The sun hung low in the sky as the group pressed deeper into the Crimson Wastes. The once-overwhelming heat began to give way to a biting chill, and the shifting sands glowed faintly under the light of the setting sun. Ryan tightened his cloak around his shoulders, his eyes scanning the horizon for signs of movement.
"Almost feels peaceful," Grent muttered, his hammer resting on his shoulder as he trudged through the sand. "Too peaceful."
Arya, walking ahead of them, nodded without looking back. "That's because it is. The Wastes don't stay quiet for long."
Ryan remained silent, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The battle with the Dune Ravager was fresh in his mind, and his instincts screamed that they were being watched. His HUD was still plagued by intermittent static, making it difficult to rely on the usual alerts.
"What's the plan if we run into trouble?" he asked, his voice low.
Arya glanced over her shoulder, her expression calm but focused. "Same as always. Stick together, cover each other, and don't take unnecessary risks. We're too far from help to afford mistakes."
Grent chuckled. "Unnecessary risks? You sure you're talking to the right guy?"
Ryan smirked despite himself, but his amusement was short-lived. A faint noise reached his ears—a rustling sound, almost like the shifting of sand, but too deliberate to be natural. He froze, holding up a hand.
"Wait. Did you hear that?"
Arya stopped instantly, her bow in her hands before Ryan could blink. Grent turned slowly, his grip tightening on his hammer.
"What is it?" Arya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryan strained his ears, but the sound had stopped. The stillness around them was suffocating, and every nerve in his body screamed that they were not alone.
"It was coming from over there," Ryan said, pointing to a cluster of jagged rocks to their left.
Arya nodded, signaling for silence. She gestured for Ryan and Grent to flank the rocks while she moved to a vantage point. The three of them moved in unison, their steps careful and deliberate.
As Ryan approached the rocks, his sword drawn, his HUD flickered again. This time, a single word appeared: AMBUSH.
"Trap!" Ryan shouted, but it was too late.
The sand around them erupted, and figures cloaked in tattered red robes emerged from the ground, their weapons gleaming in the fading sunlight. Their faces were obscured by masks, but their movements were quick and precise.
[Crimson Raiders] - Level 11
Arya's first arrow flew before the Raiders could close the distance, striking one in the chest and sending him sprawling into the sand. Grent let out a roar, his hammer smashing into the ground and creating a shockwave that sent two more flying.
"Stay close!" Arya yelled, loosing another arrow.
Ryan activated [Quick Strike], closing the gap between himself and one of the Raiders. His blade flashed as he parried the attacker's curved sword, countering with a slash that cut deep into the Raider's side. The figure collapsed with a guttural cry, dissolving into pixels.
Grent swung his hammer in wide arcs, his strikes scattering the Raiders who dared to approach. "These guys are quick, but they don't hit as hard as that Ravager!"
Arya didn't respond, her focus on picking off targets from a distance. Her arrows flew with precision, each one finding its mark and thinning the enemy's numbers.
Ryan dodged a flurry of strikes from another Raider, his HUD flashing warnings as the enemy pressed the attack. He waited for an opening, then struck with [Power Slash], his blade cutting through the Raider's defenses and sending him crumpling to the ground.
The fight was chaotic, but the trio's coordination was flawless. Arya's arrows controlled the battlefield, Grent's raw strength held the line, and Ryan's agility kept the enemies off balance. One by one, the Raiders fell, until the last of them fled into the dunes.
Ryan stood amidst the aftermath, his chest heaving as he sheathed his sword. "Everyone okay?"
"Still in one piece," Grent said, wiping sweat from his brow. "That all of them?"
Arya scanned the horizon, her bow still drawn. After a moment, she nodded. "For now. But they'll be back. The Raiders don't give up easily."
Ryan glanced at the bodies scattered across the sand. "Why attack us? Do they know about the Core?"
Arya's expression darkened. "It's possible. The Wastes are their territory, and they don't like outsiders. But if they're after the Core..."
She trailed off, and Grent finished the thought. "Then we've got bigger problems than just monsters."
They didn't linger, pushing forward with renewed urgency. The ambush had shaken Ryan, but it also fueled his determination. Whatever dangers lay ahead, he knew they couldn't afford to falter.
As the sun disappeared below the horizon, the Wastes grew colder, the shadows lengthening around them. The Core's faint energy pulsed in Ryan's mind, a reminder of their mission and the stakes at hand.
The Crimson Wastes weren't just testing their strength—they were testing their resolve.