in the landship either," Zyra continued. "Maybe some stuff is hidden deeper, but without proper tools, we can't dig into the blocked sections. It's like we're hitting a wall."
Ava joined in, her usual chipper demeanor slightly subdued as she balanced Koda on her head like a tiny bear hat. The cub dangled lazily, seeming more like a muppet than a survivor. "Bossu, it's been two weeks, and we've made so little progress!" Ava said, pouting as Koda reached down to playfully swipe at her hair. "Oh! What if we bring in more people to help us out? Wouldn't that be great?"
Sera sighed, knowing Ava wasn't wrong, even if her suggestion was a bit naive. They had managed to scavenge some leftover camping gear during the week, most of it worn-out but still usable. They also found some decent weapons—knives, a couple of swords, and what looked like an outdated SU. Nothing grand, but it was better than nothing.
As they continued to discuss, one of the engineers from their group approached, looking a bit flustered. He cleared his throat and started to speak, drawing everyone's attention. "I spotted a group a few miles away from our location," he said nervously, shifting from foot to foot. "I couldn't get an exact number, but it seemed like a small group... maybe around fifty people or so. Hard to say from this distance."
Sera's eyes narrowed, her mind instantly clicking into strategy mode. "Did you notice anything about their gear? Anything out of the ordinary?" she asked, her voice calm but demanding answers.
The engineer hesitated for a moment before responding. "No, nothing special. They looked like they were equipped for hunting—basic gear, nothing too flashy. Some of them were carrying medical supplies, which makes sense if they're this close to Komen."
The mention of Komen sent a chill down Sera's spine. Komen, the fallen city-state, now a shell of its former self—a place that was once a beacon of hope and diversity, now torn apart by conflict and used as a battleground for other nations. A nomadic city always on the brink of crumbling into oblivion.
Mmm. Supplies and hunting gear, Sera thought, her brow furrowing deeper. Outcasts? Maybe survivors from a nearby settlement? It doesn't matter. I can't return to my old home anyway; everything I had there is probably gone by now.
"Okay then," Sera finally said, her voice hardening with resolve. "We'll keep an eye on them. If they come too close to the landship, then we'll intervene. And if they're hostile—well, then we'll deal with them. Plain and simple. We can't afford to play nice when we're already struggling."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Alaric, always the strategist, had a different look in his eyes—one that suggested he saw the approaching group not just as a threat, but as a potential opportunity. He remained silent, lost in his own thoughts.
A few minutes later, after discussing the plans in detail, the crew dispersed to their daily tasks, their minds restless with the thought of what could come. They kept a close watch on the strangers, observing their movements from a safe distance over the course of the next few days, waiting for the inevitable meeting.
A few miles away...
"Oi! Hurry up, will you? We need to catch more if we want to survive out here!" barked a tall feline with sharp eyes and a mane that hinted at his feline heritage. The rest of his group trudged along, some struggling to keep up while others seemed just as weary as the forest itself. Their movements were slow, deliberate—each step weighed down by fatigue and something far worse.
Several of the group members showed visible signs of advanced oripathy, their skin marred by the tell-tale crystallization that marked their disease. Their breaths were labored, some coughing violently as they struggled against the pain. An illness with no cure contracted through contact with Originium or from others already infected. It starts as small crystal formations on the skin and spreads internally, amplifying a person's magicule abilities. But as the disease progresses, it brings hallucinations, erratic behavior, and ultimately, the victim's body becomes consumed, turning into crystal before igniting in a violent explosion.
"Did we really have to go around Komen? I mean, it took forever! Ack! What the hell!?" complained a Lupo, his irritation boiling over as he wiped sweat from his brow.
[World Map]
"Stop whining," came the response from Dmitri, their leader. He shot a glare at the Lupo that silenced him immediately. "We're past Komen now, aren't we? No point crying over what's done," Dmitri muttered, his voice carrying the authority of someone used to giving orders.
Dmitri's expression hardened as his thoughts drifted back to the reason they were out here. He didn't trust Sarkaz; he never did. His father had died while helping a Sarkaz friend, a betrayal that left scars on his soul that never healed. But he wasn't here for revenge; he was here to survive, like everyone else.
"Hey, Dmitri, come take a look at this," one of the group members called out, gesturing to the ground ahead. The terrain was rough and uneven, but the way it shifted almost seemed deliberate—like a pattern or something that was hiding just beneath the surface.
Dmitri stepped closer, kneeling down to examine the area. His eyes narrowed as he ran his fingers over the ground, tracing the subtle shifts in the earth. "This is it," he whispered to himself. I'm getting closer to what the Sarkaz told me about. It has to be around here.
He stood up, looking at his group with a renewed determination. They had come too far to turn back now, even if their journey took them straight into the jaws of danger.
Back at the landship, Sera felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine. She knew the group they were watching would inevitably draw near, and when they did, there would be a reckoning. She didn't know if it would be violent or peaceful, but one way or another, it would bring change.
"Let them come," she whispered to herself, her hand instinctively reaching for the handle of her knife. "And let's see what they're really made of."
Ava, still carrying Koda like a fluffy hat, shot her a curious look. "You said something, bossu?"
"Nothing," Sera replied with a faint smile, though her eyes were focused on the distant horizon. "Just getting ready for whatever happens next."
The rest of the crew tightened their grips on their weapons, ready for whatever the future held. The days were only getting harder, and their choices were narrowing with every step they took. Survival was never a question of fairness in Terra II—it was simply a matter of who could outlast the darkness for just a little longer.