Story 496: Ashes of the Forgotten City

The once-glorious city stretched out before them, now a vision of devastation. Marble columns crumbled under the weight of the inferno raging around them. Smoke billowed into the sky, staining the sunset with a dark orange haze. The ground was littered with debris and glowing embers, the air heavy with the stench of burning wood and stone.

The team stood at the edge of the destruction, weapons at the ready.

"This doesn't look like just a random attack," Shadow observed, her voice tight as her eyes scanned the fiery ruins. "This was meant to send a message."

Rook knelt, running his fingers over the blackened dirt. The heat radiated even through his gloves. “And that message is loud and clear: Stay away.”

Ghost, ever the quiet observer, was already moving ahead, his silhouette blending with the smoke. “We’ve got movement,” he said over the comms.

Rook motioned for the team to spread out. “Stay sharp. Whatever’s waiting for us isn’t going to make this easy.”