The sun blazed mercilessly above the desert, its scorching heat baking the golden sands below. Ten days had passed since Kent and Grizzac began their arduous journey. Their once vibrant attire was now faded and dusty, their faces caked with layers of sand and sweat.
Kent squinted at the horizon, shielding his eyes from the relentless glare. “Are we even halfway there? It feels like we’ve been walking forever.”
Grizzac, the old dwarf demon, gave a curt nod. “Aye, lad. At this pace, we’ve covered half the distance. Seven more days, give or take, and we’ll reach the Shrine of Eternal Sands.”
Kent sighed, kicking at the sand beneath his boots. “Seven days? Might as well be seven years in this infernal heat.”
“Patience, boy. Great treasures don’t come easy.” Grizzac chuckled dryly, his voice raspy from dehydration.
As they trudged forward, Kent glanced at the old man. “You’ve been pretty tight-lipped about yourself. Care to share what drove you to this desolate desert?”
Grizzac sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of his memories bore down on him. “It’s not a tale I like to tell, but I will be proud to share it with the person who killed the demon prince.”
“Years ago, my people—the dwarf demons—were crushed under the heel of the greater demon clans. They coveted our lands, the very earth we called home, and we fought to protect it.”
Kent walked silently beside him, sensing the depth of Grizzac’s pain.
“They overwhelmed us,” Grizzac continued, his voice thick with sorrow. “Our villages burned, our kin slaughtered. I was the leader then, but I failed them. I couldn’t protect my people… or my daughter.”
Kent’s steps faltered. “Your daughter?”
“Aye,” Grizzac nodded, his voice breaking slightly. “We were separated in the chaos. I searched for her, but the flames swallowed all traces. I’ve spent years wandering, searching, hoping…”
Kent placed a hand on Grizzac’s shoulder. “You’re not to blame, old man. You did what you could. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that guilt doesn’t help the past—it only ruins the future.”
Grizzac gave a faint smile. “Wise words for someone so young.”
Kent chuckled. “I’ve had my share of struggles. But we’ll make this journey worth it. Whatever treasures we find, I’ll only take what I need. The rest is yours.”
The old man’s eyes glimmered with gratitude. “You’ve got a good heart, lad. And the Shrine of Eternal Sands… it’s been my life’s obsession. I found the clues to its location in an old manual passed down through my people. That manual spoke of its wonders, its dangers. But what really matters is finding someone worthy to enter its depths.”
“Well, you found me, didn’t you?” Kent grinned.
“Aye, that I did.” Grizzac chuckled, a rare warmth in his laugh.
As they continued walking, Kent reached into spirit ring and pulled out a small, slumbering creature— the baby dragon with shimmering scales that reflected the sunlight like molten gold.
Grizzac raised an eyebrow. “What a nice creature. What’s his name?”
Kent nodded, gently stroking the dragon’s tiny head. “His name’s Ignis. This baby dragon is the reason for me to reach the Shrine of Eternal sands. I want to help it evolve.”
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Grizzac’s eyes widened. “You mean to say you know about the dragon’s evolution?”
“Exactly! The shrine is said to hold an artifact. It’s supposed to awaken the dormant power within a dragon and evolve it.” Kent’s face lit up with excitement.
Grizzac stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Hmm. That lines up with what I read in the manual. There’s indeed a relic within the shrine—something that radiates immense power. It could very well be what you seek.”
“That’s all I needed to hear!” Kent’s pace quickened, enthusiasm driving him forward.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, lad. The shrine is no picnic. It’s riddled with traps, trials, and… other things.” Grizzac chuckled.
“I’m ready for anything.” Kent waved him off with a confident grin.
The desert was eerily quiet as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the dunes. Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet shifted.
Kent froze. “Did you feel that?”
Grizzac frowned, his eyes scanning the sands. “Aye. The ground’s moving…”
Before they could react, the sand collapsed beneath them. Both of them cried out as they slid downward, a torrent of golden grains swallowing them whole.
“Damn it!” Kent shouted, summoning his golden throne. He leapt onto it, trying to steady himself above the sinkhole. “Grizzac! Grab hold!”
The old man reached for the throne, but the sand pulled him down faster. “Too late, lad! It’s got me!”
Their descent came to an abrupt halt. At first, it felt as though they had landed in a shallow pit, but the air grew heavy, oppressive. Then came the tightening—a whip-like grip that wrapped around their bodies.
“What the hell is this?” Kent gasped, struggling against the invisible force.
Grizzac’s eyes widened in horror. “It’s not a sinkhole… it’s moving!”
The sands exploded upward as a massive pillar-like arm burst forth, its length stretching nearly a mile. The sheer size of it made the ground tremble as more limbs emerged, each one wild and covered in scales that gleamed like molten metal.
At the end of the mile long hands, a monstrous round shaped creature surfaced. It had no legs or body to speak of—only a globular form anchored to the ground like a tree. Atop its head was a single, massive eye in burning red colour. Below the eye, a gaping mouth stretched wide, filled with rows of jagged teeth that churned endlessly.
The creature let out a deafening roar, its voice a guttural symphony of hunger and malice.
“What the hell is that thing?!” Grizzac shouted in horror.
“Damn it!” Kent cursed, trying to get out of the one eyed monster’s grip.
“Lad!” Grizzac shouted. “We’re in its feeding zone. If we don’t escape, we’re as good as dead!”
The creature roared again, its massive eye focusing on them. The hands moved close as the monster prepared to consume its prey.
Kent gritted his teeth, his mind racing. “We’re not dying here. Not this way.”
Grizzac’s voice trembled. “Then think fast, lad. It’s about to feed.”