Dyl, Wyn and Vuuk moved as quickly as they could through the crumbling streets. The roiling appendages still brushed across the landscape, but their initial spread had lessened, and though still dangerous, the ruined city could be navigated.

Climbing over a fallen, melted building, the team spotted the area they were looking for.

It was clear: no melting, no appendages, just a handful of creatures, mostly the large, bronze bruisers, milling about.

It almost looked incidental. But set ag...