The New Recruit and the Hidden Horizon

  Having witnessed the desolation of Sector A2, Denki made his decision. He looked at the pleading humanoid dog and agreed to let him join, but with a strict condition: he would serve as their "bag man" for now.

  "If trouble starts, you better be good at hiding if you want to stay alive," Denki warned. Grekknark, clutching his heavy axe, added a grimmer threat: "You’ll lose your breath the moment you try to double-cross us with our gear".

  Terrified but grateful, the newcomer introduced himself as Fodio Gandruk, a 26-year-old former mercenary. "Since I have no weapons, I’ll carry everything for you, bosses!" he promised. Fodio revealed that he was an ex-member of the Medallion Dog Mercenary Corp, but his entire unit had been wiped out in a previous mission. His only goal now was to stay safe with people he could trust, fearing nothing more than being alone again.

  As they began their trek back to the Yvonary fortress, Denki turned to his childhood friends. "What Roshlann said was true," he remarked, recalling the mysterious advice about the world beyond the mountains. "But I want to see it for ourselves." Fodio chimed in, confirming their suspicions. "There are many other sectors and regions, more dangerous and vast than this. The further you go, the deadlier it becomes". While Brendarg looked at him with skepticism, Fodio only offered a nervous, knowing smile.

  The group returned to the Yvonary Empire to sell their looted goods and rest. Upon reaching the gates, they were greeted by a fellow apprentice who was amazed that they had already seen combat. Inside, Fodio was wide-eyed, seeing the grand stone and pipe pillars of the wolf kingdom for the first time.

  At the market, they equipped Fodio with a bow, the finest ranged weapon available, as firearms were non-existent in Yvonary. This prompted Fodio to tell them about the Maski Mechs Merchants (M.M.M). "They have advanced weapons you can't find here," Fodio explained. "They even deal in slaves, but if it's firepower you're after, that's the place to go".

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  That night, restlessness kept Denki awake. As he wandered the fortress streets, Fodio followed. "I'm coming with you, boss, so you can see I’m not doing anything shady behind your back. " They talked about the journey ahead, specifically what lay beyond Sector A3. Fodio’s warnings were bleak: "Even groups of ten often return with only seven survivors." Instead of fear, a fire ignited within Denki. He gazed at the stars, more determined than ever to find the one he was looking for.

  Their conversation was interrupted by an announcement in the plaza. A group of independent travelers warriors not bound by the Yvonary crown, were preparing for an expedition.

  Denki approached their leader and asked to join. The leader gave a cold reply: "You can come, but your lives aren't our priority. You fight for yourselves or alongside us, but we don't carry extra weight."

  "Deal," Denki responded without hesitation. They were told to meet at the plaza at dawn.

  Denki rushed back to tell Brendarg and Grekknark, his excitement contagious. "The more of us there are, the more power we have on the road!" he exclaimed. Fodio nodded in agreement, and the three childhood friends felt a new surge of energy. Their real journey was finally beginning.