The sun was high as the Rising Heroes continued their journey across the desert. The endless sand stretched far in every direction, and the horizon shimmered with heat. Their steps were heavy, but their determination kept them moving. The wind that had once been a gentle breeze began to grow stronger. It blew grains of sand into their faces, making them squint and cover their mouths.
Adrian narrowed his eyes. "The wind is odd today," he said slowly. "It feels somewhat strange."
Sera hugged her cloak tighter. "It's same as yesterday, and yet the wind feels heavy."
The group walked carefully. Each step sank into the soft sand. They all felt it, the strange, sharp sensation that they were being watched. The desert was silent except for the rushing wind, but there was something else hiding in that silence.
Then, without warning, the sand around them shook. Two large creatures burst out from beneath the surface, scattering dust and stone as they revealed themselves.
Adrian's eyes widened. "Scorvex!" he exclaimed.
The Scorvex were terrifying scorpion like beasts. Their bodies were long and armored with thick, dark shells that gleamed under the sunlight. Each one stood as tall as a horse, with massive claws strong enough to crush stone. Their tails were curved high above their backs, ending with sharp stingers that dripped with venom. Their eyes, glowing faintly yellow, locked onto the heroes with hunger.
Fizzle floated back and shouted, "Why is it always something big and scary?! Can't it be a rabbit for once?"
The Scorvex let out shrill screeches, their claws snapping as they prepared to attack. The heroes drew their weapons, spreading into formation.
The fight was sharp but quick. Drakar flew above, swinging his axe down onto one of the beasts' armored back. The blow cracked the shell, making the monster scream. Adrian moved swiftly, aiming for the soft gaps in the joints of its legs with his blade. Lila dashed to the side, distracting the second Scorvex with her quick strikes, while Doran slammed his hammer onto the sand, sending tremors that knocked the creature off balance. Sera, from behind, used her spell to target their exposed eyes.
With teamwork and speed, the two Scorvex fell, their bodies collapsing heavily into the sand. The heroes caught their breaths, but the desert was far from calm.
The ground began to rumble. At first it was faint, like distant thunder. Then it grew stronger, shaking the sand beneath their feet. The heroes looked around quickly, weapons still in hand.
From the earth itself, a much larger beast emerged. The sand exploded upward like a wave, and a massive shadow rose above them.
Adrian whispered in shock, "Great Scorvex…"
The Great Scorvex was twice the size of the first two. Its body was covered in even thicker armor, glowing faintly with crimson lines that pulsed like fire. Its claws were jagged and sharp, each as large as a man. Its tail, long and powerful, carried a stinger the size of a spear. The beast roared, a deafening screech that echoed across the desert, shaking the group to their bones.
Fizzle's jaw dropped. "Nope. Nope. That thing is unfair!"
Drakar smirked. "Bigger target, easier to hit." He tightened his grip on his axe and flew up again.
The Great Scorvex charged forward, its claws snapping with thunderous force. Doran rushed in bravely, slamming his hammer against the ground to draw its attention. The desert floor cracked beneath the impact. The beast turned toward him and lashed its tail, forcing him to raise his hammer in defense. The stinger struck with enough power to dig into the sand, barely missing him.
Adrian dashed forward, his movements sharp and precise. He struck at the legs, aiming for the joints. Sparks flew as his blade scraped against the armor, but the beast's shell was tougher than steel.
Lila darted around, using her agility to distract it. She shouted, "Go for the weak spots! The joints! The underbelly!"
Drakar swooped down from above, landing a powerful strike on the beast's back. His axe cracked part of the armor, but the monster shrieked and whipped its tail upward, knocking him off balance. Drakar managed to twist midair and land on his feet, but his expression grew serious.
Sera, keeping calm, readied her spell. She released roots one after another, aiming for the glowing crimson lines along its body. One root pierced through, and the Great Scorvex roared louder, shaking violently as if in pain.
The battle raged on, with sand flying in every direction. Doran slammed his hammer down with all his strength, creating a tremor that caused the beast to stumble. Lila took the chance, leaping onto its side and striking fast at the cracked shell Drakar had weakened.
Adrian followed with a sharp thrust into the gap, piercing deeper this time. The beast screeched, thrashing wildly. Its tail struck the ground, nearly impaling Fizzle, who scrambled away with a scream.
Finally, with one last combined effort, Drakar's axe smashing into its back, Adrian's blade stabbing through the joint the Great Scorvex let out a final shriek before collapsing onto the sand with a heavy crash.
Silence returned to the desert, broken only by the heroes' exhausted breathing.
Fizzle fell on the sand, panting. "I swear… if one more giant monster shows up, I'm going to eat sand instead of food."
Lila laughed softly. "We'll survive. We always do."
With the danger gone, the group continued their journey. The sand stretched on, but at last, in the distance, they saw structures rising from the horizon. A town...walls, roofs, and towers built from stone and clay, standing proudly in the desert.
They had reached Ula Town, the farthest town of the Cero Kingdom in the west. Relief filled them as they entered the gates. They quickly delivered the goods they had carried all this way. The guild welcomed them with gratitude, and the heroes felt proud of their efforts.
After the delivery, they decided to stay in Ula Town for a few days to rest. The air of the town was different, busy, lively, and yet full of mystery. Something in the streets whispered of new adventures waiting to unfold.
---
That night, Lila sat quietly in her room at the inn. The laughter of her friends echoed faintly from the other side of the wall, but her thoughts were heavy. She leaned against the window, staring at the moonlit desert.
Her mind drifted to her father. His worried face when she left, his voice filled with concern, his constant protection. She felt a knot of guilt tighten in her chest. She hadn't told him the truth—about the corrupted core, about her fight with Varnex. She had hidden it from him, afraid of his reaction, afraid of making him worry even more.
"I'm sorry, Dad…" she whispered.
She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. A quiet promise formed in her heart.
"When I become an S-Rank Adventurer… when I'm strong enough… I'll tell you everything. I swear."