In the Last Oasis, a small town cradling the edge of the Scorched Canyons of Lament, the endless crimson dust of the desert danced, clinging stubbornly to Alex's leather boots. A thick grey cloak enveloped his body, hiding the young man's silhouette in front of a rickety diner. Four other cloaked figures, equally young, stood beside him, their eyes tracing the dilapidated building. A weathered sign, "The Thirsty Nomad," swung in the whispering desert wind.
"Are you sure this is the place, Gwen?" Alex asked, his sword feeling heavy on his back, his voice filled with unconcealed annoyance.
Gwen, a snow-haired elf, flicked her bangs. "Of course. The note is clear, 'Meet me at The Thirsty Nomad before the second moon rises.'"
Eric, his sturdy frame hidden beneath his cloak, scratched his chin. "But why would that genius informant choose a place like this? The smell alone…"
"Enough," Eliz, the purple-cloaked mage, interjected, her voice soft but imbued with firmness. Her fingers squeezed the eye charm hanging from her neck. "Let's just go in."
The five cloaked figures—Alex, Gwen, Eric, Eliz, and the slimmest, Kael—stepped forward. A groaning creak of hinges announced their arrival into the stuffy bar.
Inside, the bar was packed. Coarse chatter, booming laughter, and clinking goblets filled the air. The pungent aroma of alcohol, tobacco, and burnt meat mingled. Alex scanned the room: tattooed men, sharp-fanged women, and burly beastfolk huddled in every corner, their eyes radiating unmistakable danger.
"Tch, look at all of them," Alex hissed, his gaze disdainful. "They all look like criminals. No wonder this city is often called a dangerous criminal gathering place."
"Shh, hey, keep your voice down!" Kael admonished, his face partially covered by a dark scarf. He pressed Alex's shoulder, an unspoken warning.
As the five cloaked figures stepped further into the diner, the noisy hum of conversation dwindled, replaced by hushed whispers. All eyes were now fixed on them. Curiosity mingled with wariness permeated every corner of the room, creating a tense atmosphere. However, the group paid no mind. They continued forward, their gaze searching for the figure they sought.
In the dimmest corner of the diner, near a smoking chimney, the old figure was visible. A vagrant, with brownish-white hair and a tangled beard, wearing a worn leather vest adorned with bone charms. He sat hunched over a small table, holding a glass of murky liquid. He was their underworld informant, a mysterious figure who rarely showed himself but always had invaluable information.
"That's him," Kael whispered, his eyes pointing toward the old man.
They approached, their footsteps breaking the lingering silence. Every pair of eyes following them now felt piercing, but their objective was far more important.
The five young adventurers stopped in front of the informant's table. The old man's gaze remained unchanged, flat, as if he already knew they would come.
Gwen, standing at the forefront of their group, bowed slightly. "Excuse me, you are the Raven in the Shadows, Mr. Zurk, aren't you?" Her voice sounded polite, yet there was an undeniable firmness.
The old man nodded slowly, his movements stiff like rusty hinges. A faint smile crossed his cracked lips. "I've been waiting for you. Please, sit." His voice was hoarse and raspy, like rubbing sand.
Gwen glanced at the single chair opposite the old man. With a slight sigh, she pulled the chair out and sat, while Alex, Eric, Eliz, and Kael remained standing behind her, forming a protective formation, their eyes scanning the bar, which was still filled with whispers and curious stares.
Without preamble, Gwen went straight to the point. "Have you gotten any information about my father's disappearance?"
The informant didn't answer immediately. The glass in his hand rotated slowly. Then, he extended his thin hand toward Gwen. "Shouldn't you hand over something first?" His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.
Gwen snorted softly. She reached into a small pouch beneath her cloak and pulled out a heavy leather coin purse. The purse clinked softly as she placed it in the informant's palm. One thousand Zenith Coins.
"Alright," he said in his hoarse voice. "I've gotten some information about your father."
Gwen leaned forward, both hands clenched on the table. "Tell me."
The old informant looked directly at Gwen. "Your father, Lord Elara, disappeared twenty years ago. Right after he undertook a major expedition to the Labyrinth of Shadows with the main research force of the Bastion of the Fading Light Kingdom. As for the reason for his disappearance… I still haven't found it, but it's clear he vanished along with the kingdom's top strategists and research team."
The noisy bar seemed to freeze for a moment for the five adventurers. Alex clenched his hand beside his sword, his jaw tight. Eric furrowed his brow, a deep crease etched between his eyebrows. Eliz suddenly clutched her eye charm tighter, as if seeking protection.
"Didn't… wasn't that a major incident that happened to the Bastion of the Fading Light Kingdom, Where they lost almost their entire expeditionary attack and research force?" Eric asked, his voice heavy, full of disbelief.
Kael, who had been observing the reactions in the bar, hissed softly. "That kingdom desperately tried to cover up that incident. This will be difficult." His voice sounded sour, filled with pessimism.
Gwen fell silent for a moment. Memories of her childhood, the image of her father's warm figure, flashed quickly through her mind, hitting her like a wave. Her hand rose, touching the simple silver necklace that always hung around her neck. Her fingers traced its cold pendant, where the last memories resided. Tears welled up, forming wet streaks on her cheeks as she remembered her father.
"I'm sorry, I got carried away," Gwen said, her voice a little hoarse, quickly wiping away her tears.
Suddenly, a loud crash caught their attention. Near the door, a burly, tattooed man, Drek, gripped the collar of a thin old man, the bar owner.
"You scrawny rat! Where's my money?!" Drek growled, his voice booming.
The bar owner trembled with fear. "I… I've already paid this month's deposit, Mr. Drek!"
"Paid the deposit? Nonsense!" Drek sneered. "There's an extra charge because you're late! Or do you want your bar leveled?" He raised a hand, ready to strike.
"Hmm, turns out they are indeed criminals." Eric said.
"Guys , Look at the tattoos on their hands, I think I heard about them before ," Eliz whispered, "Yeah , The black scorpion tattoo, they're from the Black Scorpion group. One of the most dangerous group of criminal in this deser." Mr zurk told them.
"Wait, where's Alex?" Gwen suddenly realized he was no longer with them. Alex, a soul unable to tolerate the oppression of the weak, had already stepped forward, past the dirty tables. His dark eyes fixed sharply on Drek."Hey, bastard!" Alex shouted, his voice cutting through the tension in the bar.
Drek turned, his gaze scornful. "Hmm Who are you, kid?"
Without waiting for an answer, Alex lunged. His right fist landed squarely on Drek's jaw. A loud crack sounded. Drek's large body flew backward, crashing into a table and wall, shattering them.
"Ugh, that idiot interfered! Why does he never listen? Now we're getting dragged into this," Kael groaned, his voice hoarse. "Well, what can we do? Let's help him."Drek got up, his jaw possibly fractured. His eyes were completely bloodshot. "What are you doing?! Attack them quickly! Kill them all!"
Instantly, the bar became a battlefield. Dozens of Black Scorpion members drew weapons—daggers, cleavers, axes—and surrounded them.
"Be careful! , they're known for their poison! Don't get hit!" Liz warned others.
Alex drew his sword, a flash of steel reflecting the dim light. Eric raised his axe and shield, heavy and menacing. Gwen readied her bow and dagger, her movements swift and efficient. Kael drew a pair of daggers, their blades gleaming sharply. They took a defensive stance, backs to each other.
"Eliz, please watch over Mr. Zurk!" Gwen ordered.
The attack began. Alex spun in a dance of death, deflecting attacks with his sword, occasionally retaliating with quick slashes. Eric swung his axe, cutting through bone and shield. Gwen fired precise arrows, felling enemies from a distance, then switched to her dagger, her movements agile and deadly in close quarters. Kael darted like a shadow, his daggers cutting through vital points of enemies. Their teamwork was perfect, their defensive formation solid. Many bodies fell, blood staining the bar floor, creating dark red puddles.
Their teamwork was perfect, their defensive formation solid, showcasing years of training that had ingrained every movement into their muscle memory. They expertly dodged every slash and thrust, almost untouched. Many bodies were severed, and blood splattered everywhere, soaking the bar floor.
However, unnoticed, one of the criminals raised a small crossbow from behind the crowd. Whizz! A thin needle shot out, piercing Alex's arm, right in the shoulder. Instantly, a burning sensation spread, followed by a stinging paralysis. His hand began to turn blue, his veins protruding.
Drek grinned triumphantly, a cruel laugh escaping his lips. "Hahahaha! How does our poison feel?! This desert scorpion poison won't let you live long. Soon you'll die in agony!"
Alex's vision began to blur, the world spinning. He remained standing, cold sweat soaking his face.
They fended off the Black Scorpion group as Alex's poison began to spread.
"Bad, Kael! We have to retreat!" Gwen shouted, her voice filled with panic, seeing Alex's condition. "Alex is poisoned!"
Kael nodded quickly. He pulled a small black ball from his pocket and threw it to the ground. Fwoosh! Thick, dark smoke immediately billowed, filling the entire bar in an instant.
"Tch, they escaped! But it's alright, they won't go far because of the poison!" Drek exclaimed. "Everyone, track them! We'll make them regret crossing the wrong group!"
Six people—Alex, Gwen, Eric, Eliz, Kael, and the informant Mr. Zurk—ran through the smoke, gasping for breath. They burst through the shattered bar door and dashed toward the back of the diner, where six sturdy desert horses waited, tied to posts. Night was falling, long shadows enveloping the sand as they fled, as if the desert itself was swallowing them.
"Mount up!" Eric ordered, quickly helping them onto their respective horses.
The thud of hooves broke the silence of the newly fallen night, widening the distance from the city. However, behind them, shadows of Black Scorpion members still remained, pursuing them relentlessly.
Night had fully fallen. The cold desert wind began to bite, carrying unseen threats.
"We don't have much time!" Eric shouted from his horse, his voice tense. "The poison will kill Alex if we keep going like this!" Alex's injured hand was now dark blue, his flesh beginning to rot.
They continued to search for a safe place to take shelter in the desert.
"Gwen, it's bad! Alex is getting worse!" Eric shouted, his voice filled with unconcealed panic. Alex's injured hand was now dark blue, his flesh beginning to rot, looking like a newly risen corpse.
Gwen looked back, then forward, searching for an opening in the darkness. "We need to find a place to hide. Eliz, be ready to heal Alex as soon as we have time!"
Eliz nodded, panting, her eyes searching for an opening in the vast desert landscape. The old informant Mr. Zurk, his expression serious. "The poison they used comes from a monster called Skirk. It's a large poisonous scorpion monster that lives in this desert. Because the dose of poison is small, your friend can last a little longer, you have to hurry before it becomes fatal." Mr. Zurk said.
They spurred their horses faster, trying to find a cliff crevice or a sand dune large enough to hide them. The night grew darker, and the desert temperature dropped drastically. Even the Black Scorpion troops began to catch up to them.
The Emergence of the Desert Monster
As they continued to spur their horses through the deepening darkness, the Black Scorpion troops still relentlessly pursued them, when suddenly a thunderous rumble shook the ground behind them. It wasn't the sound of Black Scorpion horses, but a massive vibration coming from beneath the sand. BOOM!
Suddenly, from the silent expanse of the desert, sand exploded upwards, forming towering pillars. From those crevices, a terrifying apparition emerged: gigantic bodies 30 meters in size, with brownish-green scales as hard as iron, looming high with gaping mouths full of sharp teeth. [Grade 1 Monster] Desert Worms! There weren't just one, but 3 of them, appearing from various directions, as if awakened from a long sleep disturbed by the vibrations of all their horses.
"Desert Worms!" Eric shouted, his voice choked with horror. The horse beneath him whinnied in fear.
The Black Scorpion members chasing behind also froze, their faces turning pale. Their horses whinnied hysterically. Panicked screams erupted as some desert worms immediately lunged, swallowing them alive in brutal bites. Blood and screams filled the air, creating a horrific chaos in the pursuing ranks.
"Everyone, let's quickly use this opportunity to escape!" Gwen shouted, spurring her horse faster.
The group hurried, taking advantage of the Black Scorpion's panic and the desert worms' focus on them. They galloped through the battlefield that had suddenly turned into hell, leaving the sounds of screams and roars behind. The worms were busy with their new prey, tearing apart the Black Scorpion troops, giving them a golden opportunity to escape further.
Drek, the Black Scorpion member who had arrogantly led the pursuit earlier, fell silent, his face pale as he watched his comrades being torn apart. "Damn it! Those cursed worms! Retreat! Everyone retreat! We'll hunt them down later!" he shouted, ordering the rest of his troops to withdraw, leaving chaos and corpses in the desert now dominated by monsters.
Alex's group continued to spur their horses, panting, adrenaline pumping hard. They didn't stop until the rumbling and screaming behind them subsided, leaving only the chilling silence of the desert and the hurried thud of their horses.
Meeting in the Cold Night
After riding for some time that felt like an eternity, they finally found a deep enough cliff indentation, offering a little shelter from the biting desert night wind. Their horses were panting. Alex coughed, his face paler, his blue hand trembling uncontrollably.
"How are you, Alex?" Gwen asked, her voice worried, her eyes flashing with fear.
Alex sighed, a low groan. "The poison... it's getting worse. I feel... pulled down."
"Quickly, Eliz!" Gwen commanded, urgency in her voice. "Now's the time!"
Eliz nodded quickly, her hands trembling. She unleashed a Heal skill. A soft green aura radiated from her palms, enveloping Alex's hand. Alex groaned in pain, the poison was so virulent, but slowly the decay began to slow, stopping at its limit.
"That poison is very strong," Eliz said, her face tense. "This will take time. But at least the decay has stopped. He won't rot alive anymore."
Eric nodded, tying up their horses' reins. "In that case, we should set up camp and rest. I'll stand guard tonight. We don't know what else might emerge from this sand."
Kael nodded in agreement, his eyes sharp, scanning their surroundings. "Me too. We don't know what else is hiding in this desert after this. Night is a blanket for many things." He touched his dagger, ready to fight at any moment.
As Gwen searched for a relatively safe place to set up a makeshift tent, her eyes accidentally caught something in the distance. She happened to see something stretched out on the sand, almost invisible in the darkness.
"Hey, look at that!" Gwen exclaimed, pointing. "Is that... a corpse?"
Eric squinted, trying to penetrate the darkness. "Seems so. In this desert, corpses are not uncommon. Often just traps."
However, as they approached, Kael, who was faster, was a little startled. "Wait! He... he's still breathing!"
They rushed closer. Lying on the sand was a young man with black hair, wearing a strange grey cloak and thick glasses. His body was slightly dusty, as if he had traveled quite a long distance.
"He's alive!" Eric exclaimed, a little surprised.
"How did he get here?" Eliz mumbled, frowning. "In the middle of the desert this far out?"
"Be careful, this might be a trap," Eric said, checking the person.
"But it's strange for someone who is a trap; I don't feel any energy from him," Eric said. "Empty. Like... nothing."
"I don't know," Gwen replied, then quickly gave an order. "Bring him here, Eric! We can't just leave him. He might need help."
"Are you serious? What if he's a trap from Black Scorpion or some new type of monster?" Eric still objected.
"It would be worse if we leave someone who might need our help," Gwen said, irrefutably.
"Ugh... alright," Eric said, finally giving in.
Eric carefully lifted the man, who felt light. They carried him to the cliff indentation. Night had fully fallen, stars twinkling in the dark sky, forming strange constellations. Near a small campfire, Gwen prepared food, silence enveloping them.
Several minutes passed. Alex still lay, his breathing heavy, his body occasionally convulsing. Eliz continued to chant healing spells, her face tense.
Suddenly, the stranger coughed softly. His eyelids twitched slightly, then slowly opened. His eyes stared blankly at the night sky, before shifting to survey his surroundings. Eric and Kael stood guard.
"He's awake!" Eliz exclaimed, a little surprised.
The man slowly sat up, his movements somewhat stiff. He touched his glasses, then pushed them up. His eyes were now fixed on the group, one by one, pausing for a moment on the unconscious Alex.
"Where is this?" he asked.
Gwen, who was staring at him, was a little surprised. "This is the desert in the Scorched Canyons of Lament. Why are you here?"
The stranger just stared at her expressionlessly, then shifted his gaze to the campfire. "I... don't remember," his voice was barely a whisper.
Eric and Kael exchanged glances. A frown appeared on Eric's forehead. Kael just shook his head slowly.
Night crept across the desert, its cold seeping into their bones. Eliz was still chanting healing spells beside Alex, her face tense. Skirk's poison was indeed virulent, but at least the decay had stopped. Gwen sat across the campfire, occasionally glancing at the stranger.
"Are you hungry?" Gwen asked, her voice softer than before, breaking the silence. She offered a piece of dried, slightly burnt meat and a small bag of water. "My name is Gwen. That's Alex, Eric, Eliz, and Kael," she pointed them out one by one, "and that's Mr. Zurk."
The stranger looked at the meat and water, then at Gwen. He took them, his movements clumsy. "Thank you," he said. He ate the dried meat slowly. Eric, who had been on guard, lowered his guard slightly, seeing how awkward and unthreatening the man was.
After a while, Gwen dared again. "What's your name?"
Hiro fell silent again, as if trying to remember something lost. A fragmented memory flickered in his mind: a blurry image, and a faint, indistinct voice calling, "Hiro...".
The man turned to Gwen. "Hiro," he answered simply.
"Where are you from and why are you here?" she asked.
Hiro fell silent again, his golden eyes blank, as if trying to remember something lost. "Just... a light. Then, this desert. I don't remember anything else."
Gwen looked at Hiro. "So, you've lost your memories, then?" She saw the blank stare in Hiro's eyes. Hiro nodded.
Gwen then moved to a corner, beckoning Eric and Kael closer. She spoke in a hushed tone, her voice barely audible over the desert wind. "What if we invited Hiro to come with us?"
Eric immediately frowned. "What do you mean? Gwen, we know nothing about him. What if he's a spy?"
"A spy?" Gwen snorted softly, glancing at Hiro, who remained calmly seated. "Do you really think a man like him could harm us? He doesn't even have any natural energy in his body. You also said he was 'empty'." She met Eric's gaze with a convincing stare. "He might die if we leave him alone in this desert."
Eric finally gave in, nodding reluctantly. "Ugh... alright. She turned back to Hiro, her gaze soft. "How about you come with us until we reach a safe place? It would be very dangerous for you alone in this desert."
Hiro looked at Gwen, his expression still hard to read. Then, Hiro nodded slowly. Then suddenly Eliz's voice broke the tension. "Alex is better!" she exclaimed, sounding relieved and tired. She pulled her hand from Alex. "The poison has been neutralized; he just needs complete rest to regain his strength. We can leave tomorrow at sunrise."
Eric nodded, yawning widely. "Alright, everyone rest then. Kael and I will stand guard."
Morning greeted the desert. Alex hadn't fully recovered, but his condition was much more stable. His hand was still bluish and pale, but the decay had stopped. He could move his fingers, though still weak and stiff.
"How are you, Alex?" Gwen asked, her voice worried.
Alex sighed with relief. "I'm better. But I can't fight at full strength because I still can't move my hand completely."
Eliz smiled faintly, fatigue showing on her face. "That poison is very strong. Luckily we had time, and you're strong enough to survive. Next time, don't try to be a hero alone."
Eric nodded, expertly packing the remaining supplies. "In that case, we should move now before Black Scorpion finds our trail again. They won't give up so easily after losing so many men."
The old informant Mr. Zurk spat on the ground, his expression flat. "He's right. Black Scorpion isn't a gang that likes to be humiliated. They have eyes everywhere in this desert, like the sand itself. The Capital is the best choice. There's protection there."
Hiro, who had been sitting quietly a little distance away, watched them calmly. When all eyes turned to him, he stood up.
Gwen said, "Alright. Let's get ready. Our destination: the Capital."
They packed their belongings quickly. The desert horses were prepared, their breath steaming lightly in the cold morning air. After making sure Alex could be supported on his horse, they set off, leaving the cliff indentation that had been their shelter overnight.
However, not long into their journey, a rumble began to be heard from a distance. It wasn't a natural rumble, but the sound of countless hooves. At the top of the sand dune behind them, black silhouettes appeared, forming a long, menacing line. Their numbers were clearly very large.
"Gwahahaha! Found you, bastards!" Drek's heavy voice echoed across the desert, filled with triumph and revenge. He descended the hill, accompanied by other members. His eyes were fixed on Alex, who still looked weak. "Tch, so you managed to survive, Swordsman. But too bad, now you'll die by our hands!" He grinned, showing his dirty teeth.
"Attack!"
Gwen turned to Alex, who was still pale. "Alex, you rest first. Protect Hiro and Mr. Zurk. Leave the rest to us!"
Alex nodded weakly. "Alright." He took a breath. "Be careful, everyone, don't get hit by poison."
"Liz, Eric, Kael, get ready!" Gwen commanded, her voice firm. They all prepared.
Dozens of Black Scorpion members charged. The battle broke out instantly. The group fought, protecting and defending each other well. Gwen raised her bow. An arrow wrapped in strong wind energy, Wind Arrow, flew at more than the speed of sound, knocking many enemies down with its brutal wind pressure.
Eric raised his axe and shield. He manifested a large shield from his buckler, Iron Shield, to withstand the onslaught. Then, he swung his axe, unleashing a Horizontal Slash, sending a powerful wave of energy that swept through the enemy ranks.
Kael disappeared into an illusion, moving with Stealth, attacking from the shadows with his twin daggers, targeting vital points of enemies.
Drek, one of the Black Scorpion leaders, began to get annoyed seeing his subordinates falling. "Damn it, when will the boss come?" He growled angrily. "Enough!" He attacked with all his might with his great sword, aiming for Kael. The battle between Kael and Drek was fierce, the clang of metal clashing with angry hisses.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. A heavy groan came from deep within the earth.
From the desert expanse, sand exploded upwards, forming giant pillars. 2 giant Desert Worms emerged, their jaws agape, their bodies scaled. The creatures ignored everyone, lunging indiscriminately. Everyone fell silent for a moment, witnessing the horror.
The Arrival of Scar
Suddenly, a man appeared. His aura was strong, pressing down on the air around him. With his sword, he split the desert worm in one swift slash. The giant monster's body split in two and crashed onto the sand.
Drek grinned, excited. "Boss!"
It was Scar, the main leader of Black Scorpion. His disheveled beard and cross-shaped scar on his face looked terrifying.
Gwen told her friends, "Be careful, he's different from the others. He uses aura, and his aura is higher than ours."
The man stared intently at the group. "So you are the ones who have disturbed our group?" he said coldly, his voice deep and menacing, then looking at all his dead members.
Eric, Kael, and Gwen gathered, forming a tight formation. Kael said, "We have to be careful. He can defeat a Grade 1 monster easily. He's at least at a Medium Aura level."
"Yes, Boss! He attacked me... I mean, us!" Drek said, happy that Scar had come.
But, unexpectedly, Scar suddenly swung his sword. With one swift slash, he cut off Drek's head. The head rolled in the sand, while Drek's body collapsed. Scar looked at Drek's corpse with a disappointing gaze. "Tch, trash. You failed. Just die."
Everyone was shocked to see his cruel treatment.
Scar then looked at them. "Alright, I'll finish all of you, and make a new group later." He prepared to attack, aura surrounding his body.
In the blink of an eye, he moved at high speed. Suddenly, he was already in front of Gwen, his sword swinging downwards. But fortunately, Eric used his Iron Shield. The shield that appeared from his buckler managed to save Gwen, blocking Scar's attack. Eric and Gwen were thrown back by the powerful shockwave from the impact, rolling in the sand.
"Damn, he's really on a different level!" Eric exclaimed as he got up.
"Are you two okay?!" Eliz shouted from afar, worried about her friends.
Eric and Gwen immediately stood up, ready again. Gwen raised her bow, aiming an arrow imbued with Wind Arrow at Scar. Eric swung his axe, launching a Horizontal Slash. Both energy attacks shot rapidly towards Scar.
However, Scar just dodged with a barely visible movement, very easily. He began to slowly walk towards them, each step full of menace.
Kael, with his abilities, used Stealth and disappeared. He appeared behind Scar, his dagger aimed at the man's neck, intending to slit it. However, Scar dodged at the last split second. Without turning around, Scar caught Kael's wrist, who was still in his hidden form.
"Oh, how interesting," Scar said, his tone calm but with interest in his eyes. "Where did you learn that skill?"
"Tchhh!" Kael hissed, caught and visible again. He tried to break free, but Scar's grip was too strong.
Scar lifted Kael high, like a baseball bat holding a ball. With one powerful swing using the flat side of his sword, he hit Kael. Kael's body flew far, hitting the sand hard, and immediately lost a lot of blood.
"Next," Scar said with a sneer, his eyes now fixed on Gwen and Eric.
Eric and Gwen fought desperately, trying to survive against Scar as best they could. Scar's aura surrounded him, making him like an untouchable shadow. He played with them, each of his attacks fast and deadly, but he intentionally didn't inflict fatal wounds, as if enjoying their suffering. Both were exhausted, panting, their muscles screaming.
As a last resort, Eric launched his shield. With all his remaining strength, he threw his Iron Shield at Scar. Scar easily parried it, the aura around him flickering, but he was knocked back a few steps by the shockwave from the impact.
His balance was slightly disturbed.
"Now, Eliz!" Eric shouted, seizing the moment.
It turned out that all their efforts—Gwen's attack, Kael's Stealth, and Eric's resistance—had bought Eliz valuable time to gather her strength. Eliz's face was pale, but her eyes were focused. A two-star magic circle appeared beneath her feet, emitting a faint purple glow.
"FIREBALL! " Eliz screamed. A fairly large ball of fire, glowing brightly with heat that could be felt from afar, manifested itself in the air. The fireball shot towards Scar at high speed.
Scar was startled. His slightly disturbed balance from Eric's shield blow prevented him from dodging perfectly.
BOOM!
A massive explosion occurred where Scar stood. Thick smoke mixed with desert dust surged high, accompanied by a flash of expanding flames. A violent tremor shook the ground. Black smoke and heat billowed high, completely covering the area. Everyone observed the sheer power of the magical explosion.
The smoke and dust slowly thinned. Scar was still standing in the small crater created by the explosion, panting. His left arm was severed above the elbow, and half his body was scorched. However, he was still standing, his eyes radiating pure anger. He had managed to activate his Body Aura just in time, a type of aura usage to extremely enhance body strength and defense.
They were all shocked to see Scar still standing, even though he was severely injured. An aura of rage emanated from Scar's body. He stared sharply at Eliz, who was already exhausted, but she stood firm to protect Mr. Zurk and Hiro.
When Scar was about to attack Eliz, Alex lunged, holding Scar back despite his weakened condition. Scar's body, also fatally wounded by Eliz's explosion, became slightly weakened. Alex managed to kick him away, maintaining distance.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you all," Alex said to Eliz, his voice hoarse. Eliz nodded, gasping for breath.
Seeing this, Scar became even angrier. He decided to unleash all his remaining aura. Scar's aura solidified, strengthening his body, and now focused on moving quickly towards Eliz and Alex. Alex and Eliz, who doubted they could withstand the attack, prepared for the worst. Gwen and Eric were also exhausted, leaning on their last reserves of strength.
As Scar was about to attack, the ground suddenly shook violently beneath him. A massive maw opened up under Scar. From within the hole, emerged a Gelioth Worm, a Grade 3 monster. Unlike regular Desert Worms, the Gelioth Worm was gigantic, about 150 meters long, and covered in diamond-hard skin. The Gelioth appeared because it sensed a large vibration from above originating from Eliz's Fireball. Without mercy, the Gelioth Worm devoured Scar from below. His body was completely swallowed into the darkness.
The seven people were startled. Consecutive dangers always befell them. Without thinking, Alex urged everyone to run towards the horses. Eric carried Kael, who was still losing blood and weak. They immediately rode away from the location.
However, with its keen senses, Gelioth could find them. The monster roared and began to chase, sliding quickly under the desert. They panicked and tried to find a way out.
"What now?" Gwen said, despair creeping into her voice. They looked around, trying to find an opening.
The giant worm chased at high speed. In front of them, they saw a hardened sand road, forming a natural bridge connecting two cliffs. They decided to head there, spurring their horses as fast as they could.
They galloped towards the hard road. But, it turned out that at the end of the road was a dead end in the form of a vast quicksand pit. The quicksand shimmered strangely, clearly impassable. They were confused, trapped between the Gelioth Worm and the quicksand. The worm would soon reach them, and the hardened sand road they were on was large enough for the giant worm to pass. They were confused because there was no time to turn back.
They looked down the cliff; there was only dark purple miasma liquid churning, and the habitat of the Skirks, poisonous scorpion monsters.
"If only my mana was still there," Eliz said, her voice despairing, "I might be able to destroy the bridge with my Fireball, but my mana is depleted after healing and that one spell."
Giving up hope, Gwen began to recall moments with her father. Her hand clutched her silver pendant tightly, tears welling up in her eyes again.
Suddenly, Alex stepped forward, standing at the very edge of the bridge, facing the approaching Gelioth Worm on the other side of the bridge. "Everyone, I will sacrifice myself!" he shouted, his voice full of bitter determination. "I will use my remaining strength and drag that Worm down into the miasma with me! You all go!" He smiled faintly backward, a farewell smile.
"Alex, no!" Gwen screamed, tears streaming down her face.
"It's okay," Alex replied, his eyes looking at Gwen, "I believe you will find your father."
"No! Don't!" Gwen cried, kneeling on the spot, looking at Alex desperately.
The worm was already in the middle of the bridge, only seconds before they met.
Suddenly, a massive fireball appeared. Twice as large as Eliz's previous Fireball, it glowed with an unnatural intensity.
"That's..." Eric mumbled, fixated.
"Eliz... is that you?!" Gwen asked, turning.
"No," Eliz replied, her eyes shifting, searching for the source of the power. "It's from..." Her gaze fell on Hiro, who now stood a few steps behind her, staring straight at the Worm, expressionless.
Gwen followed Eliz's gaze. "Hiro... you..."
Hiro nodded slightly, his golden eyes behind his glasses radiating cold calmness. "You helped me and fed me. So, I will help you now." His voice was flat, almost emotionless. "Fireball."
The gigantic fireball shot towards the Gelioth Worm. The Fireball had high explosive power, hitting the front part of the worm's body. A massive explosion occurred, splitting the air with waves of heat and deafening sound. The Gelioth Worm's diamond-hard skin was torn, and the monster was thrown down along with the collapsing bridge.
"Whoa, I didn't think you were that good, glasses man," Alex said, embracing Hiro.
"Thank you, Hiro..," Gwen said with a relieved smile on her face. They were now calm as all danger had been resolved. They decided to recover and rest first. A few days later, the group finally reached the border of the Capital. Giant stone walls loomed high, majestic gates opened, and busy traffic of people and wagons welcomed them.
"Thank you, Mr. Zurk," Gwen said, her voice sincere. "I apologize for all the trouble you got into."
Mr. Zurk offered a thin smile, a wrinkle appearing around his hollow eyes. "Well, it's alright. It was quite an enjoyable experience. Besides, it's not every day I get to see a Gelioth dancing in the desert like that.
"I ask for your cooperation in the future to get information about my father," Gwen continued, bowing slightly.
Mr. Zurk nodded. "Of course. Information always has its price, Miss. Don't hesitate. I'll be waiting for you." He then turned, disappearing into the crowd, like a shadow vanishing in daylight.
After Mr. Zurk left, Gwen looked at Hiro. "Hiro," Gwen said, her voice slightly trembling but full of sincerity, "perhaps you will find answers about your memory when you adventure with us. So, would you like to join us?"
Hiro fell silent. His eyes looked at Gwen. Seconds passed, feeling long. Then, Hiro nodded slowly.
"Alright." His voice was flat, yet implied acceptance. Suddenly, the awkward atmosphere evaporated, replaced by overwhelming joy.
"Hehe, welcome to our party, friend!" Alex said with a light laugh, patting Hiro gently on the shoulder. Eric nodded in agreement, and Kael even smiled faintly.
Gwen herself jumped with joy, a wide smile gracing her face.
Perhaps, the encounter in the desert, and the decision at this city crossroads, was fate for a larger and unexpected journey they would embark on. A new chapter had begun, and no one knew what would happen next.