As Alister’s voice rang out, Xavier quickly backed him up. “You heard him! Move!” he yelled, his words snapping the team into action.
The group leaped away from their positions, scattering across the shifting sands. The low rumbling grew deafening, and just as the last of them managed to clear the spot, the ground exploded in a rain of sand and debris.
From the heart of the disturbance emerged a monstrous sandworm, its body towering high above them.
The creature was massive, at least three stories tall when fully reared. Its segmented, sandy- yellow hide was lined with jagged ridges, glistening faintly in the harsh sunlight.
Its circular maw opened wide, revealing row after row of razor-sharp, obsidian-black teeth that seemed capable of shredding steel.
The unearthly screech it let out echoed across the desert, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present… except Alister and Cinder.
Mia stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear. “What is that thing?!” she gasped as she tried to steady herself.
“An apex predator,” Alister said coldly, his yellow eyes narrowing as he analyzed the creature.
Monster: Desert Crawler Sandworm
Rank: S
Class: Giant
Total Combat Power: 67,802 (S rank)
System remark: A monster that has a tendency to move in groups, often hunting down their prey until they rip them to pieces.
Alister’s eyes lingered on the massive sandworm, its gargantuan body poised to attack.
Though the creature’s size and power were undeniable, Alister couldn’t help but compare it to the one Ren and the others had encountered during the Wasteland Display Event. That beast had been a true nightmare, an apex predator with capabilities nearly god-like.
This one, while still immensely powerful, didn’t seem nearly as dangerous in comparison.
‘My dragons should be able to handle this one easily,’ Alister thought, his gaze flicking to Cinder, who stood nearby, awaiting his command.
Before he could act, the sandworm let out another spine-chilling roar, shaking the ground beneath them. Its massive body lunged forward, intent on crushing them all beneath its sheer size and force.
The roar reverberated through the sand, and Xavier’s voice cut through the chaos.
“All of you… prepare to engage!” Xavier ordered, his eyes sharp. He gripped his sword tighter, sensing the impending danger, but he kept a calm face as he took on a battle stance.
Chase, Derek, Karl, and Mia tensed, their bodies instinctively moving into combat-ready stances. Mia’s wind manipulation flared around her, while Chase adjusted his stance, readying icicles to strike. Karl lifted his warhammer, eyes never leaving the approaching beast, and Derek clenched his fists, ready to summon the earth beneath him to rise in defense.
But before they could make a move, the creature surged forward with terrifying speed, its massive mouth opening wide to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth.
The ground trembled beneath its charge, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing could stop it.
Then, out of nowhere, a massive burst of flames buried into it from the side, raining down onto the sandworm with intensity. The creature screeched in agony, its body writhing as the fire seared its flesh.
The flames burned hotter than anything the creature had likely ever encountered, and within moments, the sandworm stopped writhing. Its body twitched and spasmed violently before it finally collapsed, its life snuffed out by the sheer might of the flames.
The team members stood in silence, stunned, their eyes wide with awe as they watched the beast’s massive form crumble into the sand.
The desert around them was filled with the acrid scent of burnt flesh and smoldering remains. As the dust settled, they heard Alister’s voice as he suddenly spoke.
“Be careful…”
“These creatures don’t travel alone. They tend to hunt in groups.” He approached as he raised his scarf to his nose to shield himself from the dust and the rather harsh smell of the roasted
sandworm, eyeing the scorched remains of the creature.
The group stared in silence, stunned at the smoldering remains of the sandworm, reduced to nothing but dust by the sheer intensity of the attack. Chase was the first to break the silence.
“Did… did that thing just turn to ash?” he barely managed to say, his ice spears slowly melting as he lowered his hands, unable to tear his eyes away from the remains.
“Yeah,” Mia said, her voice equally breathless. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything die that fast…”
Karl let out a low whistle, gripping his warhammer tightly. “That’s a dragon for you. But seeing it in action… it’s a hell of a lot more intimidating up close like this than it ever was in the videos.”
Chase nodded, his usual caution momentarily overridden by his amazement. “I always thought they were exaggerating in those clips,” he admitted. “Guess not.”
The team’s collective gaze shifted toward Alister. Behind him stood a massive black dragon, its scales shimmering faintly under the harsh sunlight.
The creature was impossibly large, its powerful wings partially unfurled, and its glowing red eyes locked onto the horizon as though already seeking its next target.
Cinder was a living embodiment of raw power, and standing in her shadow was enough to make even the most hardened warriors feel small.
Xavier snapped out of his awe and addressed Alister. “Understood, Mr. Alister,” he said with a curt nod. Turning back to his team, he yelled,
“Stay sharp! That was one, but more could be coming any second now!”
As if on cue, the ground beneath them began to tremble once more, a small vibration that
rapidly grew into a violent rumble. Sand shifted unnaturally, small dunes collapsing as
another disturbance moved below the surface.
In the tension, Alister suddenly heard a voice in his mind, soft and familiar, with a faint touch
of sorrow.
‘My lord… This place… it used to belong to my people.’
Terra’s voice echoed in his thoughts. ‘One of many sanctuaries where we kept our records and histories safe.’
Alister’s yellow eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the shifting sands. He replied inwardly,
‘I’d gathered as much. The name of this place made it pretty obvious.’
‘What is it?’
‘You sound uneasy… is there something-‘
Before he could finish, he suddenly heard the system’s voice in his head.
[New Quest!]
[Quest: Piece of an Overlord’s Sword]
Description:
As an Overlord, it is your sacred duty to safeguard and reclaim the divine gift bestowed upon
your kind by the Creator, the Dragon God Sword, Restria. This sacred blade was a symbol of the unyielding strength and unity of the dragon race, an embodiment of their bond with their
creator.
However, during a catastrophic battle long ago, a past Overlord faced an unimaginable foe… a Finger of ####. Though victorious, the battle came at a devastating cost: Restria was shattered into countless fragments, its divine essence scattered across the realms.
One of these fragments lies dormant within the ruins beneath your feet, its power faint but
unmistakable. It has awaited the day when a worthy Overlord would arrive to claim it and begin restoring the Dragon God’s legacy.
Objective:
Enter the ruins and locate the fragment of Restria.
Defeat any challenges or guardians that protect the sacred piece.
Claim the fragment and awaken its dormant power.
Rewards:
Fragment of Restria (1/??)
Unlocks new skill: Dragon God Body (EX) – (level requirement of 60)
EXP: 50,000
Unlock your unique trait: Fateless
System Remark:
“Prove your worth as an Overlord. Restore what was lost and reignite the forgotten glory of
your race. But beware: the weight of divine legacy draws both protectors and predators alike.”
‘A quest…. That’s the largest amount of XP I’ve ever seen a quest give before.’ Alister’s thoughts raced as he looked at the quest window.
‘Fatless… What is that supposed to mean… I’ve never seen anything about a unique trait in any of my dragons before… Is it similar to a bloodline ability?’
Suddenly the ground shook violently once more, several more sandworms erupted from
beneath the shifting sands, their massive forms towering over the group. Their roars pierced the air, each monstrous predator fixating its countless rows of razor-sharp teeth on the team.
Xavier’s sharp voice echoed, brimming with energy and confidence. “Charge forward!” he commanded, his green eyes blazing with his mana. “And try not to die while you’re at it!” Without hesitation, Xavier leaped forward, his orange hair catching the sunlight as he surged
toward the nearest sandworm. With a powerful swing of his sword, he sliced through the beast’s hardened hide, carving a deep, jagged wound.
Turning around with precision, he rolled beneath the lunging maw of another worm, driving
his blade upward into its vulnerable underbelly.
One by one, Xavier felled the sandworms, his enhanced strength making each strike
devastatingly effective.
Chase, Karl, Derek, and Mia glanced at each other briefly, their unspoken communication
solidifying their resolve. Together, they charged toward one of the other sandworms, each member seamlessly falling into position.
Chase’s ice spears shot through the air, striking the beast’s sides and slowing its movements.
Mia dashed forward, her wind manipulation propelling her toward its vulnerable spots, slicing through its flesh with rapid sword strikes.
Derek slammed his gauntlets into the ground, causing jagged spikes of earth to erupt and pierce the creature’s undercarriage, causing a loud screech from the sandworm.
Karl brought up the rear, his warhammer glowing faintly as he swung with all his might, shattering the beast’s skull-like crown in a single blow.
The sandworm collapsed into the sand with a thunderous crash, its writhing body finally
going limp. The group stood panting, glancing at each other with a sense of accomplishment before quickly returning their focus to the remaining monsters.
In the midst of the chaos, Karl, standing in the swirling sands and heat, couldn’t help but
glance toward Alister. He frowned, noticing the summoner standing strangely still, as if lost in thought.
“Why does Mr. Summoner suddenly seem out of it?” Karl muttered, his grip tightening on his
warhammer.