The desert at night was no less merciless than during the day. The sun might leave the sky, but in its place came a lethal cold, biting at the flesh as if trying to strip the soul from the bones. The wind howled, whispering with voices from unseen realms, while the stars above shimmered—silent witnesses to everything that unfolded in this forsaken land.

  Vierd, fully aware of this, did not stop. He walked alone, his steps steady on the cold sand, undeterred by the darkness. This was not his first journey across the desert, but tonight was different.

  He was approaching the Gate.

  A few hours ago, rumors had spread: a new Gate had appeared on the desert’s edge, its destination unknown. Every time a Gate opened, there was danger, opportunity, and bloodshed. There were no rules governing these phenomena—only chaos in its purest form.

  As he drew closer, something unusual caught his attention. Not far ahead, a fire flickered, casting long shadows. Around it sat three men in silence. They were not desert nomads—this was obvious from their leather armor and the swords strapped to their waists.

  A moment passed before they noticed him. One of them, a man with a faint beard and a scar over his left eyebrow, narrowed his eyes before speaking in a low voice.

  "Stop."

  Vierd didn’t stop.

  The man stood, gripping the hilt of his sword. Only then did Vierd decide to speak.

  "If you want to fight, I won’t stop you."

  His voice was neither threatening nor friendly—just plain, carrying a harsh truth within. The man hesitated for a moment before letting out a short chuckle, relaxing his grip.

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  "It’s unwise to kill someone who might be useful inside the Gate."

  Vierd said nothing, glancing briefly at the fire before continuing his path. He had no interest in alliances or friendships, but that didn’t stop the man from speaking again.

  "If you’re heading for the Gate, we might as well go together. No one knows what’s inside."

  This time, Vierd paused slightly. Fighting monsters inside the Gates wasn’t the same as fighting humans. Some creatures couldn’t be killed easily, some places were unknown, and the rules were never the same. Having extra fighters could be useful—but at the same time, it meant more competition for the spoils.

  After a moment of thought, he replied in a calm voice.

  "Stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours."

  The man smirked but said nothing more.

  After hours of walking, the group finally reached their destination.

  There, in the heart of the desert, a massive black Gate stood between the rocks—like an open wound in the fabric of the world. It had no doors, only a swirling vortex of darkness at its center, resembling a sky without stars.

  Others were already waiting. Some were well-armed, while others wore ragged clothing, but their eyes all shared the same look—greed and fear.

  "Has anyone gone in and come back?" one of the men near the Gate asked.

  Another replied in a low voice. "No one."

  At moments like these, it became clear who was a coward and who was reckless. Some people began backing away slowly, while others stepped forward without hesitation.

  Vierd was not the type to retreat.

  Taking a deep breath, he stepped toward the Gate. The moment his hand touched its edge, something pulled him inside.

  There was no sensation of falling, no pain—just a sudden transition.

  When he regained awareness, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar place.

  The sky was red, as if drenched in blood. The ground beneath his feet was not sand but black stone, dry and cracked as if it had been burned for thousands of years.

  From the distance, he heard sounds—not human voices, but something else. Something that lived here.

  Vierd exhaled slowly.

  "So… this is the place."

  His hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he prepared himself.

  Because everything ahead of him now… was an unknown world, filled with nothing but death.