The train doors hissed open.
Zain stepped out first, scanning the sector.
CE-3 was a different beast than the cleaner upper zones.
The streets were cracked and half the buildings had scorch marks or collapsed upper floors.
Faint sirens echoed in the distance.
Patrol drones hovered overhead but didn't stop them.
Stoneclaw walked beside him, flashing his Hero Association test card at a checkpoint guard.
The guard glanced at both IDs, then waved them through without a word.
Zain glanced around. "This place smells like rot."
Stoneclaw chuckled.
"CE-3. Third-level danger zone. Mostly C-Rank villains and mutated creatures."
"A few B-Rank ones hiding in the alleys. Stay sharp."
Zain raised an eyebrow.
"Mutated creatures? You mean monsters?"
Stoneclaw looked at him.
"Yeah. You've never run into one?"
Zain shook his head.
"First time hearing about them, actually."
Stoneclaw paused mid-step. "Wait, seriously?"
