The Sons of Calydon find themselves deep in a Hollow within the Outer Ring—a warped, shimmering pocket of Ether corruption. The air hums with static, and jagged rocks float midair, casting eerie shadows under a sickly purple sky. Caesar stands at the edge of a cracked platform, gripping her sword tightly.

Caesar: “Stay sharp, everyone. This place reeks of trouble.”

Her green hair flutters as she scans the horizon, spotting twisted Ether mutants lurking in the distance. Lucy, adjusting her grip on her flaming bat, snaps,

Lucy: “Trouble? You dragged us in here for some ‘shortcut,’ Caesar! Now we’re stuck.”

She kicks a hovering pebble, sending it spinning into the void, her red hair bristling with frustration. Piper leans against Steeltusk, parked nearby, twirling her wrench lazily.

“Relax, Lucy. I’ve seen worse. Engine’s holding, but this Ether’s clogging the filters.” Her voice is calm, but she squints at the truck, worried about the strain. Lighter, cracking his knuckles, grins.

Lighter: “Let ‘em come. I could use a warmup.”

He steps forward, gauntlets gleaming, eyeing the mutants.

Burnice, bouncing on her toes, ignites her flamethrower pistols with a cackle.

Burnice: “Ooh, barbecue time!”

She fires a burst into the air, flames licking the distorted rocks, drawing a groan from Lucy.

Lucy: “Stop wasting fuel, you pyro!”

Pulchra, clutching her pistol nervously, sticks close to Piper. pulchra: “Are they always like this?”

Piper nods Piper: “Yep. You’ll get used to it, kid.”

She pats Pulchra’s shoulder, steadying her.

Amid the chaos, they bicker and laugh, carving a path through the Hollow, their bond as unbreakable as the Outer Ring’s endless roads.