Wang Yanf ei landed among the ruins, his wings folding back as the black feathers dissolved into drifting motes of light. His legs touched the ground, and the power of the card slowly receded. After a brief distortion, his body returned to human form.
The middle-aged man he had been carrying hit the ground heavily, but he ignored the pain and immediately scrambled up, rushing toward the girl.
The girl instinctively shrank back, until the familiar arms wrapped around her. Her body trembled violently, tears spilling uncontrollably as she clung to the man's arm, sobbing in broken breaths, unable to form a complete sentence.
The middle-aged man held her tight, gently patting her back. A rough, hoarse sound escaped his throat, as if he wanted to comfort her but did not know where to begin.
Wang Yanf ei watched the scene with a slight frown. He was just about to speak when Dr. Lin grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Wang Yanf ei shook off his hand impatiently, but Dr. Lin's grip was unexpectedly strong, and he could not break free for a moment.
"Let them be." Dr. Lin's low voice carried a firm calmness that allowed no argument. "We have more important things to deal with."
Wang Yanf ei glanced at him, then stopped resisting and let Dr. Lin pull him away. With both hands in his pockets, his gaze swept toward the two in the distance, his tone slightly annoyed. "Fine. So tell me, how do we get into the city? Are we relying on that girl to lead the way?"
Dr. Lin did not answer immediately. He lifted his head, glanced at the sky, and said calmly, "We wait."
Time passed in silence. More than an hour later, the girl finally calmed down. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, and walked toward them with the middle-aged man.
Her face was still pale, but her expression had regained its composure. When she reached the two of them, she bowed slightly and spoke with gratitude. "Thank you."
Wang Yanf ei returned his tentacle-like fingers to their original form, slipped his hands back into his pockets, and gave her a casual glance. "No need, it was nothing."
The girl pressed her lips together, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she only explained quietly, "I am the second daughter of the Lord of Sandflow City, Sha Eru. I was leading a caravan to Hammerfall City to trade supplies, but on the way we were ambushed by that squad…" Her voice trembled slightly, but she did not continue.
Wang Yanf ei raised an eyebrow with a teasing tone. "Sounds like your luck is pretty bad, running into those mad dogs."
Dr. Lin's eyes flickered. Suddenly he asked, "Those people, did they know who you are?"
Sha Eru froze. Her gaze wavered briefly before she lowered her head, her voice faint. "I… I am not sure."
Dr. Lin looked at her, then dropped the question with a simple, calm "Alright."
Sha Eru quietly let out a breath. Her expression shifted several times, as if debating whether to say more. Finally, she spoke. "Sandflow City, literally, is a city beneath the shifting sands. It is not a fixed settlement, but one built underground, and its entrance only opens at certain intervals. Without a guide, outsiders cannot enter."
Wang Yanf ei frowned. "That troublesome?"
Sha Eru nodded. "Without the proper codes and authorization, you cannot even find the city gate."
Wang Yanf ei gave her a side-look, half amused. "So it seems we really do need you to take us there."
Night descended. Stars dotted the barren land, their cold light falling across the rolling dunes. The wind whispered through the desert, carrying its unique silence and harshness.
Suddenly, the sand beneath their feet began to tremble. At first it was only faint ripples, but the shaking grew stronger, as if some massive creature deep below were waking from its slumber.
A heavy, dull rumble echoed as the center of the dune split apart. Metal grinding mixed with the shifting of sand, the entire field of sand pushed aside by an unseen force.
A colossal city slowly rose from beneath the layers of sand.
Metal walls reflected the starlight with a chilling gleam. The enormous defensive gate opened as its machinery groaned, revealing a deep passageway. Hidden lights flickered on one by one, like constellations surfacing from the earth.
The emblem on the gate showed itself as the sand slid off, its weathered surface hinting at the city's long history. The wind carried a faint metallic scent, as if the steel giant were breathing again after centuries of sleep.
Wang Yanf ei stepped forward, about to head toward the gate, but Sha Eru extended a hand and stopped him.
"Not that way." Her voice was calm, but held an unmistakable firmness. She lifted her hand and pressed a button on the small device on her wrist.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
With the low electronic tones, a glowing symbol appeared in her palm. She aimed it at a point on the city wall and gave it a small wave. A few seconds later, mechanical rumbling sounded from within, and the massive metal gate halted, stopping its opening sequence. Beneath the main gate, a small door only two people tall quietly emerged.
Its surface was solid alloy, engraved with symbolic metallic patterns matching the city's architecture.
Sha Eru stepped to the side and glanced at Wang Yanf ei and Dr. Lin. "This is the real entrance."
Wang Yanf ei looked at the towering main gate and raised an eyebrow. "You have that huge thing there but no one is allowed to use it?"
Sha Eru smiled faintly, her tone calm. "That gate is a decoy meant to confuse enemies. If you walk through it directly, you will be turned into dust by three hundred automated cannons in five seconds."
Wang Yanf ei's mouth twitched slightly. He took a step back and looked at the small door. "So this is the actual entrance."
Sha Eru nodded. "Only the city lord and trusted individuals can use this safe entrance. It only opens with specific codes and authorization."
As she finished speaking, the small door clicked and slowly opened, revealing the narrow passage inside, faint lights flickering within.