章 76: Runners

After Dune, Atlas, and Lace finished eating the creature's meat, they decided to open the barrier to protect themselves from the toxic ocean.

They sat on a rocky ledge high in the mountains, surrounded by a sparse scattering of trees and bushes. Jagged peaks towered around them, casting long shadows as the "Sun?" began its descent.

"I have 25 fragments," Atlas said, breaking the silence.

"Twenty-five?" Dune's brow furrowed in confusion.

"I have 45," Lace added nonchalantly.

"Wait, how did you guys get so many?" Dune asked, his curiosity piqued.

Atlas sighed deeply, his eyes darkening. "This wasn't the only village we slaughtered. The inhabitants here try to kill everyone who attempts the trial, and then they eat us to upgrade themselves. They are humans but different from the ones where we come from."

Dune's gaze shifted uneasily.