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Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Welcome to the Desert Realm

The serpent door yawned open with a hiss of sand. Hot wind rushed in, dry and heavy, carrying the scent of sun-baked stone. Lin blinked against the sudden brightness as he stepped through.

They emerged onto a cliff overlooking an endless ocean of dunes. The sun hung low and red in the sky. Ancient ruins jutted from the sand like the bones of forgotten beasts.

Lin shaded his eyes. "Okay… this is new. Big, hot, and empty."

Crystal's voice echoed softly. "The Desert Realm. Twice the size of the jungle. Twice the death rate. And about ten times the thirst."

Lin groaned. "Great. I hate sand. It's coarse, rough, irritating, and it gets everywhere."

Elara snorted. "Please tell me that was a Star Wars reference."

Nyra stepped to the edge, her staff glowing faintly. "We must reach the Oasis of Veyra before nightfall. Without shelter, the sands themselves will devour us."

Lin blinked. "The sands will what now?"

---

The Shifting Sands

They descended the cliff onto the dunes. The sand shifted strangely beneath their boots, almost alive. Heat shimmered across the horizon.

A faint rumble echoed underfoot.

Lin froze. "Did the ground just growl at me?"

Crystal purred. "Sand worms. Big ones. Bigger than buses."

"Perfect," Lin muttered. "From lava fish to giant worms. Loving the upgrade."

Nyra glanced back. "Stay close. Do not run. The vibrations draw them."

Elara frowned. "So we're just… strolling through a worm buffet?"

Lin gripped his club. "If one of those things pops out, I'm respawning back in the jungle."

---

First Glimpse

They trudged across a dune, sweat soaking through their clothes. Suddenly, the sand ahead bulged. A crack split open, and something massive shifted beneath. A pale, ridged shape, like the back of a colossal snake, slid just below the surface before vanishing again.

Lin's eyes widened. "Oh no. Oh no no no no…"

Crystal whispered gleefully: "Here we go."

A geyser of sand exploded nearby. A gigantic, circular mouth lined with ringed teeth burst from the dune, snapping shut with a thunderous crunch before sinking back below.

Lin yelped, nearly tripping. "IT'S REAL! IT'S REAL!"

Nyra remained perfectly calm. "Keep moving. Slowly."

Elara's knuckles whitened on her bow. "I hate this place already."

---

The Oasis

Hours later, as the sun dipped lower, a glimmer of green appeared on the horizon — palm trees clustered around a shimmering pool. Ancient stone pillars rose from the sands, carved with serpentine runes.

Lin exhaled. "Oh thank god. Water."

Crystal's tone turned sharp. "Careful. Oases here are traps as often as they're safe."

"Why are you telling me this now?"

They approached cautiously. The water was crystal-clear, reflecting the red sky. A faint humming filled the air.

Nyra stopped. "This is no ordinary oasis. It is a gate."

Lin blinked. "A gate to what?"

The water rippled. Something stirred beneath its surface — not fish, but a faint, glowing shape, humanoid and snake-like at once.

Elara whispered, "Uh… guys?"

The water burst upward, forming a towering column that coalesced into a figure — a woman with a serpent's tail, eyes like molten gold. She wore ancient armor of sand and jade.

Her voice hissed across the dunes. "You have entered my domain without tribute."

Lin groaned. "Why is it always a boss fight?"

Crystal whispered with delight. "Oh, she's going to be fun."

To be continued…

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