Retrieval

The barren landscape stretched endlessly before Alex as he set off across the desolate planet, his pace relentless despite the heat beating down on him. 

The sun, harsh and merciless, cast a glare across the cracked earth, turning the horizon into a shimmering blur. 

The planet's voice, no longer the broken, anguished cry it had been earlier, pulsed softly in the back of his mind.

"Five locations." 

Alex muttered to himself, pushing through the oppressive desert heat. His resolve was firm, his purpose clear. 

He had made a promise to the planet, and now it was time to make good on it.

It didn't take long before Alex encountered the first group of Red Demons, a small patrol scouring the dunes for any signs of intrusion. 

They hadn't noticed him yet, and Alex seized the opportunity. His grip tightened around Virtue's Edge, his sword glowing faintly with the power it had absorbed over the years.