Cruzer awoke before dawn, the eerie silence of the valley amplifying every faint rustle and creak of the environment.
The air was colder than the previous night, and the magical orb he had activated had long since dimmed. Rising slowly, he stretched, his muscles aching from constant tension and movement.
The Mudwall he'd erected at the cavern's entrance had served its purpose; faint claw marks marred its surface, evidence of some curious predator deterred during the night.
He dismantled the barrier with a wave of his hand, the wall crumbling silently into dust.
As he stepped into the predawn light, he scanned the horizon, noting the renewed activity of sandstorms on the far edges of the valley.
Above him, the sky was painted with deep purples and streaks of orange, signaling that a new day of peril and opportunity had begun.
Cruzer's terminal pinged again, displaying updates to the competition leaderboard.
