Imagine andscape dominated by a single, monstrous wave, not of water, but of sand. The colossal sand dune stretches before you, a seemingly endless cascade of golden grains. The wind whispers secrets through its sculpted form, constantly reshaping its curves and ridges.
Towering high above you, the dune could easily reach hundreds of feet. As you approach, its scale bes overwhelming. The once gentle slope now appears daunting, a steep ascent of loose sand that threatens to slide beneath your feet with every step.
The sun ys a dramatic role on this sandy giant. Depending on the time of day, the dune''s color can transform. At dawn, the rising sun casts a warm, rosy glow, highlighting the dune''s rippled texture. As the day progresses, the sand intensifies to a golden yellow, radiating heat. In the cool of the evening, long shadows stretch across its slopes, creating an illusion of movement and depth.
The silence on the dune is profound, broken only by the sighing of the wind and the asional skittering of a desert creature. It''s a ce of stark beauty, a reminder of the immense power of nature to sculpt and reshape thend.
Looking at this paysage, Noah could not hide his admiration.
''''Wow! I can''t help but admire this.''''
''''Ah! Time to climb!"
Noah reached the peak of the final sand dune, copsing onto the scorching grains in exhaustion. His breath was a searing fire in his lungs, and his legs felt as heavy as lead weights, threatening to drag him back down. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but as he looked ahead, his weariness was washed away like a desert wind cleansing a dusty te.
Below him, nestled in the valley cradled by the massive sand dune,y a sight that defied the harsh reality of the surroundingndscape. It was an oasis, a jewel sparkling with an impossible brilliance amidst the unforgiving desert.
The pond stretched out before him, its surface a canvas of vibrant blue under the relentless sun. It shimmered like a shattered sapphire, asionally disrupted by the yful leaps of fish or thezy glides of water beetles. The shores were adorned with lush greenery, a riot of emerald and jade unlike anything Noah had encountered in his parched journey.
The stark contrast between the unforgiving sand and the vibrant life at the oasis took his breath away.
''''Beautiful!"
Palm trees swayed gently, their fronds rustling like whispered promises of cool shade, while a gentle breeze carried the heavenly scent of damp earth and life – a striking contrast to the dry, metallic tang of the desert wind.
Noah''s ears were filled with a symphony of sound that had been absent for a while. Birds, their feathers shing white and scarlet against the azure sky, dipped and soared above the water, their calls echoing like joyous music.
A warmth, deeper than the desert sun, bloomed in Noah''s chest. He had found an oasis, a haven in the heart of the unforgiving desert. It was a ce of respite where life, in all its vibrant glory, thrived. Relief, profound and overwhelming, washed over him, mingling with a growing sense of wonder. This hidden oasis, nestled within the vast expanse of sand, offered more than just survival.
It offered a chance to heal, to breathe before continuing on his journey.
It was his second time seeing an oasis, the first time it was with his father.
~
Upon catching a glimpse of the oasis, young Noah''s heart filled with sheer delight.
Believing he could quench his thirst without restraint, he sprinted towards the oasis without a second thought.
Until now, he had sessfully suppressed his longing for water, but the sight of an abundance of it shattered his self-control.
"Tsk!" Logan''s disapproving click of the tongue apanied his amused observation of Noah''s reckless dash towards the oasis. He couldn''t help but chuckle at his son''s impulsive behavior.
Noah reached the oasis in record time.
Dipping his head into the water, he greedily guzzled it down.
With each gulp, an overwhelming sense of bliss washed over him.
As he mindlessly consumed the water, a faint glimmer caught Noah''s attention beneath the surface.
A spherical object softly emitted a luminous glow, resembling a gentlemp in the depths.
Forgetting that his head was submerged, Noah fixated on the radiant orb. MVLeMpYr-chapter
His gaze became vacant, as if he had been possessed.
As the sphere drew nearer to his face, his father''s voice snapped him back to reality.
"Snap out of it, you foolish child!"
Logan cursed, forcefully pulling Noah away from the mysterious light.
Unable to resist his father''s strength, Noah stumbled backwards.
And then, it happened.
Swoosh!
Out of nowhere, a colossal entity burst through the water''s surface.
It was a monstrous creature, capable of swallowing a Giant Horned Hyena in a single gulp. Its massive body, dominated by an oversized mouth that upied more than half of its frame, boasted a thorn-like antenna on its forehead, adorned with a round, flesh-like appendage that emitted a faint light.
Noah realized that the mysterious light he had mistaken earlier was actually emanating from this rounded flesh.
His father provided an exnation.
"It''s a Sand Angler. It lures its unsuspecting prey with the light on its forehead and devours them."
"Eh!"
Noah, still dazed from narrowly escaping with his life, watched as the Sand Angler descended back into the depths of the pond.
If not for his father''s intervention, he would have be the creature''s next meal.
Noah retrieved his cherished spear, Ashura, and spoke.
"Fools like you be reckless once they start feeling a bitfortable. Do you understand now? You idiot!"
"Answer!"
"Yes!"
Without waiting for a response, Logan''s body propelled itself onto the water''s surface. He swiftly swung Ashura towards the Sand Angler, which was attempting to dive deeper.
With a resounding boom, Ashura descended, creating a towering column of water that resembled an explosion. Startled, the Sand Angler tried to escape into the depths, but Logan wouldn''t allow it.
"Graaah!"
Logan led with Ashura, diving into the water.
In a swift motion, Logan shot forward like a torpedo, his speed terrifying. The Sand Angler, realizing it couldn''t flee, turned its body to devour Logan. However, this would prove to be the Sand Angler''s downfall.
Ssh!
Ashura and Logan pierced through the Sand Angler, causing the enormous monster to cease all movement and float lifelessly on the water''s surface.
Logan grabbed the Sand Angler''s tail and made his way out of the oasis.
Thud!
He threw the massive body of the Sand Angler beneath Noah''s feet.
"Whoa!" Noah took a surprised step back, feeling as if the Sand Angler could strike at any moment. Even in death, the awe-inspiring presence of the Sand Angler remained.
It was truly unbelievable that such an enormous monster had made its home in an oasis.
Having thrown the monstrous corpse beneath his son''s feet, Logan feltpelled to issue a stern warning.
"Take this creature as a lesson, Noah. It is an inhabitant of oases that can be found sporadically in deserts. It lures in fools like you with the light on its forehead and devours them in one gulp. So, never approach an oasis in the desert so carelessly. You fool!"
"Yes..." Noah responded weakly, his guilt evident.
''''Skin it.''''
Noah hesitated, his voice trembling as he spoke,
''''Wait, Father, why would I have to do that?''''
He felt a surge of rebellion well up inside him, resenting being abruptly taken away from his time with Stilson. The thought of not being there with Stilson cracking a few skulls had ignited a fire of anger within him. He had reluctantly epted his fate, but never did he anticipate his father''s request to skin a monster. It was simply too much to bear.
Logan''s smile widened as he observed Noah''s defiance.
''''Oh? Look at this disy of rebellion, isn''t it?''''
His words sent a shiver down Noah''s spine.
''''I told you to skin it,'''' Logan''s voice was firm.
''''The Sand Angler is a C-rank monster. Its skin is soft and pliable, perfect for crafting robes. Cut it up and make a robe. I won''t repeat myself, son.''''
Noah''s throat tightened as he swallowed nervously, his fear outweighing his rebellion.
With a gulp, Noah reluctantly obeyed and began to work.
Noah swiftly turned the Sand Angler over, revealing its rugged back with multiple brownish bumps. Its belly, on the other hand, was sleek and ck. Surprisingly, despite its appearance, the creature possessed an extraordinary toughness that even a dagger struggled to pierce.
Determined to ovee this obstacle, Noah channeled mana into his dagger, finally managing to breach the creature''s resilient skin.
"Huff! Huff!"
Noah''s body was drenched in sweat, but his task was far fromplete.
He still had to fashion the robe.
It was not easy but he seeded.
~
Returning to reality and snapping out of his reminiscing, Noah shook his head and gazed down at the oasis below. It was time to descend.