CHAPTER 113 — THE SAND ANSWERS
The pulse beneath the city did not fade.
It waited.
Morning came to Ruinsand in layers.
The outer desert was already blazing when Bronze Squad assembled in the lower operations hall. Sandstorms brewed in the distance beyond the wall, visible only through long-range scrying panels mounted near the entrance. Hunters moved with disciplined speed—gearing up, checking weapon sync, loading supplies into transport carriers.
Long Hao stood slightly behind Zehell as she reviewed the patrol grid projected in midair.
"Sector Three," she said calmly. "Outer quadrant, northeast line."
Colby folded his arms. "Routine sweep?"
"Routine," she confirmed.
Marek smirked. "Which means not routine."
Darius adjusted his spear strap. "Pressure's been unstable lately."
Ryn flicked a small metallic disc between his fingers. "Ground sensors caught something strange at 0300 hours."
Zehell glanced at him.
"Why wasn't that escalated?"
