As soon as they entered the hideout, everyone had already fallen asleep. Their hearts felt at ease, relieved from any bothersome questions from the others.
The place was filled with calm and serenity, and the moment they stepped inside, their bodies seemed to merge with that tranquility.
— Alright, we're quite late. Clearly, no one noticed our absence. That's for the best.
Zain replied:
— You're right. We should get some sleep as well; it's already late, and we need to wake up early tomorrow. Tomorrow is full of dangers.
— I know, but it would be better if we woke up just before dawn. That way, we could see the red rift and the flow of those monsters. We might even track our target until it falls within our sights.
Zain nodded:
— Of course. We'll do as you say. That's best.
— I'll make sure to wake up on time, and so will you. If we oversleep, it's better to leave it for another day.
Sky Sword kept nodding along with Zain's words.
— Come on, help me carry this equipment to my room. We don't have time to waste.
Sky Sword helped him, and they placed the equipment inside.
— Thanks for your help. Good night.
— You too, replied Sky Sword.
Zain closed his door, throwing himself directly onto the bed. He kept tossing from side to side, searching for a comfortable position.
Sky Sword, too, went to his room. He sat at the edge of the bed, fingers intertwined, his mind drowning in thoughts and speculations. But it didn't take long before he cast his thoughts aside, stretched out, and fell into deep sleep.
Nearly four hours passed.
Zain was still lying in his room, but suddenly his eyes began twitching, his body restless, as though disturbed by something. Slowly, his eyelids opened to the pitch-black darkness beneath the earth. Shock painted his face, as if he had missed something of great importance. He immediately pushed off his blanket, opened the door, and rushed out.
He climbed the stairs quickly, lifted the hatch of the hideout, and looked up at the sky. Its color had already changed; the deep black was fading, replaced by a misty, bluish gray. He breathed a sigh of relief before hurrying back down, heading straight to Sky Sword's room.
He knocked continuously, until suddenly the door opened while his hand was still moving back and forth. Sky Sword was already awake.
With irritation, Sky Sword said:
— I was already awake. There was no need to keep knocking like that. You'll wake the others.
— Oh, sorry! But we don't have much time left. Dawn is nearly upon us, that's why I came straight to wake you.
— What about you? How long have you been awake?
— About five minutes, Sky Sword replied. I was just about to check outside when you came.
— Anyway, is everything ready?
— Not yet. Come help me carry the gear, and let's head out immediately.
Sky Sword nodded.
— Of course. Let's move.
Together, they went to Zain's room, carried their equipment, and set out on a new day's journey, its fate unknown. Sky Sword stepped out first, followed by Zain. Their feet moved toward the familiar direction where the rift would soon appear.
It wasn't long before the veil of sunlight spread across the land like waves, leaving countless shapes of shadows behind. They both looked back, shielding their eyes from the blinding light. Their shadows stretched beneath their feet, destined to follow until the sun's retreat. They raised their heads toward the sky — the rift had already appeared.
Their expressions darkened with dread. In the blink of an eye, as the light shimmered before they could even comprehend it, the rift tore through the fabric of the heavens without any warning. A shiver ran down their spines. They had believed it would give some sign before appearing, but now they realized how costly ignorance could be.
There were no buildings, no walls to hide behind — only a vast desert stripped of life. The first thought that crossed their minds was to run and find shelter somewhere in this barren wasteland. But in truth, they were already trapped in the circle of death, standing far too close to the rift just as it began to open, right before their very eyes.
Two lone figures ran desperately through an endless desert, not daring to look back. Wouldn't they be easy prey? Luckily, the flow of monsters hadn't started yet. If it had, they would have been like beggars stumbling upon a feast by pure chance.
They ran with all their might, and soon relief lit their faces. Ahead of them was a sandy hill with a hollow rock beneath it, a perfect temporary shelter.
The moment they entered the crevice, they threw down their gear and gasped for breath. Sky Sword glanced at the sky and sighed deeply.
— So far, there's no sign of the flow beginning.
That was good news. It gave them enough time to plan, to understand the depth and course of the rift.
Zain rummaged through his bag, pulling out a thin, yellow, worn-out cloth. With Sky Sword's help, he dusted it off, and together they used it to cover the entrance, camouflaging themselves from the creatures.
Once it was tightly secured, Zain took a hammer and an iron rod, carving a small hole in the rock to let air in and to keep watch on the outside.
About half an hour later, the flow began. Monsters of different shapes, sizes, and ranks streamed forth.
Fear gripped their hearts. They understood now the scale of the danger — it wouldn't be surprising if death struck instantly.
The sunlight was blotted out, the shadows thickened, and the earth fell into complete darkness. Through the narrow hole, they watched with horror, their bodies shivering, faces grim as they gazed upon the world.
But as time passed, the massive tide thinned. Soon, the number of monsters in the sky could almost be counted on one's fingers. It seemed the creatures had realized the desert held no life to devour. Naturally, they would move toward other regions in search of prey.
Sky Sword turned to Zain.
— The time has come. Shall we move?
— We must. There couldn't be a better moment than this.
Without a word, Sky Sword quietly removed the cloth and slipped outside. Together they ran, bows and arrows in hand, already drawn and ready to fire.
Yes — they had locked onto their target: the winged fire serpents.
Just as Sky Sword had predicted, such monsters were never alone. They always flew with their flock.