Chris knew Stripes loved to eat beast Heartstones, but the Sand Wraith’s Heartstone was different.
The Sand Wraith Heartstone was far more valuable than ordinary beast Heartstones, worth significantly more Essence Stones. Because of this, Chris was reluctant to let Stripes have it.
When Stripes realized Chris wasn’t going to share the Sand Wraith Heartstone, it let out a dissatisfied growl.
Sighing in defeat, Chris pulled an ordinary beast Heartstone from his storage ring and tossed it to Stripes. The beast devoured it eagerly, its mood seemingly restored.
Suddenly, a low rumble echoed from the distance. A massive wave of sand was rapidly approaching.
“Sandstorm!”
Chris’s face turned pale at the sight. Sandstorms in the desert were deadly-an encounter often meant certain death.
“Stripes, we need to move!” Chris shouted. Without hesitation, he and Stripes dashed behind a nearby sand dune for shelter.
The sky darkened as an endless tempest of sand roared through the air. In the Silent Dunes, sandstorms were among the most dangerous phenomena. Many who encountered them never came out alive.
But Chris, with his experience in wilderness survival, knew how to handle such crises. Yet, this storm was so massive that escape was already impossible.
As he glanced upward, Chris froze. In the distance, a towering tornado swirled violently, carrying with it an immense volume of sand.
“A desert storm!” Chris gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Unlike an ordinary sandstorm, a desert storm was far more terrifying. Anything caught within it-whether man or beast-would be obliterated. Even if one survived the storm’s crushing winds, they would likely be hurled hundreds of feet into the air, only to plummet back to the ground.
The storm was closing in fast, and Chris knew escape was futile.
“What now? What do we do?” Chris muttered, despair creeping into his voice.
The Silent Dunes had truly earned its reputation as one of Aethelgard’s Ten Forbidden Zones. First, he had faced a Sand Wraith. Then, a sandstorm. And now, this monstrous desert storm.
Desperation surged in him as he turned to Stripes. “Stripes, dig! Dig a hole now!”
At his command, Stripes began clawing furiously at the sand, its sharp talons carving through the earth with remarkable speed. Within seconds, it had dug a sizable pit.
Chris and Stripes jumped in without a moment to lose.
The desert storm arrived with a deafening roar. Winds howled, and countless grains of sand battered their shelter. Chris struggled to hold his position, feeling as though the wind could rip him away at any moment.
As the storm raged, Chris was struck by how insignificant he felt before nature’s fury. The world around him became a swirling chaos of sand and shadow, as if the apocalypse had come.
The wind’s strength was almost unbearable, and Chris clung to the pit desperately. The sandstorm struck him like knives, each grain cutting into his skin. His durable body provided little protection from the relentless barrage, and the pain was excruciating.
Time passed in a haze of grit and despair. Chris didn’t know how long the storm lasted, but finally, the winds began to relent.
When the storm subsided, Chris cautiously emerged from the pit. The desert around him was unrecognizable. The once-familiar dunes had been swept away, leaving behind a barren expanse of sand.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Chris wiped the sweat from his brow. If they hadn’t dug the pit in time, the outcome would have been disastrous.
The next day, Chris and Stripes resumed their journey. The desert storm had left a deep impression on Chris. Even a powerful Solstice warrior would struggle to survive such a catastrophe.
Days passed, and they still hadn’t escaped the Silent Dunes. Along the way, they encountered more Sand Wraiths. Thankfully, Chris and Stripes had grown adept at working together and managed to slay the creatures.
Chris noted that every Sand Wraith Heartstone was yellow and contained potent earth-element energy.
Over the course of those days, Chris gained a deeper understanding of the Silent Dunes’ dangers. The area was rife with powerful Sand Wraiths and plagued by natural disasters-sandstorms, desert storms, and tornadoes among them.
Only the slightest mistake was needed to meet an untimely end.
Chris took a sip from his water flask before handing it to Stripes. Staring out at the endless expanse of yellow sand, he couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
The Silent Dunes offered no trace of green. Unlike most deserts, there wasn’t a single oasis in sight. Chris had been walking for days but hadn’t come across any sign of life.
Then, he spotted something in the distance.
A massive ancient city loomed on the horizon.
“How is this possible?” Chris muttered in disbelief.
A city, deep in the desert?
He quickly tempered his excitement. In the desert, mirages were common. The ancient city could easily be an illusion.
As he approached, however, Chris realized this was no mirage.
The city walls rose before him, constructed entirely of hardened earth. Much of the city was buried under the sand, and an air of ancient desolation hung heavy in the atmosphere.
Chris stepped closer, inspecting the towering walls. Though the city had long since fallen into ruin, its grandeur was still evident.
Massive, crumbling structures pierced the sky, hinting at a once-glorious past.
As Chris ventured into the city, an ominous feeling gnawed at him. He couldn’t shake the sense that something dangerous was lurking within the ruins.
Though time had left the city broken and decayed, its lingering majesty painted a vivid picture of its former splendor.