The morning mist clung to the rusted walls of the Land City gates, painting the streets in a soft gray hue.
Aryan stood there, slightly breathless, his blade strapped tightly to his side. His clothes still bore the dust and dried blood from yesterday's battle, but his eyes were sharper—more alert. Ready.
Kat leaned casually against a post near the gate, arms crossed, red hair glinting in the early sun.
"Glad you made it," Kat said with a smirk. "Ready to hunt some nightmares?"
Aryan gave a single nod. "Let's just get it done."
The rest of the group—Kira, Reno, Dust, and Mal—were checking their gear. Kira waved at Aryan in silent greeting, while Mal slung a heavy spear over his shoulder.
With no more words, they set off. The city gates opened slowly behind them with a mechanical groan, revealing the endless expanse of the Wastelands.
The cracked land stretched for miles under a sky veiled with a faint haze. As they walked, wind swept over the plains, carrying with it the dry scent of ash and old blood.
About an hour in, Reno broke the silence.
"Hey Kat," he said, his voice casual but curious. "What does BLADE do with the corpses of the monsters? I mean… they're dead. What's the use?"
Kat kept walking for a few steps before answering. "Honestly? No one knows for sure. But I've heard rumors."
Aryan, walking behind them, perked up at that. He listened closely.
"Some say they smuggle the bodies to the floating cities," Kat continued. "Use them for experiments, black market organs, weapon research... who knows."
Aryan frowned. "Floating cities?"
Kat stopped mid-step and turned to look at him. "You don't know about them?"
Aryan shook his head. "Never seen them. Never even heard much. People down here don't talk about the sky."
Kat looked at the others and then pointed upward. "Then look up."
The group tilted their heads, and so did Aryan.
Above them, cloaked in the drifting mist and sun glare, were faint outlines of mountain-like shadows hovering in the sky—so distant they seemed like tricks of the light.
"I only see mountains," Aryan said slowly.
Kat smiled. "That's what everyone thinks at first. But those aren't mountains. Those are the floating cities. Massive structures built in the sky, kept afloat somehow by ancient tech or something else."
Aryan's eyes widened. "Cities… up there? All this time?"
Reno chimed in. "Yeah. Full of nobles, tech, power, luxury. The gap between here and there is a thousand feet of air and secrets."
"But… why are they floating?" Aryan asked, gaze fixed above.
Kat shrugged. "Nobody knows. That's the part even I don't get. Some say it's to escape the monsters. Others say it's to protect secrets."
Aryan muttered, more to himself, "And how do the corpses get up there if the cities are so high?"
Kat replied, "Another rumor says BLADE uses warships. Airborne transport. Illegal, but profitable."
Aryan let the silence settle, his thoughts spiraling. Floating cities, beasts, secrets… what if my father had something to do with all this?
Then Mal raised his hand. "Heads up. Something's moving."
Everyone snapped to alert.
From a nearby ridge, a C-rank beast stalked into view—six-legged, with skin like cracked obsidian and glowing red veins pulsing across its chest. It growled low, and dust scattered with each of its steps.
"Formation," Kat ordered. "We'll talk later. It's hunting time."
Aryan tightened his grip on his blade.
The truth of the sky would have to wait.
Now came the fight.