David was in power restraints and being transported to the Rift site in an armored prison truck. Gazing through the reinforced, narrow, netted windows, he could observe only the looming skyscrapers and the late afternoon sun slithering away with each fleeting moment.

The world, he reflected upon, had undergone a profound transformation in just a few short years.

“Ah, so much for the first adventure,” he mused, reflecting on how the protocols that restrained and transported him like a criminal now seemed to overshadow his initial excitement.

He lowered his head with a gloomy expression on his face. His legs bent high, and he stared through the visible space between his knees, pondering how he could manage to survive venturing into the Rift alone.

He was abruptly jarred by the sudden braking as the truck stopped at the Rift site that had recently appeared. The muted cadence of the officers' footsteps reached his ears, growing louder until they finally opened the truck’s rear doors to escort him out.

At last, before him lay a Rift, brimming with light and pulsing with continuous energy surges, allowing luminous rays of mysterious origin to emerge through the fissures. The Rift site was enclosed by barrier tape and marked with caution signs, delineating the area of potential danger.

To his astonishment, the Rift was teeming with people. He observed numerous RiftWalkers adorned in gleaming armor and wielding lethal weapons, all seemingly prepared to venture into the Rift themselves.

With a subsequent glance, his eyes settled upon a trio of prisoners also standing amidst the crowd.

David realized he wasn’t venturing into the Rift alone as he had thought, which gave him a slight sense of relief, until the RiftWalkers piercing gazes fell upon him, their faces full of anger and disdain. Perhaps it was the norm in this society to look down upon prisoners in such a way.

"Captain Zack, here is the last prisoner you are to take into the Rifts with your group. You have been assigned by the Walkers Association to supervise these inmates along with your own team," the officer shouted loudly toward the crowd.

Hearing the loud shouting that even Captain Zack could not ignore, he turned his head. Standing tall and lean, he appeared to be in his late thirties. His golden hair, coupled with his gleaming armor, conferred upon him an air of distinguished allure and formidable presence.

He gave the officer a charismatic smile that could convince anyone of his benevolent nature and gestured for him to bring David toward the crowd.

Assuming the officer was addressing him as "Captain," David quickly understood that Zack was the lead for this journey. He felt neutral, knowing that there might be a chance of leniency.

The officer left David with the other inmates, still restrained, and asked Captain Zack, "What are we waiting for?" to which he replied, "Our group's healer."

As he finished speaking, a feminine voice emerged from behind, saying, "I hope I'm not late," as she caught her breath. The group, including David, turned to see a young woman with striking red hair, armor plates on her shoulders, and long, ample clothing that covered her entire body.

"Her eyes are as sharp as a knife," David thought, finding them attractive, but he turned his head back.

"Lizzie, it's alright. You’re right on time," Captain Zack responded.

A man dressed in black brought a device that resembled a meter for detecting the energy levels of the Rift. It was roughly the size of a small car battery.

As he brought the device near the Rift, it began to click at a slow pace, making a sound. "The procedure is complete; we'll classify it as a D-Rank Rift. You are all allowed to enter now," he said, taking a few steps back and standing aside.

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“All right, everyone, you are now under my command. Before we enter, make sure that everyone and everything is accounted for. The prisoners are to remain at the rear, and be considerate of one another. We don’t know what kind of world we will encounter, but let’s support each other and, as always, have a good hunt,” Captain Zack declared.

He turned around and touched the Rift, and in an instant, his physical form transformed into radiant light and was pulled into the Rift. The others followed, one by one, until it was David's turn.

All of this was still unfamiliar to David. Hesitantly, he raised his hand and touched the Rift. Like the others, his body instantly transformed into radiant light and was pulled into the Rift.

David felt as though he were traversing the vast expanse of the cosmos, disembodied, until he reached a brilliant light at the journey's end. The entire experience unfolded in a mere instant.

Thud !

David, feeling disoriented, managed to pick himself up and soon realized he had tumbled onto a small hill, surrounded by an unbroken expanse of desert that extended endlessly to the horizon.

As extraordinary as it was, it was impossible to miss. It was a world of two suns, an unmistakable sight that struck the eye at once.

After David, the remaining inmates arrived, streaming in like pouring water. At this moment, the prisoners were to be freed from their restraints, but Captain Zack deemed it unnecessary until the need arose.

The entire group began to descend the small, rocky hill, each step echoing with the sound of crushing stones, until they reached the edge where the desert stretched out before them.

The desert was bathed in the light of two suns, with its sand burning as though it were the core of a planet.

The captain effortlessly extracted a thick rock slab from the small hill using his earth power. The entire group stepped onto it, and another member used his nature power to touch the rocky floor, causing thick plants to grow and provide shade.

Lastly, Lizzie was responsible for extending a five-meter healing barrier to prevent anyone from becoming exhausted or dehydrated from the intense heat.

However, it was not much of a surprise to the prisoners that they were not allowed to stand on the rocky slab formed by the Captain. They believed that society’s judgment still required them to endure suffering for their crimes.

Regardless of their behavior, David was still astounded by their group coordination along with their experience and how they managed to turn a hopeless situation into a walk in the park.

Captain Zack looked around to determine in which direction to proceed. Noticing some ruins and tall stones at a large distance, he began moving the rock slab toward them, using the shade provided by the plants they had grown.

David was forced to walk across the burning sand with no shade and power restraints still on. He lagged behind, along with the other prisoners, who were also suffering through the harsh environment and the hostility of the group.

The group stopped after a while. David could see Captain Zack approaching from a distance and thought he would finally receive his help. As Zack closed the gap, David noticed with his narrowed eyes, which he struggled to keep open against the searing glare of the two blazing suns.

Captain Zack reached David and, without any warning,

Whack !

He delivered a powerful lever blow to David.

Taken by surprise, the blunt force to his liver caused David excruciating pain, incapacitating him instantly. He collapsed onto the burning sand.

“The journey hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already proving to be a hassle,” Captain Zack asserted with a smiling face and his eyes half-closed.

“Let me make this clear, you’re not getting any help from us. If you want to survive, you need to keep up. If you fall behind again, I won’t stop to help you like I did this time,” he spat near David’s face on the sand and returned to the group.

Unable to remain any longer on the scorching sand, David forced himself to his feet and began to catch up with the group. Initially, his movements were slow and labored, but as the searing pain in his side gradually subsided, he managed to regain his pace.

Determined not to fall behind again, he persevered through the discomfort and matched the group’s speed, his resolve strengthened by Captain Zack’s harsh words.

“When shit hits the fan, you’ll be the first to die,” David intoned in his mind regarding Zack.

“Consider this a lesson from someone who once bullied others, took pride in his power, and always looked down on them.” he continued.

By now, the soles of David’s shoes had begun to burn from the intense heat of the sand. He was completely dehydrated, his throat parched and his skin dry and cracked.

The oppressive heat seemed to press down on him, making each step a struggle. It felt as though he might collapse at any moment, his vision blurring and his strength waning as he desperately tried to keep walking.

With his hands bound together by power restraints, David trudged through the middle of the desert.

He felt as if he were a slave being sold from one market to another in the deserts of ancient Egypt. The power restraints chafed painfully against his wrists, and the feeling of helplessness and dehumanization had started to creep in, amplifying his sense of despair and isolation.

Until his attention was diverted by a prisoner behind him, who suddenly began sprinting to the side and shouting something. The prisoner’s frantic actions broke the monotony of the desert, hinting at a possible threat or opportunity.