Chapter 43
The outline of Mandel City had vanished completely. As far as the eye could see, a vast expanse of dark red stone stretched endlessly in every direction.
Most of the stones were shattered, their jagged edges glowing faintly as waves of white-hot air rose from them, the heat of their descent still lingering. Every trace of the city's streets had been erased, leaving Yoren standing in the middle of a desolate, smoking wasteland, unable to determine his bearings.
The air was suffocatingly hot. The waves of heat scalded his skin, and a fine powder filled the atmosphere, further reducing visibility to see anything around.
Yoren knew exactly what that powder was—Originium residue, thick and pervasive, the aftermath of a catastrophic event. Without hesitation, he pulled up his scarf to cover his mouth. While Originium infection wasn't a concern for him, the sheer concentration in the air made breathing a struggle.
Lowering his gaze, something caught his eye—a small, glittering cluster of newly formed Originium. The energy in the disaster's wake was so intense that fresh Originium deposits had already begun crystallizing.
This place was dead. No one could have survived at the heart of the disaster zone. He needed to get out—fast. His only hope lay in reaching the outskirts of Mandel City, where he might find the Rhine Life expedition team.
But without any clear sense of direction, Yoren had no choice but to press forward blindly. Each step through the dark red rubble felt like navigating an endless labyrinth.
He had no idea how much time had passed. By the measure of his own world, it should have been nightfall in Terra. Yet, the sky above burned crimson, casting an eerie, blood-like glow over the land—perhaps a natural phenomenon triggered by the catastrophe.
With each passing moment, the heat drained more and more from his body, leaving his throat parched and his limbs heavy. His insides twisted with discomfort, a sharp reminder that his mineral fever was about to flare up again. He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, knowing he had already covered a great distance. If his direction was correct, he should be near the city's edge.
At last, the air began to cool. A gust of wind carried away the stifling heat, rushing past a cracked boulder, revealing an open landscape beyond.
He had made it. He was outside the meteorite strike zone.