Map and sand
A month came, but my master did not.
It was midnight, 1st of December, two thousand and seventy one.
My master hadn't come back.
I went back to the city of the shadows to tell Mike to message her again.
The trip wasn't easy, I encountered many beasts on the way, none of them stayed alive.
By the time I got to the city it was already morning.
I went to where I saw Mike for the last time and I saw him hanging out with a woman.
I approached him.
And the conversation went as follows:
"Yo"
"Yo"
"Sup"
"Sup"
*Dap up*(didn't work)
"So"
"So"
"You seen master?"
"Nah"
"Really?"
"Yeah"
"Hundred percent?"
"Yuh"
"Can you message her?"
"Yuh"
"So"
"So"
"Do it"
"Oh aight".
He messaged her saying "where are you" and he got a response that said "Help" followed with "South Side, Asverad"
"What's Asverad" I said
"A typo" he answered and followed "it's supposed to be Asverada"
"Oh right"
Even I- who grew in the unknown village- knew what Asverda was, Asverada is a city in the kingdom of ice (New Russia), it alone was as big as a whole country, so, what the hell was master doing that far away from the village?
`A question that was not answered for a long time.`
"Should we go?" I said "to Asverada"
"Go by yourself" he replied "I do not care enough for master to head over the entire Sand Kingdom for her, almost guaranteeing my death"
"You're foolish" I said
"What has she ever done for me that is enough for me to fight the worms for her"
I think it would be better to provide a map for context so here it is:
New World Nations
After the Chevas Event, the world was left in ruins. Governments collapsed, cities were destroyed, and monstrous creatures roamed the land. Survivors formed new nations, either by uniting behind walls or struggling to claim territory in the wastelands. Some of these nations thrive, while others are barely holding on.
---
1. New Russia (Kingdom of Ice)
(Formerly: Russia, parts of Eastern Europe, and Central Asia)
A frozen wasteland, covered in permafrost and snowstorms that never end.
The capital, Asverada, is a massive fortress city, large enough to be its own country.
Ruled by an iron-fisted military government that prioritizes survival over freedom.
The land outside the walls is home to ice beasts, mutated wildlife, and remnants of old nuclear disasters.
Supplies are scarce, and most people rely on rations controlled by the government.
Only the strongest hunters and mercenaries dare to venture into the frozen wilds.
---
2. The Sand Kingdom
(Formerly: The Middle East and North Africa)
A massive desert wasteland filled with shifting sands, ruins of ancient cities, and deadly creatures.
Sandworms the size of buildings roam beneath the dunes, devouring anything that moves.
Water is more valuable than gold, and only the largest settlements have access to clean supplies.
Controlled by warlords, mercenary clans, and nomadic tribes who constantly fight over resources.
The remains of old cities like Cairo and Dubai exist but are mostly abandoned or ruled by scavenger gangs.
Traveling through the Sand Kingdom is nearly impossible without a guide or a heavily armed convoy.
---
3. The Steel Federation
(Formerly: The United States, Canada, and parts of Western Europe)
A high-tech dictatorship that survived by sealing its people inside walled megacities.
Everything is controlled by AI and automated security, leaving little room for personal freedom.
Citizens live comfortable but restricted lives, monitored 24/7 by the government.
Outside the walls, the land is a wasteland of ruined cities, rogue machines, and cybernetic monstrosities.
Many believe the Federation hoards pre-apocalypse technology, but no one who enters its borders ever leaves.
---
4. The Western Empire
(Formerly: The remains of Europe and South America)
A mix of industrial cities and abandoned wastelands, ruled by an emperor and his warlords.
Corruption and rebellion are everywhere, with different factions constantly fighting for control.
Old world weapons and technology are highly valued, making mercenaries and scavengers important figures.
Creatures roam freely outside the major cities, making travel extremely dangerous.
While the empire has some order, its rule is built on bloodshed and fear.
---
5. The Free Cities
(Scattered across the world, including former parts of Asia and Australia)
Independent city-states that refused to be controlled by the larger nations.
Each city has its own government, ranging from democratic councils to ruthless dictatorships.
Trade between cities is common, but roads between them are filled with bandits and creatures.
Some cities thrive by harnessing old world technology, while others rely on brutal survival tactics.
Many Free Cities are built in the ruins of pre-apocalypse megacities, using what remains to stay alive.
---
6. The Blacklands
(Formerly: Central Africa, parts of South America, and areas affected by nuclear disasters)
A cursed land, filled with radiation, toxins, and horrifying creatures.
No government, no laws—only those who are strong or smart enough to survive.
Mutants, rogue AI, and unknown horrors roam freely, making it one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
Despite the risks, scavengers still explore the Blacklands, hoping to find valuable pre-apocalypse relics.
Some say there are hidden bunkers with lost technology, but few have returned to confirm it.
---
7. The Deep South
(Formerly: Parts of South America and Southeast Asia)
A jungle wasteland where nature has completely taken over.
Giant mutated animals, poisonous plants, and territorial tribes make survival nearly impossible.
The remains of pre-apocalypse civilizations are buried beneath the dense foliage.
Some survivors have adapted to the land, using ancient survival techniques mixed with modern weapons.
Rumors of hidden temples and lost technologies draw treasure hunters, but most never return.
---
8. The Eastern Dominion
(Formerly: China, Japan, and parts of Southeast Asia)
A highly militarized nation, ruled by unknown figures who rarely show themselves.
The land is divided into massive fortress cities, connected by underground rail systems.
Cybernetic soldiers and deadly machines patrol the streets, ensuring total obedience.
Outside the walls, rogue warbands and terrifying creatures hunt anything that moves.
Some believe the Eastern Dominion holds the key to understanding what caused the apocalypse, but anyone who tries to investigate disappears.
---
The Unknown Zones
Scattered across the world are places that defy all logic and explanation.
Some are regions where time seems frozen, others are places where gravity shifts or where strange voices whisper from the ruins.
No one knows what truly lies inside these zones, and those who enter rarely return.
I stood on the border of The Forgotten Wastes, staring at the endless sea of sand before me. The Sand Kingdom loomed like a brutal, scorching horizon—a land where the sun never set but instead burned everything to ash.
"Not a place for the weak..." I muttered, adjusting the worn straps of my gear. My pack was light but heavy with purpose: I had to get through this godforsaken desert to reach Asverada, the frozen capital of New Russia. My master was out there, somewhere in that land of ice and snow, but to get there, I had to survive this.
A worn map clutched in my hand showed a path leading through the sand dunes, through ancient ruins of cities now only known by their forgotten names. It was a journey that would likely end in death for many, but I had no choice. Master was out there, and I had no idea how or why she ended up in Asverada, but I had to find out.
"South side," I muttered under my breath, the words from Mike's message still fresh in my mind. "Asverad—no, Asverada."
The message from Mike had only offered minimal help. "Help," she'd said. That one word had been enough to light a fire in me. Something was wrong—seriously wrong. Why would she be in Asverada, of all places? Was she in danger? I couldn't let the questions linger any longer.
The path through the Sand Kingdom was a gamble, a deadly one. Most people never made it across. The desert's creatures were legendary: sandworms, wyverns, and worse, the Black Scorpions, gigantic arachnids that could pierce metal with their venomous stingers. And the heat, the suffocating heat, would kill you long before the creatures ever did.
I thought of Mike's words. "Go by yourself, I don't care enough to risk my life."
Yeah, well, I didn't expect him to help. He never did.
I was alone, and I'd have to face this hellish place by myself.
I took one last look at the ruined city behind me, remnants of a time before the apocalypse. The Western Empire had once stretched across continents, but now, it was a fractured shell of itself—full of scavengers, machines, and corruption. The desert stretched before me like a beast waiting to pounce. There was no turning back.
As I stepped into the first stretch of the Sand Kingdom, I could feel the air thicken with heat. The wind shifted the sand like a living thing, forming dunes and valleys as if the land itself wanted to bury me alive. Every step felt like I was being watched. I could see sandworm tracks winding beneath the surface, massive, circular grooves where the beasts had slid through the earth. Every sound I made felt like an invitation to them.
I tried to keep a steady pace, my eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of life—whether human or otherwise. I had heard rumors about settlements deep in the kingdom, but who knew if they were friendly? The Sand Kingdom had no laws, no rulers—only nomads and mercenaries who lived by their own code, and they didn't take kindly to outsiders.
Hours passed, and the desert showed no mercy. I was dehydrated, my throat burning from the dust and heat. The pack on my back seemed heavier with every step, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me. By the time the sun was nearly gone, I had reached what looked like the remains of an old city—a crumbling fortress with walls too tall to scale. I had no choice but to make camp here for the night.
But something was wrong.
The air shifted.
I crouched low, feeling the ground beneath me. A low, growling hum vibrated through the earth—the sound of something massive moving below.
Not good...
I quickly pulled Cultro from my back. The curved blade, crafted from the bones of a creature long extinct, hummed in my hands as I gripped it tightly. There was no comfort in this desert. No rifle to fall back on. Just Cultro, the only weapon I trusted.
The sound grew louder, more distinct. My heart raced as I realized what it was.
A sandworm.
It was coming.
With no time to waste, I scrambled toward the shattered remains of the city's wall and ducked behind a pile of rubble. The rumbling grew louder, followed by the unmistakable sound of shifting sand. The beast was close—too close. It could smell me. I had seconds before it broke through the earth.
Stay calm, I reminded myself. I'd trained for moments like this. This was my chance to survive.
From behind the rubble, I could see the giant form of the sandworm breaking through the earth. Its massive mouth, lined with rows of jagged teeth, opened wide as it surged toward me. I had no choice but to wait for the right moment.
The ground cracked, and the worm lunged. I leapt forward, meeting it head-on with Cultro raised. The blade slashed deep into the sandworm's underbelly, causing it to screech in pain. The beast thrashed, flinging sand and debris into the air as it twisted its massive body to escape.
Stay focused, I thought, dodging a massive tail swipe. I pressed forward, drawing on every bit of instinct and skill I had. With a swift movement, I drove Cultro deep into its throat, the creature's body writhing and spasming in pain.
The worm howled, thrashing wildly, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Slowly, its body stilled as the life drained from it.
I stepped back, breathing heavily. The desert fell silent again, the rumbling of the beast now just an echo in the distance.
I wiped Cultro clean, sheathing the blade with a quiet nod to the dead creature at my feet. The Sand Kingdom had claimed another life today—but not mine.
With no time to waste, I set my sights on the horizon once again. Asverada called, and I could feel the weight of my mission pressing on me. But I was one step closer. One victory at a time.