Ethan tore across the terrain, his body moving with relentless urgency. He gauged the distance to the flare's origin—still a ways off, but not too far now.
White mist billowed from his bare torso, the result of Force Resonance. His muscles trembled violently, generating intense heat. Pressed against him, Clara could feel her damp clothes drying rapidly from the searing warmth. She was weak, barely able to hold on, her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.
Suddenly, Ethan came to an abrupt halt.
Five kilometers ahead, at the edge of his sensory range, there was... nothing. The presence of the ever-persistent Pincer-tailed Sand Badgers had vanished completely. After hours of constant battle, this sudden emptiness was jarring.
"Clara... what's happening up ahead?" he shouted, eyes scanning the plain while still fending off attackers.
The land was open and flat, offering clear visibility. At Ethan's speed, five kilometers would take less than a minute.
