Cold...
Frozen...
Deadly...
Three words that perfectly describe this place: the ruins of the Vledstoin City once inhabited by humans, now a pile of rubble covered in thick snow. Ice pellets swirled down from the sky like ashes from a volcanic eruption, blending with the sea of snow that covered the ground. The sun was asleep peacefully, leaving the sky darkened by cold clouds.
Apartments, schools, and shops that were once bustling with activity now lay dormant in the embrace of eternal winter. Factories with tall chimneys that once bustled with industrial activity were now frozen, abandoned golden age monuments.
After this desolate place had long been devoid of life, finally, from the horizon, a mechanical rumble with bright lights could be seen slowly moving toward the ruins of Vledstoin.
It was a large armored vehicle, its white paint blending with the surrounding snow, and its loose tracks making an irregular sound. The vehicle was traveling at 50 km per hour, its headlights illuminating the road ahead. The hum of the engine grew louder, indicating that the vehicle was struggling to navigate the thick snow.
Inside the vehicle...
Five people sat in their respective positions. They wore sophisticated-looking mechanical armor, but the small numbers on their chests indicated that the armor was older and had likely been modified. The group consisted of two women and three men.
Shortly afterward, the man sitting in the driver's seat with long blond hair spoke.
"Look! The ruins of Vledstoin are right in front of us. Everyone, prepare your equipment," he warned his comrades in a deep voice.
They began to prepare. Three men readied their weapons while one pressed the monitor in front of him to prepare the vehicle's support equipment.
"Nav, make sure you don't make a mistake this time. Two days ago, you were late in giving a signal and almost killed us, attacked by those monster," said one of the women, Sonya, a tall woman with dark hair, staring intently at Nav.
Nav, the short, nervous-looking man, nodded quickly.
"Okay, senior! I won't make that mistake again!" he said, adjusting his glasses and smoothing his messy white hair.
Meanwhile, another man, a tall, handsome man, held his protective helmet. He looked at the driver's seat with a slightly nervous expression.
"Edwin, we should stop the Snow Explorer here. Don't go too deep into the city, winter creatures could be lurking there," the man said.
Edwin, driving the snow explorer, didn't look back. He simply sighed. Then he said...
"Just a little longer, Ars. Don't go too far from the city. If we have an emergency situation, Nav and Lily can pick us up more quickly."
After several minutes, the snow explorer finally stopped not far from the ruins of Vledstoin. The rear door opened, revealing Sonya, Ars, and a young girl named Lily, dressed in full armor. Edwin got out of the driver's seat, already ready with his weapons and tools. Everyone who exited the vehicle wore full armor and helmets to protect their heads. On their chests, a glowing red core powered the advanced mechanical armor.
"Nav, I trust the snow explorer to you. Lily will be standing guard nearby, so you don't need to worry. If we need help, bring the snow explorer to pick us up. Also, launch the reconnaissance drone to support us," Edwin said in a soft yet firm tone.
His serious expression could be seen through the visor of his protective helmet. The stitches on his right cheek were a silent testament to his life's experiences.
"Yes, Mr. Edwin. I will do a good job this time. Lily, please cooperate!"
Nav said with a confident smile. Lily simply stared at him blankly and said nothing.
"Without further ado, let's go. We don't want any other survivors to get ahead of us and take all the valuable relics we need," Edwin said.
Ars and Sonya nodded. The three of them walked across the snowy ground toward the frozen ruins of Vledstoin. They left Nav and Lily to guard the Snow Explorer.
Nav deftly activated the reconnaissance drone through the control system in the driver seat. Shortly after, the special cabin above the Snow Explorer opened, revealing the drone, which activated and took to the air. It began to fly higher, monitoring the condition of the Vledstoin ruins that Edwin, Ars, and Sonya would explore.
Lily had been staring at her three companions as they entered the ruins. She shifted her gaze to Nav, who was staring at the control system's monitor. This time, a hint of worry crossed her face.
"Nav, I sense great danger lurking in the ruins. Those three are in danger," she said, looking serious.
Hearing these words through the communication device in his ear, Nav turned to look at Lily. His face showed even more nervousness, worry, and fear than before.
"Danger...you said?"
To be continued...