The moment Cain and Alita set foot in the desert, the world came alive.
The sand stirred as if drawing breath, and a low, rolling thunder spread beneath their feet. Within seconds, the calm horizon convulsed into motion. The storms that had slumbered in the distance suddenly converged upon them, roaring like beasts of ancient rage.
Avalanches of sand laced with sparks of lightning and fire surged around them, swallowing the air. The dunes shifted, collapsing and rising like the pulse of some enormous creature. Visibility vanished; they could barely see more than a few dozen meters ahead.
The storm's fury was unlike anything either had faced. Each gust seared their skin, leaving trails of burning energy. The air itself was alive — vibrating with frequencies so intense that every breath felt like inhaling molten dust.
But the two did not yield.
