Allam walked through the settlement of Song's Edge, looking for Aloy and Ourea, which should be somewhere. The soldier did not carry his helmet at that time, leaving his face and hair exposed to the elements. The Banuk, who were doing their day-to-day things, stopped to observe the old soldier pass through the village.

Allam noticed the attentive looks of the tribals, realizing that everyone began to form behind him, while they murmured to themselves. Allam couldn't hear what they were saying, but it was very clear that they talked about him. The young man walked to the center of the village, where they had met Burgrend when they arrived several days ago.

Allam did not see his girlfriend nor the shaman anywhere, leaving him confused. The soldier was going to turn, to return from where he had come, but a large multitude of Banuks cut his way. Before the young soldier could ask the tribal group to move, a hoarse and strong voice stopped him.

Aratak: So, you are the stranger who has been interested in our piece of land? -asked the man to the soldier, who had not noticed the presence of the Werak chief.

Allam: How do you know that -the young man asked confused.

Aratak: My people sing about your songs, outsider. We are Banuk and we do not need the help of any foreigner, but you still decided to help and demonstrate your temper, but why? -said the man while hitting his spear against the ground, making it resonate to give intimidating effect and shut up any voice that was talking.

The soldier knew that the women he was looking for were not here, so he will have to start without them.

Allam: Because I want to challenge you Aratak -said the soldier while he unsheated his blade, earning the attention of the chieftain and those present.

Allam: For the Werak -said the soldier while he looked challenging the corpulent man, who watched the young soldier without being able to believe the words that left his mouth.

Aratak: Are you challenging me? You? A foreigner that nobody knows? You don't even have a spear -said the man with disbelief and some offense.

Allam: I don't need a spear to kill, Aratak -the young soldier said with arrogance and seriousness to the corpulent man.

Aratak: This is absurd, you are not even Banuk -said the corpulent man, annoyed.

Ourea: It is not absurd, Aratak -said the shaman, which had appeared along with Aloy.

The chief looked suspiciously at the Banuk.

Aratak: Ourea. I had to assume that this would be your work, use strangers like your pawns. You knew that I could not deny the challenge if Ihe was being backed by you, you are diabolical, sister -man said bothering, earning the surprise of the young couple.

Ourea: The only diabolical person out here is you, Aratak. You've been in the wrong path, from the moment you forbidden me to return to Thunder's Drum, brother -the woman said mad, towards the man.

Both young people were confused at the conversation of the now discovered, siblings.

Aloy: Siblings? This makes things...a little bit more different...and complicated -said the redhead with confusion and disbelief, Allam released a whistle while he looked towards both sides, comically.

Allam: Siblings? What is this, a novel? -said the old soldier with astonishment, using his jokes as a way of expressing himself, his girlfriend dedicated a serious look, which did not go unnoticed and was his sign to be serious and not make jokes.

Aratak: Apparently you didn't tell them everything, little sister. This has a simple solution, I will see you tomorrow in the Icy Peaks at dawn, and I will put an end to this stupidity -said the corpulent man with a threatening voice and then start walking towards the exit of the village.

The couple looked at the woman with accusing looks, the woman only sighs.

Ourea: I regret not having told you the whole truth, I did not think it would be necessary for you to know -the woman said somewhat sorry.

ALOY: That doesn't matter. Aratak told Allam that they would be in the Icy Peaks, if we want Allam to win, we have to know what he is facing -said the redhead with some seriousness, trying to make the woman concentrate on the challenge.

Ourea: You are right, it makes no sense to regret the past. The test consists of climbing up and descending the mountain, while hunting as many machines as possible. You have to illuminate beacons to indicate that you have already finished the challenge. There are two in total. When they return to the base of the mountain, two machines will be brought for each participant and they have to kill their machine first, before their adversary. The winner is granted the title of Chief -the woman explained to the couple, Aloy nodded, but Allam looked somewhat nervous.

Aloy noticed his boyfriend was nervous. The redhead took her hand squeezed his a little, the soldier looked at the redhead and she formed a soothing smile on her face, causing the old soldier to blush and smile on his part.

Alm: Well, it sounds easy -said the soldier with some sarcasm.

Ourea: You will be alright, Allam, you demonstrated a lot of skill fighting machines and people. You can win -the shaman said to reinsure the man, which she nodded.

The group decides to make their way to the Icy Peaks, with the vision of defeating Aratak in their minds. The night fell and they set up a small camp inside an uninhabited cavern.

Ourea was sitting in front of the fire, while she saw the flames, loss in her own thoughts.

Allam and Aloy were curled up with each other, enjoying the company of one and the other. Aloy kissed the man, the man looked at her with love eyes and kissed her lips, both melting in the touch of their lips.

Ourea happened to see them; a small smile formed on her face, while she remembered the simple times of her youth.

Hours later...

The sun began to rise, heating the icy lands of the Cut, just a little. The group had reached the mountain before the sun even came out. Ourea was fixing a couple of things on the face and helmet of Allam.

Ourea: There we go, now you seem more of an opponent -said the woman with pride, looking at her work.

Allam had three sky blue lines in his cheekbones, which reached his ears. His chin had been painted yellow and his eyes were surrounded by white paint. His helmet had a mixture of blue, yellow and white, spread throughout it.

Steps were heard and looked like Aratak climbed the mountain with several more banuk. The man also had war paint on.

Aratak: I see that you came. I thought that you wouldn't come. You are still in time to retire, do not let yourself be manipulated by my foolish sister -said the man, but Allam only looked at him with a challenging look.

Allam: I can't wait to sweep the floor with you -said the soldier in a challenging tone.

The man released a tired sigh.

Aratak: I'm going to humiliate you so much that you wish you had never stepped on Banuk land -said the man with a threatening tone.

Ourea called them towards a cliff, and she is starting to explain the rules of the challenge. Allam looked at the mountain with determination. The thunderous sound of a horn resonated by the area, starting the challenge.

Allam shot towards the base of the mountain, with Aratak following behind.

Allam Pov

The first test was to kill three machines at the base of the mountain, there were five, so one of them had to be taken by only one of us. I noticed that they were Scrappers, something easy.

I deployed my bow and prepared two arrows, an explosive and an electric one, stopped for a moment and released the arrows, both hitting key points of the machine. I approached the machine and with my blade and finished it. The other Scrapper tried to give me a slice, but I made a double jump and dodged the machine for little.

Grip the same arrows and shoot him while in the air. I landed on the ground without any problem and throw me against the machine, ending it using my blade.

I approached my third scrapper and shoot two more arrows, which severely damaged the machine, but a spear appeared out of nowhere and ended the machine.

Me: What the hell? -I said with confusion.

I noticed the direction that the weapon came from and noticed that it was Aratak. Behind him there were two more Scrapper's, he had achieved the three kills.

Me: Son of a bitch-i cursed and started to run to the top of the mountain.

I took a double jump and started climbing the mountain as best I could. I arrived at my beacon and turned it on, sending it to the air, but the Aratak was almost in flight.

At 20 minutes, we were almost at the top of the mountain, I noticed that Aratak and I were on par. Ourea warned me that Aratak was good climbing mountains; But this is ridiculous!

Me: I would like to have my grappling hook here -commented as I thought about my old tool.

I reached the top and turned on my beacon, sending it to the air first than Aratak's. I started my descent from the mountain. I was almost reaching the base, towards a clear with very little snow, it was the finish line and the area where we would go hunting our last machines.

I listen to steps behind me and Aratak came running behind me, I accelerated the step. This race is killing me, I am tired since I get to the top. And the damn cold does not let me breathe properly, since I got here, I have been slower.

I arrive at the clear, Aratak literally at my tail. We both skid in the snow and looked at each other with an annoyance and astonishment. We were both panting how tired we were. I was not the only one who was tired.

Aratak: You are skilled ... I will grant you that compliment ... Foreign -said the man among gasps.

Me: And you ... you are very fast ... the same ... I say for you -I said between gasps just like him.

I noticed that the man began to look in another direction and I saw that he watched Ourea and Aloy, which they were watching from a cliff. We listen to shouting from the other side of the foot of the mountain. Banuk hunters had been persecuted by two Frostclaws.

I prepared my Gauss rifle, expecting a difficult fight. I recharged my flamethrower with blaze and let it ready for action.

General Pov

Aloy: Frostclaws?! We have to stop the challenge -said the redhead to the shaman, but she shook her head.

Ourea: We cannot, the only way to finish is if someone ends with the machines first or both of them die -said the woman with concern and sorrow in her eyes.

Aloy listened to a strong rumble and sees Allamm in the air, shooting at the machine. The man lands and uses his flamethrower to attack the ginormous machine with a fire flare.

Allam: Let's go Yogi Bear, I thought you liked barbecue -the soldier shouted as he fired more bullets against the big machine.

On the part of him, Aratak was having some problems with his Frostclaw, since the machine was winning.

Allam noticed this and with his flamethrower he attacked the other Frostclaw, calcining it as well.

Allam: Hey Bubu, don't you want a little of this barbecue? -said the soldier calling the machine's attention.

Aloy saw how his boyfriend fought against both machines, jumping using his exoskeleton to avoid their attacks. But the soldier did not notice that one of the Frostclaws threw a large piece of dirt towards him, which he received fully and made him lose the balance and fell face first against the ground, his weapons away from him.

Allam got up and tried to make a double jump, but the compressor fans were full of snow, and he would have to clean it of manually. Aratak launched a few explosive arrows to the machines, causing them to concentrate on him instead.

The soldier grabbed his Gauss rifle and continued shooting at both machines.

Allam took the capsule from the shawl compartment of his flamethrowers and changed it to a new one. Allam grabbed another capsule in his hand and approached one of the machines.

With his blade he broke the machine's jaw and put the fire capsule inside it.

Alm: Bon Appetite Yogi Bear -said the soldier with mockery.

The man jumped and shot at the machine in its mouth, turning it on fire from the inside, ending it. The other Frostclaw would fall soon after.

The Banuk gathered around to meet both contestants. These tried to decipher who the winner was, since theFrostclaws were not planned on the challenge.

Aratak: It is obvious that the foreigner won -said the man, surprising everyone.

The corpulent man turned to look at Allam and he put a hand on his shoulder.

Aratak: You saved me and you won, boy, you have demonstrated the abilities of a Chief... I am at you service, Chief - the man said, swallowing his pride.

Alm: Don't worry, it's not forever. You will be the Chief again, there is no one better than you for this...but this was the only way -said the soldier to man and he nodded.

Allam saw how a flock of red hair approached him at full speed, the next thing he knew was that he was on the floor and had a happy Aloy smiling at him.

ALOY: You did it, you did it! -said the woman with happiness, he laughed at the amount of kisses she was giving him.

Allam: Did you think I wouldn't succeed? -he jokingly asked his girlfriend.

She simply shrunk on shoulders with a smile, causing Allam to laugh. Aloy got off and helped the old soldier to get up.

Hours later...

Alay and Ourea were inside a Banuk tent, where they waited for Allam. The old soldier came out with a modification of his Sarwave armor, with the colors and furs of the Banuk.

Allam: How do I look? -asked the old soldier.

Ourea: Like a true Chief, we'll talk tomorrow, it's better for you to rest. Congratulations for winning the challenge, Chief -said the woman, after that, she left the couple alone.

The place was cozy and more spacious than the other Banuk huts, it had a rectangular shape, unlike the others, which were circular. The place was adorned with hunting trophies and tables to work in weapons. All that was in the main camera of the tent.

The room was also adorned with small leather armchairs in front of a fire, which gave heat to the infrastructure. The bedroom was divided from the rest of the tent, using leather curtains as a barrier between both rooms.

Within that room there were more hunting trophies, next to a bed made of skins located in the center of the room. A big enough bed for someone corpulent like Aratak. The couple had a busy day full of action and a well -deserved rest would do more than good.

Allam: Tomorrow we will talk to Ourea, I have to know everything I can about Thunder's Drum -said the man as he removed the armor and put it aside.

Aloy saw him change and she analyzed it little by little. She had already seen Allam naked on more than one occasion, but not all the time she noticed the tiny details of his body. She could see the scars of war in his body.

The redhead wondered what the story was behind each of those scars. The young redhead was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't realize that Alm was talking to her.

Allam: Earth to Aloy, is someone there? -said the man as he passed a hand in front of the huntress's eyes.

The redhead came out of her trance and looked at her boyfriend, who was carrying a shirt made of skins, with pants made of the same material.

Allam: Are you okay? -asked the man with concern, the redhead smiled and denied her head.

Aloy: Yes, I was just thinking about something -said the woman calmly.

The old soldier sat next to her in bed, the redhead looked at him and he dedicated a little smile.

Allam: What do you have in mind? -asked the young man to the redhead.

Aloy Pov

How do you tell your boyfriend that you were seeing him change and that his scars gave you curiosity?

Me: Well, I was thinking about the scars you have around your body. I know you spoke to me once about some of them, but there are so many that I don't remember what -said the redhead looking at man.

The soldier gave her a thoughtful look, and then he proceeded to take off his shirt and leave his torso exposed. Letting the redhead watch his scars.

Allam: This one here, was made by pieces of shrapnel. A bomb of the grenade launcher of a Beetle felled close to my position, I didn't take the whole explosion by sheer luck -explained the soldier pointing to the small scars that adorned the right side of his torso and pectoral.

Allam: This one here, it was from the bullet of a civilian who had never fired a gun. When he had his first encounter with a Faro robot, he shot me by accident. I broke his face after that -explained the soldier, pointing to his left shoulder.

Me: What about this? -I asked with curiosity, pointing to a scar on the side ofAllam.

Allam looked with pain with pain and released a sigh.

Alm: That ... that was during a search and rescue mission. The goal was simple, look for soldiers and civilians stranded in an old checkpoint in Nevada, and bring them back to the main base, within the city of Las Vegas -the man told me, I took my boyfriend's hand, doing making him look at me, I simply give him a smile to reinsure him.

Me: You don't have to tell me Al -I said with a smile, but the old soldier denied her head.

Allam: I want to tell you. There are no secrets -said the man, with a smile.

Allam: The convoy in which we were attacked by beetles, which were hidden in the sand. One of those bastards managed to hit the vehicle I was in and turned us. I lost consciousness ... When I woke up, I was headlonged and felt immeasurable pain on my side, and I noticed that I had a piece of metal embedded in my body. I could even feel it coming out of my body -explained the soldier as he pointed to the scar.

Allam: I started listening to the machine guns of combat helicopters, so I took my seatbelt off and fell to the ground. I grabbed one of the medical packages in my bulletproof vest and introduce a dose of ketamine -explained the soldier, moving his hands as if he were recreating the incident.

Me: What is ketamine? -I ask my boyfriend.

Alm: It is a kind of drug, for pain. Makes the pain becomes more...bearable -explained the old soldier.

Allam: Thanks to the strength of my exo, I managed to kick the door until it fell. The ketamine would take a few minutes to take effect, so I still felt the pain of the wound. Before even being able to leave, I saw how the other soldiers carried the injured towards the helicopters. Someone stopped in front of me and simply watched me...I lifted my gaze and there was Nash ... my former friend -said the old soldier with pain, remembering that moment.

Me: And save you? -I asked and he looks hurt.

Allam: You see...-said the old soldier

Allam Pov

Flashback

Ketamine should start to take effect...damn this shit hurts.

I started dragging myself to get out of the vehicle, but before leaving, I watched other combat boots in front of me. I looked and noticed that it was Nash.

Me: N-Nash, it's good to see you. I need help -I said with a relieved smile.

The man simply looked at me and turned his back on me.

Nash: There are no more survivors! -The soldier shouted, causing me to look at him with surprise.

Me: Nash ... what the hell are you doing? -I asked and this one just looked at me with a cold look in his eyes.

The soldier began to move away, I looked at him leave, with rage and helplessness.

Me: You are a rat...bastard - i said under my breath.

Me: N-No...come back...please -I said in pain, physically and emotionally.

Me:F-Fuck you...Nash -I said in the air as I felt the heat of the desert began to take effect on me.

End of flashback

General Pov

Aloy: But weren't you friends? -she asked, astonished.

Allam: We were ... after Salaz's death. Nash blamed me for his death, I was closer to him, when he died. Our friendship was damaged by that incident and every once in a while, we fought for even the slightest thing...The day he left me there to die...was the last straw -he explained with pain, remembering the past.

The redhead were speechless, it was a lot of information for her. He had not fought alone, he was also betrayed by someone who he considered a friend and left him there to die.

Aloy: How did you survive, if you were so injured? -asked his girlfriend with curiosity.

Allam: My old unit...they were going around when they saw the shattered convoy. Ramirez managed to see me moving, they took me out of the shattered vehicle and took me to the closest operations base, a military base in Death Valley -he explained as he still remembered the faces of the members of his former Combat Unit.

The redhead hugged him and kissed his forehead, taking the soldier by surprise.

Aloy: I did not imagine that you had to have suffered so much ... thanks for telling me -said the redhead as she hugged him.

Allam: I have no reasons to be stagnant in the past ... Nash must be dead, and I don't have to worry about him. I shouldn't worry -he said to her, to reinsure her.

The redhead nodded and dedicated one of those smiles that he adored so much. Allam kissed her lips, from which they separate within a few seconds.

Aloy: You know, we have not had much time alone and much less in such a cozy place. How about? -said the redhead with a spicy smile on her face, while biting her lower lip.

I blushed and seat with the same smile.

Me: You're right -said the old soldier with lust.

The young couple looked at each other with wishing eyes, the redhead pounced on the old soldier, thus starting her intimate moment.

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Somewhere else...

The Death Valley National Park, known as one of the hottest places in the world, full of dunes and mountains that reached 200 meters below sea level. The old park was not the same as in the past.

The landscape was torn by gigantic craters, disastrous earthquakes, violent sandstorms and an invisible danger, radiation. Old buildings decorated the landscape, the corpses of Gaia machines gave a gloomier touch to the area. The only inhabitants of this inhospitable region were Hefesto's combat machines and adventurers who went crazy for the horrors of the region.

The east and the prohibited west tribes called this "The Divide", because it was the barrier that divided both East and the West, although there were ways of crossing to the west forbidden without the need to cross the Divide.

But within all that destruction, there was an even darker secret. Large old military bases and nuclear silos hid within the region. But a base stood out among all those, the biggest, the one that was at the end of that hell on earth.

This base was abandoned to time and history, nobody inhabited it...or so it was believed. A dark skinned man opened the gates and he entered a large room, which had hundreds of oxidized and destroyed computers, some of them barely functioning. This man was Sylens.

At the end of the room there was a nuclear missile, with a destroyed American flag hung on it, as if it were a blanket. Along the room, there were more of those destructive cylinders, with names and symbols that no longer made any sense in the New World.

Sylens: The flag of the old world -said the man when he saw the red, blue and white flag.

???: You're a hard man to find, you know that, right? said the voice, which was heard muffled, as if it had something covering it.

Sylens: Why did you call me here? -said the man to to the stranger, to later hear footsteps approaching him from behind.

Sylens turned and watched as a 6 foot tall man approached him. The man wore a faded brown trench coat, black pants and vintage combat boots, a bulletproof vest adorned his chest, with a shoulder bag full of small bags.

The man had green bracers, shoulder pads and knee pads, along with a kind of helmet that had a gas mask with red visors.

The man had what appeared to be a crossbow on his back and a revolver on his waist.

???: I didn't know if you were really going to come here, but I see that my offer managed to convince you. Knowing what really caused the "Madness of the machines" is a very juicy secret, that someone of your reputation will like to know -said the stranger, to which Sylens nodded.

???: It took me time, nearly 20 years, but I finally have the answers you are looking for -explained the man ambiguously.

Sylens: Why do you want to tell me, how interesting can I be for you to go looking for me for so long? -the bald man asked the man

???: Because you are one of the few people who has dealt with people like me; and I know you're the only one who will tell me about that person -said the man ambiguously.

???: What if I told you that people like me were the ones who caused all that chaos with the machines and with Zero Dawn? -the man said, but the man just looked at him with confusion.

Sylens: People like you? -asked the man to the stranger, he nodded and took off his helmet, revealing a blond man of almost 40 years, who had blue eyes and several scars around his face.

???: You call us, Old Ones. You can call me Nash -the man introduced himself.

Nash: I propose a deal, I tell you everything I know and you tell me everything you know, what do you think? -offered the man and the dark-skinned man looked at him wearily.

Sylens: How do I know you're not lying to me? -asked the skeptical man about the deal.

Nash smiled and pulled the revolver from him in full view of Sylens.

Nash: There are no people with this type of weapons today, not counting that other "Old One" you know -explained the man to the him, who continued to look at Nash suspiciously.

Nash: Something is approaching Earth and I don't know what it is, but one thing I'm sure of is that it sent the signal that destroyed Zero Dawn. You need my help to find out when it's coming, and I need your help in stoping it- the man said.

Nash: Do we have a deal? -the man asked and Sylens still looked at him suspiciously.

Sylens: Tell me everything -said the man, causing the Old One to smile.

Nash: See that big metal cylinder behind you? That's a nuclear missile -the man explained with a smile as he pointed to the weapon.

Sylens stared at the weapon and the others around him in surprise. He turned his gaze back to the former man, who was grinning wide.