The unrelenting desert sun beat down on the column, but the atmosphere was thick with a strange mixture of tension and confidence. The core Faction team was now backed by Ren's Beast-bound army, a silent, formidable circle of protectors that seemed to ignore the heat.
Axton and Ren walked at the front, their proximity a visible declaration of their unified purpose. The holographic map shimmered between Kael and Dorian, who were monitoring the progress.
"How many more hours?" Axton questioned as they navigated a field of tall dunes and sheltering rock formations, finding momentary respite from the harsh glare.
"Three hours, Captain," Kael replied, zooming in on the map. The red dot representing the Origin Signal was frustratingly persistent.
"Still steady?" Axton glanced back at Kael.
"Yes, although, I see nothing but rocks," Kael answered, swiping across the map to confirm the visual data. "And a whole lot of empty sand. It's a dead zone."
