Reborn as a Space Mercenary: From Salaryman to Galactic Legend

The desert was a harsh and unrelenting master. As Ethan stepped out of the ruins, clutching the molecular dagger firmly in his hand, he was greeted by a roar of wind that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The sandstorm had arrived, and it was as if the desert itself had been waiting for him.

The air was thick with swirling sand, blotting out the sunlight and casting the landscape in a murky, golden haze. The ruins behind him seemed to shudder and groan as the storm raged, their jagged spires vanishing into the wall of sand as though swallowed whole.

Iris chimed in over the comms, her voice distorted by interference. "Warning: Visibility reduced to less than five meters. Strong electromagnetic activity detected. Recommend immediate shelter."

Ethan glanced back at the entrance to the ruins. It would have been a safer option to wait out the storm there, but something about the pulsating energy within made him hesitate. The ruins weren't just a relic of a forgotten civilization, they were alive in ways he couldn't yet comprehend. Staying inside felt wrong, as if the ruins had given him what he came for and no longer welcomed him.

"No time for shelter," Ethan muttered, adjusting the helmet's visor to compensate for the reduced visibility. "We move."

The first steps out of the ruins felt like walking into a warzone. The storm howled with a ferocity that rattled his armor, sending gusts of sand whipping against him. The abrasive particles battered his suit, creating a constant patter of impacts. Ethan was thankful for the advanced protective systems of his gear, but even they couldn't fully shield him from the storm's unrelenting assault.

Every step was a battle against the wind, the sand threatening to bury his boots with each movement. Ethan activated his suit's navigation system, but the storm's electromagnetic interference rendered the compass and GPS useless.

"Damn it," he hissed. "Iris, can you recalibrate the system?"

"Negative," Iris replied. "Electromagnetic interference exceeds operational thresholds. Manual navigation is advised."

Ethan sighed, shielding his face as another powerful gust sent waves of sand swirling around him. He looked for any recognizable landmarks, anything that could guide him back to the hover truck. But the desert was featureless in the storm, a swirling chaos of gold and red.

As he trudged forward, Ethan felt the dagger grow warm against his side, where it was strapped to his belt. He paused, pulling it free. The carvings along its blade pulsed faintly, casting a soft glow that cut through the haze of the storm. The light didn't just illuminate his immediate surroundings, it seemed to highlight a faint path through the chaos, a subtle trail etched into the sand by forces beyond his understanding.

"You're full of surprises," Ethan murmured, holding the blade out in front of him.

The dagger's light pulsed steadily, almost like a heartbeat, guiding him forward. It was as if the weapon itself was alive, attuned to something in the storm that he couldn't perceive. Ethan followed the glow, his movements more purposeful now, though the storm continued to fight him at every turn.

The storm wasn't the only threat. As Ethan pressed on, the sand beneath his feet shifted unnaturally. A low, guttural growl rose above the howling wind, sending a shiver down his spine. He turned, his hand tightening around the dagger.

From the swirling sands emerged a massive, sinewy creature, its body covered in jagged scales that glistened like obsidian. Its eyes glowed faintly, and its maw opened to reveal rows of serrated teeth. Behind it, more shapes began to materialize, hulking beasts stirred by the storm, their movements deliberate and predatory.

"Because, of course, it gets worse," Ethan muttered.

The first creature lunged, its massive claws cutting through the air with terrifying speed. Ethan reacted instinctively, his reflexes heightened by the faint psychic resonance that lingered in his mind. He sidestepped the attack and brought the dagger up in a fluid motion.

The blade cut through the creature's hide effortlessly, leaving a glowing, seared wound in its wake. The beast roared in pain, its movements growing erratic as it thrashed against the sandstorm.

Another creature charged from the side. Ethan spun, using the dagger to deflect its claws before driving the blade into its chest. The glow from the carvings pulsed brighter with each strike, as if feeding on the energy of the storm and the creatures themselves.

The fight was brutal and unrelenting. The creatures came in waves, their sheer size and ferocity testing Ethan's endurance. He moved with a precision that surprised even himself, his strikes swift and decisive. The dagger became an extension of his will, its power guiding his actions as much as his own instincts.

When the last of the creatures fell, Ethan stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The sandstorm showed no signs of abating, the wind whipping around him with relentless fury.

As he turned to continue his journey, a familiar figure appeared in the distance. The pale stranger stood motionless, his hollow eyes fixed on Ethan. The storm swirled around him, yet he seemed unaffected by its chaos.

Ethan felt a surge of frustration and curiosity. "You again," he called out, his voice muffled by the wind. "What's going on here? Who are you?"

The stranger didn't answer. He raised a hand, gesturing toward Ethan with a faint smile that was neither warm nor cold. It was a gesture of acknowledgment, as if to say, "You've done well."

Then, without a word, the stranger turned and walked away, disappearing into the swirling sands as though he had never been there.

Ethan stared after him, his grip tightening on the dagger. "One day, I'll get a straight answer from you if we ever meet again."

The journey back to the hover truck was grueling. The storm's ferocity made every step an ordeal, the sand and wind sapping his strength. The dagger's light continued to guide him, though its glow grew fainter with each passing moment, as if its power was tied to the ruins he had left behind.

When Ethan finally reached the truck, it was half-buried in sand, its exterior scoured by the storm. He climbed into the driver's seat, his muscles aching and his mind reeling from the events of the day.

Iris's voice crackled to life. "Electromagnetic interference has subsided. Systems recalibrating."

"About time," Ethan muttered, brushing sand off his armor. He started the truck, the engine groaning to life as he maneuvered it out of the sand.

As the storm began to dissipate, Ethan glanced back toward the ruins. To his surprise, the towering monolith at the center of the site was gone, as if it had been swallowed by the desert itself.

"What the hell is going on here?" he murmured, gripping the dagger tightly.

Ethan returned to Valeris as the sun set, the desert's golden hues giving way to the cool blues of twilight. The dagger hung at his side, its weight both comforting and ominous.

The questions in his mind were endless. Who was the pale stranger? What was the true purpose of the dagger? And what role did he have to play in the unfolding chaos on Kynara?

One thing was certain: this mission had changed everything.