Inside a massive tent used as an inn, within one of the partitioned areas, Thoren sat cross-legged on the ground, lost in thought.
He carefully processed everything he had learned from Tahlia, replaying her words over and over in his mind. Each detail carried weight, and none could be ignored.
Even though he had not planned to spend a long time on the second floor, he now realized he could not overwhelm it as easily as he had done on the first floor.
This place was fundamentally different. The rules had changed, and so had the nature of survival.
Threats did not come only from beasts.
They came from the Dune Scavengers and the Bleeding Desert itself.
To him, the Dune Scavengers and the Bleeding Desert were the true dangers lurking beneath everything else.
"I need to be wary of the Bleeding Desert," he murmured quietly.
That was the greatest threat.
He could defeat beasts without much difficulty. He could even fight against the Dune Scavengers.
