The Badlands stretched endlessly before him, a desolate wasteland of molten rivers and jagged volcanic peaks. James stood at the edge of the ashen landscape, the dry, acrid wind biting at his exposed skin despite his protective gear. His mechanical gauntlets hummed softly as he adjusted the visor over his eyes, which displayed a translucent map of the area projected from his portable navigation unit. He could already feel the tension in the air, the weight of something ancient and destructive lurking just beyond the horizon.
I shouldn't have come here. This is a terrible idea.
He sighed, pulling a small cylindrical device from his pouch. The moment he activated it, a tiny, bird-like construct—his personal creation—unfolded itself with intricate, clockwork precision. The sparrow stretched its wings, golden filigree catching the dim light as its eyes glowed with an eerie blue energy.