The Difficulty Rising

Daniel moved through the bustling streets of Arkanis City after exiting the Mercenary Hold, the ever-present haze casting long shadows in the street.His mind raced with thoughts of The Forsaken and their potential impact on his mission. It will be troublesome if he meet him on the way.Daniel hadn't heard much bad about them, but there were no good reports about what they did either. They were very mysterious, and no one bothered to approach them or dig up more information.The Forsaken mostly consisted of people who had mutated due to excessive radiation exposure. Daniel had once thought he might become one of them because he had undertaken so many missions without proper protection.But it turns out that fate was still on his side. His body was still able to handle enough radiation before cancerous mutations or any other kind of mutation occurred.SELENE's advice echoed in his mind, urging him to gather more information before heading into the mission location.He navigated through the labyrinthine alleys, passing by vendors selling scrap and makeshift weaponry, and locals who cast wary glances his way.Arkanis was a city of survivors, each person trying to eke out a living in the harsh, post-apocalyptic environment. Daniel's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces, informants who might have the intel he needed.Eventually, he spotted a contact. An old man named Griff, known for his extensive network of information brokers. Griff was hunched over a makeshift table, playing a game of cards with some locals.Daniel approached, waiting patiently for the round to end before making his presence known.Griff looked up, his eyes sharp and calculating. "Thorn, I thought you already dead," he greeted, his voice gravelly. "What brings you to my little corner of the world?""I need information," Daniel replied. "About The Forsaken. Heard they're on the move and heading towards my next job location. Which is in the western district, maybe close to the way heading to the Ironclad Dominion."Griff's eyes narrowed, and he motioned for Daniel to take a seat. "The Forsaken, huh? Nasty bunch, those. What makes you think I have any information on them?"Daniel pulled out a few ration packs and a small pouch of credits, placing them on the table. "Because you always know what's going on in this city. And I need to be prepared."Actually, giving that much to Griff made Daniel almost feel a literal pain in his heart. But he would receive plenty of food and credits later because of SELENE in his body, so he thought this much sacrifice was enough.Griff eyed the offering, then nodded slowly. "Alright, here's what I know. The Forsaken have been stirring up trouble in the westhern districts. Word is, they're looking for something. Could be old tech, could be resources. Either way, they're not the kind to give up easily."Daniel absorbed the information, his mind working through the implications. "Any idea on their numbers? Or more information on their specific location?"Griff scratched his chin, thinking. "Numbers vary, but they've got a core group of about maybe ten mutated members. As for their location, last I heard, they were holing up near the old industrial sector. Lots of places to hide there, and plenty of potential loot."["User, this aligns with the intel we have. The industrial sector is vast and filled with potential dangers of this Forsaken, but it also offers strategic opportunities. Maybe we can also find something they are after,"] SELENE's voice informed him with calm and precise tone."Thanks, Griff," Daniel said, standing up and sliding the payment towards the old man. "Stay safe.""You too, Thorn. And watch your back. The Forsaken are not to be underestimated," Griff warned, pocketing the credits and ration packs. "Hope you still alive after that."With new information in hand, Daniel made his way back through the city with mind focused on the upcoming mission. He needed to prepare for the worst, but with SELENE's guidance and his own experience, he felt more confident than ever.After preparing some more, grabbing his old rifle and jacket, Daniel headed to the mission location. It took him almost three hours on foot, with SELENE in his body he didn't feel too much fatigue.As he approached the edge of the city, the industrial sector loomed ahead. Daniel can see its crumbling buildings and rusted machinery. He found a secluded spot and stopped, taking a moment to observe.["User, I recommend a reconnaissance of the industrial sector before engaging,"] SELENE advised."I know," Daniel replied, "Let's get a closer look and see what we're dealing with."He moved cautiously through the ruins, his senses heightened by the ever-present threat. The air was thick with the scent of decay and rust, and every shadow seemed to hold potential danger.As he neared the heart of the industrial sector, he found a vantage point atop a crumbling building. From there, he could see the movements below.Daniel climbed up, then he could see movement about one hundred meters ahead. Their mutated forms a testament to the harshness of their lives.Daniel laying on the destroyed concrete, focusing his enhanced eyes on their movement.His job is to retrieve a piece of equipment that was left behind by a group that had tried to explore this industrial complex a few days ago in search of technology from the past. They were attacked by a group of bandits and had to abandon the equipment.Somehow, Daniel had a hunch that the group that attacked them was the Forsaken, and now they were in possession of the equipment."This could be more dangerous than what's written here. It seems they made a mistake in assessing the difficulty of this mission."Daniel sighed. But then he realized this could be a good opportunity to test his abilities.---