The Howling Plains faded into the rearview mirror, but the relief was short-lived.
Ahead of the Pendelton Cruiser, the Ironwood Forest loomed like a fortress wall made of nature.
These weren't normal trees. They were ancient oaks and pines that had absorbed the heavy metallic particulates from the soil for centuries. Their bark was grey and hard as cast iron. Their leaves were sharp, metallic slivers that chimed in the wind like a thousand tiny bells.
Arthur brought the car to a halt at the tree line. The massive rubber tires crunched over the hard, metallic soil.
"Damage report," Arthur called out, flipping switches on the overhead console.
Zack pulled the iScrolls out of the lead-lined glovebox. He pressed the power rune. The screen flickered, then stabilized.
"System rebooting," Zack said, adjusting his glasses. "The Runeware seems intact. The quartz wafers didn't crack during the storm. Map data is loading."
