Ray and Ikarus skinned the ground dragon, harvesting some of its undamaged scales and its core, a crystal that some high-level beasts have that can be sold for a fortune or be exchanged for currency.They journeyed together eastwards of the planet into the desert.At first, Ray was hesitant to follow Ikarus. He had no problem trusting him, since his instincts about people had never been wrong before, and he could tell that he was a trustworthy person despite the fact that they just recently met, and that he was a reptilian humanoid, not even human.The desert air buzzed with tension as they trudged across the cracked, red soil, their footsteps echoing faintly in the eerie silence. The sun hung low in the sky, casting elongated shadows across the rugged landscape. They had left the ruins of the arena far behind, but the dangers of the planet still loomed. Every step was a reminder of how unforgiving this world could be.Ray glanced at Ikarus, the reptilian warrior who had become his un

The desert stretched endlessly before Ray, Ikarus, and Kaela as they trudged onward. The three moved in silence, each absorbed in their thoughts. The adrenaline of escaping the Morphidon fortress was fading, replaced by the weight of the challenges ahead.Kaela broke the silence. "The Morphidons will double their efforts now. You’ve made yourselves prime targets."Ray glanced at her, his expression hard. "Then we stay ahead of them. We train, we fight, and we make them regret underestimating us."Kaela nodded, her eyes studying Ray. "You’re not like other humans. What are you?"Ray hesitated before answering. "Let’s just say I’m evolving." He flexed his fingers, feeling the latent power coursing through his body. "And I’m not done yet."Ikarus chuckled. "You’ll need every edge you can get. The Morphidons aren’t just hunters—they’re tacticians. They’ll exploit every weakness."The group set up camp in a rocky outcrop, the alien moons casting a pale glow over the landscape. While Ikarus