At first, the adventurers paid no attention to the strange, flame-scorched smell hanging in the air. On this wasteland that had once witnessed a godslaying war, countless bizarre odors had long since numbed outsiders' senses. Synthetic substances flowing from underground factories, pipeline networks, and industrial material pools, along with gas wells and liquid storage facilities that were still burning to this day, released scents every second that kept Laura and her companions on edge. After who knew how many false alarms, the adventurers' first reaction was that some industrial facility nearby had probably sprung another leak.
However, as the strange scent in the air grew stronger, the adventurers' vigilance finally awakened. Laura instinctively stopped, and countless fine, intricate dark-red patterns emerged across the surface of the enchanted shortbow in her hand. A one-handed swordsman walking beside her raised his sword into a guarded stance and quietly warned the others, "Something isn't right... I can feel something gathering..."
"Stay alert!" The two-handed swordsman serving as temporary leader raised an arm at the front. This experienced adventurer had already caught the scent of approaching danger. "The elements are concentrating... There's an invisible rift nearby!"
Elements?
Almost instantly, Laura turned her gaze toward Modir, perhaps the strongest spellcaster in the group. Though all Supernatural Beings could sense the flow of magic and Elemental Power, only mages were true experts in the realm of elements. This experienced old gentleman would surely be able to make a tremendous difference now!
Yet the moment her gaze swept over, she saw Old Modir merely standing there in a daze—he seemed to have slipped into that absent-minded state again.
"Damn it... Modir!" Laura immediately grew anxious. Forgetting all manners toward an elder, she called out at once, "Stop spacing out! Something's wrong!"
Modir jolted awake from his distraction.