The next day, the group traveled across a vast, rocky plain. The ground was uneven, littered with jagged stones and patches of dry, brittle grass that crunched underfoot. The sky was a pale, washed-out blue, and the air was thick with the scent of dust and the faint metallic tang of ore. The Wagon-Fortress rolled steadily forward, its treads grinding against the rocky terrain, while the Steam Sentinels patrolled the perimeter, their glowing eyes scanning for threats.

  Pip rode on the roof, her Aether Compass in hand, while Aelin and Borin kept watch from the sides. Hale walked alongside the fortress, his movements light and agile, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Victor’s core pulsed steadily, his presence felt through the faint hum of the Wagon-Fortress’s systems.

  “This place gives me the creeps,” Borin muttered, his hammer resting on his shoulder. “Too open. Too quiet.”

  “Quiet’s better than the alternative,” Aelin replied, her voice sharp as she adjusted her grip on her bow.

  Pip glanced up from her compass. “I’m not picking up any mana signatures nearby, but that doesn’t mean we’re alone. Stay alert.”

  No sooner had the words left her mouth than a low, guttural growl echoed across the plain. The group froze, their eyes darting to the source of the sound. From behind a cluster of boulders, a pack of Shadow Stalkers emerged—feral, wolf-like creatures with fur as black as night and eyes that glowed like embers. Their movements were fluid and predatory, their growls low and menacing as they circled the group.

  “Stay close!” Aelin shouted, her bow drawn and ready.

  The Shadow Stalkers moved with unnerving coordination, their glowing eyes fixed on the group. Borin raised his hammer, his muscles tense as he scanned the pack for the first sign of attack.

  “Victor, we need to move!” Pip said, her voice tinged with panic as she clutched her gadget tightly.

  But before Victor could respond, Hale stepped forward, a pair of daggers gleaming in his hands. “Wait. I’ve dealt with these things before. They’re fast, but they hate fire.”

  “Fire?” Borin asked, his tone skeptical. “What good’s that going to do out here?”

  Hale grinned, his green eyes glinting with confidence. “Watch and learn.”

  He reached into his belt and pulled out a small vial of Fire Oil, which he quickly applied to the blades of his daggers. With a swift motion, he struck the daggers together, the friction igniting the oil. The blades burst into flames, casting flickering light across the rocky plain.

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  The Shadow Stalkers hesitated, their glowing eyes narrowing as they recoiled from the flames. Hale didn’t wait for them to regroup. With a fluid, almost dance-like motion, he darted forward, his movements quick and precise. He slashed at the nearest Stalker, the flaming blade cutting deep into its side. The creature howled as the fire spread across its fur, its movements growing sluggish before it collapsed.

  The other Stalkers snarled, their glowing eyes darting between Hale and the rest of the group. For a moment, it seemed they might retreat, but then one of them lunged at Aelin.

  “Now!” Hale shouted.

  Aelin’s arrows flew, striking the Stalkers with unerring accuracy. One arrow pierced a Stalker’s eye, dropping it instantly, while another found its mark in a creature’s throat. Borin charged into the fray, his hammer swinging in wide arcs. The impact of each blow sent shockwaves through the rocky ground, and the Stalkers’ bones crunched under the force.

  Victor’s Steam Sentinels moved to protect Pip, their piston-powered fists slamming into any Stalker that got too close. The mechanical guardians were relentless, their glowing eyes scanning for threats as they crushed skulls and shattered spines.

  Pip, meanwhile, stayed close to the Wagon-Fortress, her hands busy with a small device. She leaned in slightly, her voice low as she spoke to Victor through the comm system. “Victor, we’ve got the Mobile Defense Unit ready. Should I deploy it? It could turn the tide in seconds.”

  Victor’s core pulsed with hesitation. “Not yet,” he replied, his voice calm but firm. “Let’s keep that as a last resort. I’d rather Hale not know about it for now.”

  Pip nodded, though her expression showed a flicker of concern. “Understood. But if things get worse…”

  “I’ll let you know,” Victor assured her.

  The battle was fierce but brief. Within minutes, the pack was defeated, their bodies littering the rocky ground. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the crackling of Hale’s flaming daggers and the faint hum of the Wagon-Fortress’s systems.

  Hale twirled his daggers before sheathing them, his breathing steady despite the exertion. “Told you they hate fire.”

  Borin grunted, wiping blood from his hammer. “Lucky for us, you had that trick up your sleeve.”

  Hale shrugged. “Call it a thank you for patching me up. Besides, I’ve got a vested interest in keeping you all alive—at least until we reach my convoy.”

  Aelin lowered her bow, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. “This isn’t over. Shadow Stalkers don’t usually travel in packs this large. Something’s driving them.”

  Victor’s core pulsed with concern. “We need to keep moving. If there are more of them out there, we can’t afford to stay in one place.”

  Pip nodded, her face pale but determined. “I’ll keep scanning for mana signatures. If there’s anything else out there, we’ll know before it gets close.”

  As the group regrouped and prepared to move on, Victor couldn’t shake the feeling that the attack was just the beginning. The rocky plain was vast and unforgiving, and the dangers lurking in its shadows were far from defeated.