Further from the city, beneath the unrelenting sun, three men surrounded a lone figure standing atop the dunes.
He was clad head to toe in heavy silver armor, each plate thick and immaculately forged. Not a single inch of skin was visible from the outside and strangely enough appeared cool to the touch despite the blistering desert heat.
His helmet bore the visage of a demon—angular, menacing—with two horns meant to curve skyward. One of them had been snapped clean off near the base.
Resting horizontally across his shoulders was a greatsword longer than his torso, its blade lined with brutal serrations. The golden cross-guard gleamed faintly, and the pommel was shaped like a wolf's head. Clenched between its jaws was a dark blue sapphire that pulsed faintly with energy.
The man's massive arms draped casually over the blade as he stared through the narrow slits of his helm. Inside, brown eyes squinted against the heat.
The three men facing him wore layered Arabian garb, faces wrapped tight, curved scimitars held low. After exchanging a glance, they nodded.
Then—they vanished.
"So you really think that little parlor trick is going to work on an OG like me?" The armored man scoffed.
He shrugged the sword from his shoulders and drove the massive blade into the sand beside him, the impact sending grains skittering.
Crossing his arms, he continued staring at the empty space where the men had stood.
A moment passed…
Then his gauntlet snapped open.
Sparks exploded outward as his hand clamped around something unseen. A concussive energy wave rippled from his body, blasting sand in every direction.
The three men were revealed instantly—outlined by clinging grains, their invisibility shattered. With a casual twitch of his wrist, the man crushed one scimitar like brittle glass.
He stepped forward and drove his fist into the wielder's gut.
Blergh!
The man was launched backward, tearing through multiple dunes before crashing into the sand, blood erupting from his mouth. A deep cratered imprint marked where the punch had landed.
The remaining two attackers reacted instantly.
One dropped low, slashing for the armored man's legs. The other swung high, aiming for his neck.
Their blades halted inches from his armor.
Sparks shrieked through the air as steel scraped against a thin, flowing blue aura that wrapped his body like a second skin.
"That's a damn shame…" the man said flatly.
"Neither of you can even pierce my aura. You all are softer than a roll of Charmin Ultra."
Boom!
Boom!
Both men were sent flying, bodies folding unnaturally midair. They slammed into the sand beside their fallen comrade, blood pouring freely as shattered ribs tore through cloth.
Their wet coughing grew weaker…until it stopped entirely. Silence reclaimed the desert.
The armored man crouched low, energy surging into his legs. Blue lightning danced across his armor as he launched himself forward.
He landed before the corpses with a thunderous impact, forming a shallow crater.
Holding his hand above them, the bodies dissolved—flesh, weapons, and all—condensing into three dull grey Soul Gem Shards.
He absorbed them without ceremony.
"They really didn't know who they decided to fuck with," he muttered.
"Someone shoulda told 'em—Leezy the OG don't play that weak shit."
He clicked his tongue.
"I hoped they'd entertain me a little longer at least...damn"
Lightning surged again, and Leezy launched himself skyward, soaring toward the distant outline of El Diablo.
Back in the Bar…
Reyes jolted awake, sweat soaking his clothes.
The nightmare again.
Ever since childhood, it came back to him from time to time—a shadowy being restraining him with a power that felt alien.
Clawed hands beckoned, promising godlike strength in exchange for his soul…
He shuddered and finished off the remaining water.
The bar was nearly empty now. Noticing he was awake, the bartender approached.
"Hey, sleepyhead. Sleep well?"
"….."
"Okaaay…" she said awkwardly.
"Well… I was thinking maybe I could ask you a favor. I'll make it worth your while."
"Depends what it is," Reyes replied flatly, "And what I get in return."
She hesitated.
"There are ruins a couple miles east of here. My little sister wandered into them and I heard that the men occupying the place are holding her hostage."
Reyes didn't blink.
"There's treasure there…" she continued. "If you bring her back, I'll tell you where it's hidden."
After a brief pause, Reyes leaned forward, his face stopping inches from hers, so close that she could feel his breath.
"I'll go." he said quietly.
"I'll bring your sister back. But I want credits on top of that information when I return."
Disappointment flickered across her face—gone almost as soon as it appeared.
She nodded and extended her hand.
"Deal and as a gesture of good faith, I will tell you the location of the treasure. Just consider it half of the payment up-front if you're not the faith type. The name's Rachel by the way."
Reyes shook it, already standing.
She leaned in and whispered the details of the treasure's location.
That was all he needed. Without another word, he pushed through the bar doors and disappeared into the heat.
Rachel watched him go, exhaling softly.
Pretty cute…shame he's kind of a dick though
She thought.
Still…something told her he'd survive.
Hopefully…