The moment Nyxara's paws touched solid ground, her massive form slowed to a halt. She let out a low, discontented growl.
"It feels like we're walking inside the sun," she muttered, whiskers twitching as she looked up at the moonless night sky. "Why is it so hot? The sun's gone, but the heat's still punching me in the face."
Alex stepped off her back, the soles of his boots crunching against scorched gravel. He didn't reply immediately. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon as waves of heat shimmered off every surface, making even the ruins seem to breathe.
They had arrived—Europe. Or rather, what was once Italy, now swallowed by the Firebird's domain.
The night air should have been cool, but instead, it felt like they were standing inside an oven. Even compared to pre-transformation Egypt—which had once been 96% desert before Khepri and the Earth God reshaped it into a tropical sanctuary—this place was worse.
