Chaos swallowed the settlement. The earth convulsed, splitting the streets with deep, jagged cracks. Terror-stricken Settlers scrambled in every direction, their panicked cries drowned beneath the thunderous tremors—the unmistakable warning.
The worm was coming.
Then—WHOOSH.
A gust of displaced air.
Ash and Kael materialized in the center of the settlement, their sudden appearance so unnatural that some Settlers gasped, clutching at their chests as if ghosts had stepped into their midst.
Old Man Mark was already waiting. He stood unmoving amid the hysteria, his sharp gaze locking onto them the moment they arrived.
"So?" His voice was steady, measured.
Ash exhaled. "Help is coming. But they won't make it in time. We have to stall the worm until Max finishes his part."
Kael rolled his shoulders, fire flickering to life along his knuckles. A smirk curled his lips. "I've got enough juice left to finish this thing myself."
Mark shot Ash a wary look, his expression asking the silent question: Is he serious?
Ash sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… about that, Kael. There's something we haven't told you yet."
Kael's smirk faded. "What?"
BOOM!
A shockwave of force erupted through the Settlement.
A rooftop exploded, debris scattering like shrapnel.
The shadow that emerged was monstrous.
The worm had surfaced.
It loomed over the settlement, its head alone dwarfing the surrounding buildings. The air trembled as it unleashed a guttural, bone-rattling roar, sending ripples of pressure tearing through the atmosphere.
Kael's stance shifted, his eyes narrowing. "Shit… it regenerated this fast?"
It had changed. The fleshy half of its body still pulsed, raw and exposed—but something new had formed. Fragments of rock fused with its skin, layering like a growing exoskeleton, each slab reinforcing its armored hide.
Ash's hands clenched into fists. "Yeah… but that also means we have a window to take it down before it fully hardens."
Kael slammed his fists together. Flames erupted up his arms. "Good. That means I can actually do some damage this time."
Then—the worm moved.
Its massive head lurched, sending an avalanche of sand and stone crashing into the Settlement.
Screams.
People scrambled for cover. Some bolted, others froze in sheer terror. The dust choked the air, thick as smoke.
Then—THUD!
The Creature slammed its colossal head into the earth, dragging its enormous form through the heart of the settlement. Buildings folded like paper, entire structures collapsing into rubble. The ground split beneath it, cracking like glass under pressure.
People were flung back by the impact.
And then—Kael grinned.
He stepped forward, fire spiraling up his arms, the orange glow reflecting in his eyes.
"Alright then…" His grin widened, embers dancing around him.
"Let's burn this thing down."
Kael thrust his palm forward.
A fireball the size of a boulder erupted from his hands, blazing through the air before colliding with the sandworm's thick hide.
BOOM!
Flames surged upon impact, scorching through flesh and stone. The worm let out a shrill, ear-splitting screech, its colossal form writhing in agony.
Then—it burrowed.
Kael's grin faltered. "Wait—"
The ground shuddered beneath them, a deep, rolling tremor.
Ash's eyes widened. "Shit… this is bad."
He moved before thinking, time warping around him.
Everything slowed.
He grabbed the nearest Settlers, yanking them out of harm's way as dust and rubble hovered midair. His body blurred as he darted between them, pulling more to safety.
Then—
Time resumed.
BOOM!
The ground exploded, a geyser of rock and sand erupting skyward as the worm lunged from below, its massive head slicing through the settlement like a blade.
Kael hit the ground, skidding back. He exhaled sharply, cracking his neck. "So fire's its new weakness?" He let out a cocky laugh. "Then leave it to me. I'll kill it in no time."
He pushed forward—
A hand caught his wrist.
Kael frowned. "What the hell—"
Ash's grip was firm. "No. We're not killing it."
Kael's expression darkened. "Why the hell not?"
The worm lifted its eyeless head, its posture unnervingly focused.
Ash pointed at it. "Because if we do, the other worms will come. That thing is the only reason they haven't attacked yet."
Kael's smirk faded. "…Shit."
Then—
WHOOSH.
The worm lunged.
A tidal wave of sand followed its charge, its massive form moving too fast for something its size.
Kael's instincts flared. "Wait… is it just me, or is that thing looking at us?"
Ash's eyes narrowed. "Looking?"
Then—BOOM!
The worm struck.
But they vanished.
The Creature halted mid-charge, its massive head jerking around in confusion.
Across the battlefield, ash reappeared with kael and the others, standing on the far side of the settlement.
Kael turned, smirking. "Like I said—you're useful."
Ash scowled. "Shut up."
The worm shifted, locking onto them.
Ash sighed. "Looks like it's after you."
Kael grinned. "Of course it is. I'm the strongest one here."
Ash scoffed. "Yeah? Then have fun."
The worm surged forward.
Kael blinked. "Wait—"
He turned. Ash was gone.
Across the battlefield, Ash waved. "Sorry! Can't risk the Settlers being near you!"
Kael clenched his fists. "You little—"
WHOOSH.
The worm lunged—but Kael blasted upward, flames roaring from his feet as he shot into the sky.
The Creature halted, its head tilting upward, following him—
Then—
It turned.
Not toward Kael.
Toward Ash.
Ash stiffened. "…What?"
Then, with terrifying speed—
It charged.
Ash's breath came slow and steady, but his heart hammered against his ribs.
"Shit… so it was after me all this time."
Old Man Mark, standing amidst the chaos, didn't look surprised. "It's a Tier 6 creature. It has intelligence. Taking out the annoying one first increases its chances of winning."
'Annoying one?'
Ash swallowed, his grip tightening around his blade. He forced his mind to focus.
"No choice. I have to fight."
He turned to Mark. "Get everyone somewhere safe. I'll keep it busy."
Mark hesitated—just for a second—then gave a sharp nod before vanishing into the dust and screams, leading the settlers away.
Ash exhaled, shifting into a stance. His eyes locked onto the sandworm as its enormous form twisted, its head lowering, preparing to strike—
Then—
It burrowed.
Ash tensed. "…What the—?"
The ground beneath him cracked.
"Ash! Behind you!"
Kael's voice—urgent.
A massive tail erupted from the earth, slicing through the air like a whip.
Ash turned—his veins flared—time slowed.
The world blurred into muted grays as he pivoted, every detail sharp, every second stretched.
Then—he saw it.
A monstrous maw, lined with serrated teeth, inches from his back.
Trapped.
To his left—the tail. To his right—the gaping mouth.
No time. No room.
Ash twisted, his blade flashing—
Time resumed.
SHLNK!
Steel bit deep into the worm's flesh.
A piercing, unnatural shriek tore through the battlefield. The worm's body spasmed, jerking away in agony before vanishing underground.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Fire rained from the sky.
Kael hovered above, arms stretched wide, launching molten orbs into the crater.
Flames devoured the battlefield, turning sand to glass. Smoke and embers filled the air, a suffocating haze hanging over the ruins.
Then—silence.
Kael scanned the battlefield, muscles coiled, waiting.
Ash exhaled, eyes flickering through the dust. Something's wrong.
Then—
"Kael—!"
A monstrous shadow loomed overhead.
Kael turned—just in time.
The worm erupted from the ground, its entire mass launching skyward.
It blotted out the sun.
Kael's pulse spiked. "Holy shit."
For a moment, time froze.
The sheer size of it—the sheer weight—sent a primal fear rippling through the air.
Then—
It descended.
A living avalanche.
Kael's instincts flared—he flung his hands forward, blasting himself backward with a surge of fire—
CRASH.
The impact devastated the settlement.
Buildings collapsed. The ground split apart.
A shockwave tore through the air, sending debris flying, choking the battlefield in dust and ruin.
Then—movement.
The worm coiled within the wreckage.
And slowly—
It turned its head.
Empty sockets locked onto Ash.
Then—
The worm lunged, its grotesque mass carving through the ruins like a living disaster.
Ash charged to meet it.
BOOM!
His boots struck the earth, his figure blurring—inhuman speed carrying him through the crumbling wreckage. The settlement twisted around him, debris raining as he wove past collapsing walls. His blade gleamed, the dark sheen of Nightveil Drought catching the flickering light.
Above—
Kael hovered, flames curling around his arms like living serpents. His gaze never left the Creature. He couldn't kill it.
But he could keep it away from the survivors.
"Oi, ugly! You like fire, don't you?"
He flung a wall of searing heat—not at the worm, but around it. The sand hardened into molten rock, glowing red-hot, forming a prison of fire.
The worm reared back, releasing a piercing shriek.
But it wasn't pain.
It was fury.
Below—
Ash twisted, dodging as the worm's tail whipped past him. The sheer force split the air, sending a shockwave through the battlefield.
Too close.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Damn it… not enough cuts."
The drug wasn't working yet.
He needed more—deeper wounds, more poison in its veins.
Above, Kael shouted, "How long until that stuff kicks in?"
Ash's jaw tightened. "I need more hits. It won't give me an opening."
Kael smirked. "Then let's make one."
A controlled explosion of fire—not an attack, but a push.
The worm twisted, instinctively avoiding the flames. Its massive body jerked—
And Ash was already moving.
WHOOSH.
A blur of shadow.
His blade struck deep, slicing through the Creature's underbelly.
SLASH!
Dark ichor sprayed as the steel carved through flesh.
The worm screamed—a sound that rattled the bones—before it slammed its body downward in retaliation.
But Ash was gone.
He landed lightly, blade dripping, breath steady despite the pounding in his ears.
Kael let out a low whistle. "Nice. How many more?"
Ash exhaled, gaze locked onto the Creature. "A lot."
Kael rolled his shoulders, flames licking up his arms. "Then let's get to work."
The worm's rage boiled over. It slammed its tail down—
The earth ruptured.
Cracks split the battlefield. The air turned thick with dust and smoke.
Ash tightened his grip, then he move.
Fire and steel crashing against ancient flesh. Ash and Kael were a blur, their movements perfectly in sync, each strike complementing the other's in a deadly dance.
Ash's blade sank deep into the worm's side. The creature recoiled, its massive form thrashing violently, trying to shake off the venomous wound.
Kael hovered above, his arms blazing with fire. He unleashed a stream of flames around the worm, forcing it to stay mobile. But the worm wasn't just reacting anymore. It was adapting.
Ash darted sideways, narrowly avoiding the worm's tail as it slammed into the ground. The force cracked the earth beneath him, sending debris flying in all directions.
"It's getting smarter." Ash's voice was low, strained as he rolled to his feet.
"I know!" Kael shouted from above, his hands glowing with intense heat. "It's not charging blindly anymore. It's thinking."
Ash's gaze locked onto the worm. It twisted its massive body at odd angles, its movements deliberate, calculating. Its tail spun around, knocking aside one of Kael's fireballs like it had expected the attack.
"Damn!" Kael cursed, frustration clear in his voice. "It's learning too fast!"
Ash, breath ragged, shot a quick glance at Kael. "We can't kill it, remember? But we need to stop it from figuring us out."
The worm's guttural growl vibrated the air as it twisted to face Ash, its eyeless head locking onto him, its movements more deliberate now.
Ash's heart pounded. It knows I'm the one dealing the most damage.
In an instant, the worm shifted, moving with an unnatural speed for such a massive creature. Ash had only a split second to react as the worm's head shot toward him, its jaws opening wide.
"Ash, move!" Kael's voice rang out, panic edging his tone.
Ash didn't hesitate. With a flash of motion, his blade cut into the worm's face, sinking deep into its hide, but the creature was faster than before. The worm slammed its head into the ground with a terrifying crash, the shockwave shaking the earth beneath them.
"No time to catch our breath!" Ash gritted his teeth, his mind racing. Every second they wasted gave the worm more time to adapt.
Kael's fiery barrage continued, but the worm had already learned to anticipate the attacks, swatting the fireballs aside with its stone-like tail.
Ash and Kael exchanged a look, knowing they had to change their strategy. The worm wasn't just reacting anymore—it was predicting their every move.
"It's learning the rhythm of our attacks," Ash muttered, frustration biting at his words as he observed the creature's intelligent focus.
Kael nodded grimly. "We need to change it up, fast. It's not just a monster anymore."
The ground trembled again, a warning that the worm was preparing for its next move.
"I'll get its attention," Kael said, fire igniting around his fists. "You go for the weak spot. If we don't act fast, it's game over!"
Ash's heart pounded as he nodded. This was their only chance.
Kael hurled a massive fireball toward the worm's tail, hoping to break through its armor. The explosion rattled the air, but the worm slid its tail out of the way, adapting yet again.
"Not enough!" Kael growled, eyes burning with frustration. "It's only getting smarter!"
As the smoke cleared, the worm's head shot back up, moving with blinding speed. It charged straight for Ash, its massive body cutting through the air like a deadly storm.
In the split-second before impact, Ash's eyes locked with the creature's. It wasn't just a Creature anymore—it was something far worse. Its eyeless gaze held an intelligence that sent a chill down his spine.
With no time to waste, Ash sprinted sideways, barely avoiding the worm's head as it snapped toward him. The sheer force of the creature's movement sent shockwaves through the ground, but Ash was already out of reach.
The worm's head jerked back, and with a horrible screech, it dove back into the earth.
"What the hell? It's retreating."
"Not retreating," Ash corrected, eyes narrowing as he watched the ground beneath them crack. "It's flanking us."
The worm's massive body slithered beneath the surface, the earth quaking with each movement.
"We can't let it get away! It's learning how to control the battlefield!" Ash shouted.
Beneath them, the ground split open as the worm shot out from below, its armored tail crashing through the air like a wrecking ball. Ash and Kael barely had time to react.
Ash slashed with his blade, cutting deep into the worm's underbelly, but it wasn't enough. The creature howled in fury, its head rising again, this time locking on Ash with terrifying focus.
Ash took a shaky breath, his muscles screaming in protest. The worm's gaze bore into him, its body coiling with eerie precision. It wasn't just reacting anymore—it was anticipating.
He risked a glance at Kael, who stood a few paces away, his stance wavering. They were both running out of options.
Ash clenched his jaw. 'Think. There has to be a way.'
The worm shifted again, its body tensing. Another attack was coming.
Ash dodge the attack, his mind racing.
They weren't meant to kill it. If they were, this fight wouldn't be dragging on. Kael had the power—but they weren't using it.
A bitter frustration settled in his chest. 'The only plan I've got left is with the Nightveil Drought, and it's barely working.'
The worm surged forward again, its immense form charging with terrifying speed. Ash barely managed to dodge, feeling the ground tremble beneath him as the creature's gaping maw snapped shut with a resounding crack.
"[Vein Energy 50%]"
'Dammit, why won't you sleep?' Ash's thoughts blurred with frustration, the Nightveil Drought failing to have the desired effect. The worm, a creature of pure instinct and resilience, didn't seem to slow down. If anything, it was becoming more unpredictable.
Kael landed beside Ash, his brow damp with sweat. "Man, I don't think we can hold him much longer, and where the hell is Max?"
Ash's eyes flicked across the battlefield, scanning for their missing teammate. "Yeah, he should be here by now."
Before Ash could respond further, the worm attacked again. Its tail swept through the air like a hammer, the shockwave strong enough to rattle their bones. Ash grabbed Kael and, with a burst of speed, they vanished—appearing on the opposite side of the battlefield, just out of the worm's reach.
Kael glanced over at Ash, his voice tight with urgency. "Okay, one more time. If Max isn't back in the next five minutes, we go with my plan."
"Your plan?" Ash's gaze narrowed, skepticism creeping into his tone.
Kael's face tightened, frustration evident in his fiery aura. "We can't keep running around in circles. It's only a matter of time before this thing overwhelms us."
Before Ash could argue, the worm's head shot forward again with a terrifying screech. Kael shot into the air, narrowly avoiding the strike, while Ash disappeared once more, his body moving faster than the eye could track.
Kael fired another fireball at the worm's head, but the creature responded instantly. Its stone-like tail swatted the fireball away as though it was nothing more than an annoyance. The impact left a crater, but the worm stood unscathed.
"I'll keep it distracted," Kael called down, his voice strained but determined. "Get everyone out of here. I'll handle this thing!"
Ash's heart sank. "Do you think that's possible? We don't even know where Sand Worm Valley ends, and my energy won't last if I try to move everyone."
The worm lunged again, its massive body rolling across the battlefield like a living avalanche. Ash disappeared in the blink of an eye, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth.
"Then what the hell do we do?" Kael scoffed, frustration leaking into his tone. His fists burned with fire, but it was clear that the creature was pushing them to their limits.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from the shadows.
"I say, it's hungry. Let's feed it."