The first rays of dawn barely pierced the thick fog that clung to the resistance's hidden base. Alex adjusted the straps of his pack, his mind racing as he prepared for the journey ahead. He had heard tales of Zeta—of the horrors lurking in its depths—but now, he would see them firsthand.
Soren stood at the entrance, flanked by a handful of Twilight's best operatives.
"The route has been mapped out as best as we could manage," he said. "But past the outer ruins, no one knows what truly lies in wait. We'll be stepping into history itself."
Nyssa tightened the straps on her gauntlets, her sharp eyes scanning the team. "We move quickly and stay together. No heroics, no unnecessary risks. We're there to gather intel and, if possible, retrieve whatever the empire is after."
Alex nodded. He knew his role. As the group moved out, the air around them shifted—the presence of mana grew heavier, denser. It was unlike anything Alex had ever felt before. His Saint blood tingled, responding to the raw energy seeping from Zeta's distant borders.
The journey to the continent's edge was eerily quiet. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. As they neared the first set of ruins, ancient structures half-buried in overgrown vegetation, the ground beneath them trembled slightly.
"Did you feel that?" one of the operatives whispered.
A sudden growl echoed through the mist. Shadows stirred among the ruins. The first challenge of Zeta had begun.