The Ascendance Deceiver

Enemy

The echo of determined footsteps resonated through what was once a bustling town, now reduced to a desolate maze of crumbling structures intertwined with nature's reclamation. Verdant tendrils wound their way around the remnants of human habitation, and a gentle breeze carried the subtle scent of damp earth and decaying wood as Alayn's team pressed forward, their hearts set on discovering a safe haven to establish their camp.

Options had presented themselves, each bearing a semblance of potential respite: a house, still standing amidst the encroaching wilderness; a broken parking lot, its cracked asphalt a mosaic of abandonment; twin storefronts, their shattered windows revealing a glimpse of former commerce. Yet, with each potential location, Alayn's discerning eye detected lurking dangers, and he skillfully presented these hazards to his comrades, guiding them toward a more secure path.

Time had ebbed away, a good forty minutes slipping by since their departure from the fallen par