The sky above the endless Ufrifan desert was bleeding. Deep, bruised hues of crimson, burning orange, and violent violet tore across the horizon, casting long, distorted shadows over the shifting dunes. The sun was almost down, sinking agonizingly slowly into the earth, yet it seemed as though the celestial body had deliberately stopped its descent, pausing to witness the impossible outcome of the confrontation about to unfold.
At the epicenter of the desolate basin, the massive crater smoked. Hide stood perfectly balanced on the jagged rim of the displaced sand. The jagged, eight-pointed crown of dark metal sat upon his forehead, his glowing blue eyes piercing through the settling dust, ringed with an ancient, lethal violet light.
