Chink!
The metal door slammed shut behind a man with black hair and cold, black eyes. His footsteps echoed softly against the smooth sandstone floor as he advanced. Two guards stood before the hallway entrance, rifles at the ready, their postures rigid with discipline.
They didn't move, only standing at attention as the man passed by.
The walls, carved from tan sandstone, were smooth and meticulously polished, while the rusted metal door behind him stood as a stark contrast—worn and aged. He strode forward, his pace steady, until he reached the end of the hallway and stepped into the main chamber.
A lavish carpet stretched from one end of the room to the other, rich with golden and crimson stripes that glimmered faintly in the sunlight. Above, an open ceiling exposed the chamber to the sky, allowing beams of sunlight to pour in, casting warmth and light across the room.
The man entered the center of the chamber and dropped to one knee, lowering his head in deference.
"My lord," he began, his voice steady but laced with tension. "We've received reports from the expedition on Virealia."
Silence filled the chamber before a deep, menacing voice echoed from the shadows ahead—where Ravak sat upon his throne.
"Go on."
The man hesitated, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. "They… discovered a village on the planet. It housed at least a hundred people…" He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "They invaded the village and… and failed, my lord. They were forced to retreat."
His words barely escaped his lips before his body began trembling. Sweat now drenched his face, his mind consumed with the fear that his life might end in mere moments.
Silence.
The air grew heavy, thick with tension. Then, Ravak's voice sliced through the stillness.
"Who led this operation?"
"T-Tyrus, my lord," the man stammered.
A low growl echoed from the throne.
"I want him before me by tomorrow," Ravak said, his voice calm but dripping with malice. "Fail me…" He leaned forward slightly, and a glint of crimson pierced through the shadows—his piercing red eye gleaming with deadly intent. "And I will crush your skull."
The man flinched, his breath caught in his throat. "Y-yes, sir!"
He rose slowly, bowing deeply before turning to leave. His movements were stiff, his legs barely carrying him as he hurried toward the hallway.
Just as he reached the threshold, Ravak's voice echoed once more, sending a chill down his spine.
"Do not bring me such disgusting news again… or I will send you to the room."
The man froze. His entire body stiffened, and for a brief moment, his mind conjured horrific images of what the room entailed.
"Y-yes, sir," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Then, without another word, he fled down the hallway, his footsteps quickening with each passing second.
The sound of his hurried footsteps echoed down the sandstone hallway, growing fainter as he disappeared beyond the guards.
In the silence that followed, Ravak leaned forward, lifting his bottom left arm to rest his head against it. His other arms remained poised, fingers curling ever so slightly, as though ready to strike.
"No one opposes my forces and gets away with it." His voice was low, almost a growl, reverberating through the chamber.
Ravak's crimson eye gleamed brighter, malice swelling within its depths. "Whoever did this… shall pay."
***
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the metal ramp as the crew descended from the ship, boots meeting the coarse sand below.
Razek stretched his arms high above his head, leaping into the air as though he had just escaped confinement. "I'm finally free!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the barren expanse.
Helaine groaned, rolling her eyes at Razek's childish antics.
Evryn stood still, his boots sinking slightly into the dry sand as he took in the desolate landscape. A faint breeze stirred, kicking up grains of dust, but otherwise…
Silence.
The planet was nothing but an empty wasteland.
But…
What lay ahead was something far beyond imagination.
Towering before them were the remains of an ancient, colossal creature. Its bones, thicker than those of the Behemoth Wolf they had once encountered, stretched toward the sky, casting long shadows across the sand. The ribcage alone rose to a height that rivaled the towers of NoxHaven, while at the end of the skeletal structure rested the skull — a monstrous thing, almost the size of a mountain. Its jagged teeth, each thicker than a house, jutted out like the fangs of a long-dead predator.
My god… Evryn's mind raced as he gazed at the remains. Whatever this thing was… it was beyond anything of this world.
But beneath the creature's bones, nestled where its stomach would have once been, was something even more surreal — a city.
Beneath the creature's ribs lay a city, sprawled within the hollow remains, using the bones as natural shade and a barrier against the harsh desert winds.
Cyrus strode forward, ahead of the group, his pace quickening as though he was drawn toward the sight.
Then, with a wide grin, he turned to face them, arms outstretched in welcome.
"Welcome to Carrion's Hollow!"
There was a spark of exhilaration in his eyes — a rare sight. Evryn blinked, noticing for the first time just how thrilled Cyrus seemed.
Come to think of it… I've never seen him this excited before.
Wait… Evryn's thoughts raced as he stared at the colossal bones. If this was a giant creature that once thrived on this ocean planet… why did people even live here with it when it was once alive?
Maybe I can find some answers while I'm here… get to the bottom of this. Hopefully.
"Let's go!" Cyrus shouted, his voice echoing off the towering bones as he turned and strode toward Carrion.
Razek and Helaine followed without hesitation, their footsteps kicking up small clouds of sand.
Evryn lingered for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the skeletal remains, unease gnawing at the back of his mind.
Then, with a quiet sigh, he stepped forward and followed after them.