Terry had grown accustomed to the pattern of portals appearing whenever he finished dealing with an enemy. However, this time, something felt different. He had been anticipating another portal to emerge, but minutes passed, and there was no sign of it. It seemed that Louis, or whoever was orchestrating these encounters, was changing the rules of engagement.

Terry couldn’t help but wonder if he was expected to face his adversaries in one-on-one combat without the luxury of waiting for a portal to transport him away. It was a disturbing thought, but he knew he couldn’t rely on predictability in this unpredictable world. Terry decided to stay vigilant, prepared for whatever challenges this strange desert realm would throw at him next, whether it was a solo duel or another group encounter.

As Terry wandered through the desolate, sandy landscape, his curiosity led him to a series of dunes. Beyond these natural formations, he stumbled upon the remnants of buildings that had long been buried beneath layers of sand.

These structures, while not visibly damaged, had been swallowed by the relentless passage of time and shifting desert sands. The eerie silence of this ancient, buried city only deepened the mystery of the world he now found himself in. Terry couldn’t help but wonder about the civilization that had once thrived here and what secrets might lie hidden beneath the sands.

"This isn’t a small building... how much time must have passed for something this tall to be buried?" Terry asked.

As Terry explored the buried remnants of the city, he couldn’t help but ponder the history of this world. It was possible that, at some point in the past, this realm had been much like Earth, teeming with life and bustling cities.

However, the arrival of portals and the relentless invasion of monsters may have forever changed the course of its history, plunging it into chaos and transforming it into the desolate wasteland he now traversed. It was a sobering reminder of the destructive power of interdimensional rifts and the far-reaching consequences they could have on any world they touched.

Terry’s keen instincts saved him once again. As he was inspecting the buried building, an ominous sense of danger washed over him. It was a fleeting sensation, but his combat-honed reflexes kicked in instantly. He swiftly raised his arm just in time to intercept a projectile hurtling toward him at supersonic speeds.

A deafening impact followed as the projectile collided with Terry’s raised arm, forcing him back several meters through the loose, sandy terrain. Dust and debris filled the air, but Terry’s well-timed defense had thwarted what could have been a devastating attack. His heart raced as he scanned his surroundings, now fully aware that this desolate world held unseen threats, and he remained vigilant, prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.

After the dust had settled, Terry cautiously scanned the surroundings for any sign of the attacker. His sharp eyes eventually turned toward the ground, where he found the source of the supersonic projectile that had struck him. It was a seemingly unremarkable dark stone, rugged and untouched even after the tremendous impact it had just made.

Terry picked up the stone, studying it carefully. Its unyielding surface and peculiar characteristics raised more questions than answers. What kind of technology or power could propel a seemingly ordinary stone at such incredible speeds without causing any damage to the stone itself? The mystery only deepened, and Terry knew he needed to remain on high alert in this enigmatic world filled with unexpected threats.

"It is still warm..." Terry thought.

As Terry continued to inspect the rugged, unscathed stone in his hand, the unusual characteristics of the projectile began to piece together in his mind. The stone had been propelled at incredible speeds, far beyond what a typical object of its size could withstand without disintegrating.

With a sense of realization, Terry couldn’t help but consider that this stone might be a meteorite fragment. Meteorites, hurtling through the Earth’s atmosphere at immense velocities, often reached incredible speeds while retaining their structural integrity due to their innate resilience. It was a plausible explanation for the stone’s unscathed appearance despite its high-velocity impact.

However, the presence of a meteorite in this enigmatic world only raised more questions. Why were meteorite fragments here, and what significance did they hold in the grand scheme of this mysterious place? Terry’s curiosity burned brighter as he contemplated the peculiarities of this alien world and its hidden secrets.

With the strange meteorite securely tucked into his pocket, Terry resumed his cautious exploration of the desolate landscape. This time, he proceeded more attentively, aware that the dangers in this world were not to be underestimated. As he walked, moments turned into minutes, and it seemed like nothing would disrupt the eerie silence that enveloped the area.

However, Terry knew better than to let his guard down. He sensed a change in the atmosphere, a subtle shift in the surroundings that hinted at an imminent threat. Unlike the previous encounter with the brainless overlord, it appeared that this adversary was more cunning and patient, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Terry steeled himself, every muscle in his body tense, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. In this treacherous world, he had learned that complacency could prove fatal, and he was determined not to fall victim to the lurking menace that now concealed itself in the shadows.

As Terry’s instincts screamed danger, he swiftly raised his guard, but it was too late. An attack struck him from an unexpected angle, hitting the back of his head with surprising force. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, disoriented and momentarily incapacitated.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Terry knew he couldn’t afford to stay down for long. Clutching his sword tightly, he focused his mana to accelerate his healing. It was a risky move, especially when he was vulnerable, but he had little choice. Slowly, he felt the throbbing pain in his head recede as his weapon worked its regenerative magic.

While he lay there, vulnerable and exposed, Terry’s senses remained on high alert. He was determined not to let this unseen assailant gain the upper hand again, and he awaited the right moment to retaliate.

"A stealth one, huh?" Terry thought while he was getting one. "Even on the ground, they didn’t try to attack me... I guess they expected that my head would explode without any protection."

Terry let out a frustrated sigh as he brushed the clinging sand off his clothes. He knew that the next time the enemy attacked, he needed to be more vigilant and ready to strike back. With each encounter, he was learning more about the tactics of these foes, and he was determined not to let them catch him off guard again.

As he stood up and tightened his grip on his weapon, his determination to face and conquer that mysterious assailant burned brighter than ever.

"Let’s play," Terry said and then resumed his journey.

Terry moved cautiously through the desolate landscape, giving the impression that he was unperturbed by the recent attacks. He continued on until he reached the edge of the buried city, where the remnants of towering structures lay half-buried in the sand. It was clear that the enemy was treading carefully, likely because their earlier attempt to eliminate him had failed.

"A sneaky and not so confident overlord, huh?" Terry thought.

As Terry ventured further into the city, he carefully scanned the surroundings for any signs of the overlord who had previously ambushed him. However, the shifting sands of the desolate landscape were swift in obliterating any traces of his presence, making tracking the elusive enemy a challenging task.

Terry realized that tracking down the elusive overlord, especially in this ever-changing and sand-covered terrain, would be no easy feat, especially when the enemy had demonstrated a knack for stealth and evasion. Despite the challenges ahead, he remained vigilant, knowing that any lapse in his own awareness could be exploited by his adversary.

He decided to proceed with caution, honing his senses and keeping a keen eye out for any subtle signs that might lead him to the overlord’s location. This was a battle of patience and wits, and Terry was determined to emerge victorious.

"It seems that Louis is fine if we take our time here..." Terry thought when one hour had passed since the previous attack. "Maybe he has all the time in the world, despite being only a human..."

Terry understood that while he might be eager to leave this strange and hostile world, he couldn’t afford to show any signs of impatience or recklessness that might draw the attention of Louis and his allies.

He had learned from previous encounters that they were not to be underestimated, and any misstep on his part could have dire consequences. So, despite his desire to leave, he decided to bide his time, continuing his cautious exploration of the area while keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings.