Era of Players: Death God

The highway stretched out before them like a shimmering ribbon, the last rays of the setting sun painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and red. As they left the city behind, the landscape gradually transformed from a sprawl of buildings and concrete to a tapestry of scrubland and rolling hills.

The air grew warmer, a stark contrast to the crisp mountain air they were accustomed to just hours earlier.

Reaching the designated trailhead, they unloaded their bikes and gear. The desert sprawled before them in all its vastness – a seemingly endless expanse of sand, dotted with cacti and sculpted by the relentless wind. A lone raven circled overhead, its harsh cry the only sound breaking the silence.

Noah, a seasoned bikepacker, expertly unpacked his gear, assembling his bike with practiced ease. He helped Arthur with his bike, offering tips on adjusting the seat height and tire pressure for the demanding terrain ahead. Their backpacks, laden with supplies, felt heavy on their shoulders, a constant reminder of their self-reliance in this desolate environment.

With a final check of their equipment, they mounted their bikes, a nervous excitement buzzing in their chests.

Noah took a deep breath, tasting the dry air and the grit of anticipation.

"Ready, Arthur?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper against the vastness.

Arthur, usually the more easygoing of the two, seemed uncharacteristically tense. He fiddled with his gloves, then met Noah's gaze.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he replied, a hint of a tremor in his voice. The stark beauty of the desert, both thrilling and intimidating, settled over them like a tangible presence.

With a silent nod, Noah pushed off first, his tires sinking slightly into the soft sand. Arthur followed close behind, the rhythmic crunch of their tires on the desert floor the only sound breaking the spellbinding silence.

They rode their bikes in companionable silence, the rhythm of their engines a steady heartbeat against the vastness. The desert landscape unfolded before them, a tapestry of shifting sands and the occasional rocky outcrop, bathed in the cool, ethereal glow of the moon. Arthur, initially tense, found himself relaxing into the rhythm of the ride.

The worries of the city seemed to melt away with every mile they covered.

Hours melted into the night, marked only by the occasional check of their compass and the silent exchange of water bottles. Finally, with fatigue tugging at their limbs, they decided to make camp. Spotting a cluster of weathered boulders, they steered their bikes towards them, the promise of shelter a welcome sight.

The desert night deepened as they pitched their tents, the canvas snapping taut in the dry breeze. Arthur announced,

"Alright, I've got some trail magic planned. How does a hot meal sound?"

Noah, grateful for the break from setting up camp, grinned.

"Sounds like just what the desert doctor ordered. What are you whipping up?"

Arthur rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a dented mess kit and a small, compact camp stove.

"Tonight's menu is a one-pot wonder," he declared, brandishing a foil packet filled with pre-cut vegetables and a pouch of seasoned rice.

"Just add water and simmer. Easy, filling, and perfect for a desert night."

As the water bubbled on the stove, casting a warm glow on their faces, Arthur set about unpacking the rest of their dinner. He revealed a small bag of dehydrated fruit salad and a package of pre-cooked sausages, perfect for grilling over the campfire they were starting to build.

Noah, meanwhile, busied himself gathering fallen branches and twigs, the satisfying crackle of dry wood soon adding to the desert symphony.

With the campfire crackling merrily, Arthur skewered the sausages and held them over the flames. The smoky aroma mingled with the earthy scent of desert sage, making their mouths water. Soon, the sausages were perfectly browned and glistening, ready to be devoured alongside the steaming pot of rice and vegetables.

They settled onto the camping mat, their meal forming a simple but satisfying centerpiece. As they dug in, the silence was broken only by the satisfying clinking of utensils and the contented sighs of tired men. The vastness of the desert stretched out around them, the Milky Way ablaze in the inky black sky.

The flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the nearby cacti, and a distant coyote howled its mournful song.

Despite the simplicity of the meal, it tasted exceptional under the desert sky. In the company of a friend, surrounded by the raw beauty of nature, every bite felt like a small victory, a testament to their self-reliance and the shared adventure that lay ahead.

After polishing off their meal, a comfortable silence settled between them, punctuated only by the crackling fire. Noah, his gaze drawn upwards, finally spoke. "Mind if I take a peek at the stars?" he asked, reaching into his backpack.

Arthur followed his friend's gaze, noticing a sleek, cylindrical case propped against the pack. "Didn't know you brought a telescope," he admitted, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Noah chuckled. "Always good to be prepared, especially on a night like this." With practiced ease, he unfolded the tripod and carefully assembled the telescope, a glint of childlike wonder in his eyes.

As the last embers of their fire cast dancing shadows, Noah positioned the telescope and peered through the eyepiece. "Come take a look," he beckoned, his voice filled with excitement.

Arthur shuffled closer, a little hesitant at first. He peered through the eyepiece, and a gasp escaped his lips. The familiar, twinkling dots from his naked eye view had transformed. He was staring at a radiant crater on the moon's surface, the details sharp and clear.

"Wow," he breathed, his voice filled with awe.

Noah grinned, his enthusiasm infectious. "See that cluster to the right? That's the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. Beautiful, isn't it?"

Arthur continued to peer through the lens, enthralled as Noah pointed out constellations and distant planets, their names rolling off his tongue with a practiced ease. Each celestial wonder was a new revelation, a testament to the vastness and mystery of the universe.

As the night deepened, and the desert air grew colder, they took turns gazing at the stars. The telescope, a bridge between them and the cosmos, became a focal point for shared wonder and a reminder of the awe-inspiring beauty that surrounded them.

"Hey Noah, have you realized that once our day off concludes, our next topic of discussion will revolve around the competition among students and dungeons?" Arthur interjected, catching Noah's attention and causing him to divert his gaze from the stars through his telescope.

"Yeah, it does seem like that's what's in store for us. I've overheard some students discussing it," Noah replied.

''Let's make a bet, if you perform better I'll do anything your order me to for a day.'' Arthur suddenly made this suggestion.

Noah smiled in response.

''Why not, it's a deal!"

[Ding! New mission, be the first in your next competition.

Rewards: +5 in all stats, 10.000 Gold and a treasure chest!]

Noah was shocked by the last part of the rewards, he had never heard of treasure chest being given by the system before, probably a new feature after its upgrade. He couldn't help but looks forward to this competition.

''What is your current rank?'' Arthur asked him and Noah responded with his shoulders shrugged.

''Expert!"

''Wow! As expected of the Spear of Destruction!"

Although he was half expecting this Arthur couldn't help but be shocked by Noah's fast progress and here he was thinking with his level 38, he was closer to the next rank than most of his peers.

Noah glared at Arthur.

''My father has nothing to do with my fast progress.''

''Okay okay, my bad I shouldn't have said that.'' Arthur corrected himself.

Afterward they continued to watch the stars.

Noah chuckled, recognizing the familiar glint in his friend's eye. "Sounds perfect. What's the occasion?"

"Celebrating a successful first day," Arthur declared, unscrewing the flask and offering it to Noah. "Desert conquered, delicious meal consumed, and a universe of stars explored. Seems like a cause for a toast."

Noah took a swig, the smooth warmth spreading through him. "To the desert," he said, raising the flask in a silent salute to the vast landscape that surrounded them. The desert, once a daunting unknown, now felt like the beginning of an extraordinary adventure.

The silence that followed was filled with a deep sense of camaraderie, the kind that comes from shared experiences and a reliance on each other.

As the fire died down to embers, casting long shadows that danced across the sand, a comfortable drowsiness settled over them. Yawning, Noah stretched his stiff muscles. "Think it's time to hit the hay," he mumbled.

Arthur nodded in agreement. "Long day. But a good one," he said, packing away the flask. They crawled into their tents, the rhythmic hum of the desert wind a gentle lullaby. Under the vast tapestry of stars, they drifted off to sleep, their dreams filled with rolling dunes and the promise of adventure that lay ahead.