Andrew landed with a thunderous crack, the impact sending a ripple through the ground as dust billowed around him. His legs screamed in protest, muscles and bones strained far past their limits, but the familiar warmth of Cindy's healing energy washed over him. In seconds, the pain evaporated, leaving only a ghost of discomfort behind.
He stood, surveying the aftermath. Trucks rumbled in and out of the area, soldiers scurrying to clear the battlefield of bodies and debris. The once-chaotic arena was now a site of meticulous cleanup, a stark contrast to the pandemonium that had reigned hours earlier.
Two figures stood near a cluster of trucks—Mella and Qein. Their expressions morphed from surprise to disbelief as they spotted Andrew.
