Ren stepped out from the shadowed confines of the filthy alleyway, his boots crunching on shattered glass and discarded wrappers. The narrow passage had been a maze of overflowing dumpsters, rats scurrying in the dim light, and the stench of decay that clung to his clothes like a second skin.
He paused at the edge, shielding his eyes from the sudden burst of harsh sunlight. And then, the big reveal hit him like a slap in the face.
Before him sprawled the main road of New Norbata City, a chaotic sprawl that screamed desperation and survival. It looked nothing like the old Norbata. Instead, it reminded him of a lawless frontier where the weak got trampled and the strong barely hung on.
Crumbling buildings lined the street. Metal signs decorated the road, advertising long-gone luxuries like "Fresh Water Here" or "Public Bathroom." The air buzzed with the distant hum of generators and the sharp crack of gunfire echoing from side streets.
