The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, casting an orange glow over the devastated landscape of Red Hollow. The wind blew cold, carrying the scent of metal, damp earth, and something else… something Lian was beginning to recognize: the stench of death.
He stood in the base's courtyard, adjusting the straps of his light armor while observing the soldiers around him. Even after days of intense training, he still felt the weight of their gazes on him. To them, he was still just "the academy kid." A foreigner in a world where only the strongest survived.
"Alvarez!"
Viktor's harsh voice pulled him from his thoughts. The veteran was walking toward him with his usual severe expression. Beside him, a group of five fully equipped soldiers waited, their faces hardened by experience.
"Today, you're leaving the base," Viktor announced, crossing his arms. "Your first patrol mission."
