Alonso glanced around at the dry landscape stretching as far as he could see, and that was quite more than the average human.
“What do you reckon, Houston? Another 70 km like this, or perhaps more?”
“Impossible to tell. Just… make sure you always have enough water for a trip back. Just going forward and forward may not be the best choice.”
“Wow, look at you, so serious. It’s nice for a change.”
“Serious? I’m the one keeping us both alive.”
Alonso took a deep breath. It was dry.
The pace in the sand would be slower than on solid ground. A trial of resistance? Perseverance? Or prudence? Well, only one way to find out.
“Beware of new monsters, and keep track of the distance traveled.”
“Yes, mom.”
Alonso chuckled as he started his march forward. His EM Domain constantly provided feedback, but nothing felt out of place. So he kept going.
Minutes turned into hours. He had already traversed more than 50 km into the desert. But still, nothing. No creatures, not a single feature except for rolling dunes of sand and the occasional dry wind.
Alonso glanced up at the cloudless sky, squinting as the sun beat down relentlessly. He could feel the heat seeping through his skin, draining his energy little by little. A cloak would definitely help, he thought, mentally noting the materials he’d need. Sand, unfortunately, didn’t make for good insulation.
He paused to drink from his makeshift canteen, careful to ration the coconut water.
“What do you reckon, Houston? Is the trial just to keep going forward through the desert? Perhaps the full 700 km left?”
“Just? Sounds like you're prepared. Color me impressed. I reckon with these conditions, even if no creatures appear, you'd be lucky to reach 400 km before your rations run out. Then you’ll just start getting more tired and fatigued as it goes on and on, until suddenly a monster shows up at the 700 km mark to finish you off, noticing the job’s already half done. Yeah, sure, maybe the trial is JUST that.”
Alonso shook off the thought, feeling a slight chill despite the heat. His eyes scanned the horizon again, but everything remained unchanged—just endless dunes and sun-scorched sand.
He started moving again, each step feeling heavier as he kept his focus on the landscape. There was something about the silence now, something eerie that crept into his bones. The sand had shifted too easily under his feet, almost as if it were waiting for something—or someone—to slip up.
After another few kilometers, he felt it again. A slight ripple, a disturbance, this time stronger than before. His EM Domain picked up a faint vibration beneath the ground, far off but unmistakable.
Alonso froze, every sense on alert.
"Houston... did you feel that?"
"Are you seriously asking me that? Anyway, be ready to jump, roll, or whatever. Good luck."
Alonso felt a smirk tug at the corner of his lips despite the tension in the air. "Thanks for the pep talk, Houston. Really inspiring."
He crouched down, placing his head closer to the hot sand, letting his EM Domain stretch further, feeling for more details. The vibrations were getting stronger, closer, but still distant enough that he had a few moments to prepare. Whatever it was, it wasn’t small.
His heart started to pound, not from fear but from the familiar rush of adrenaline. Slowly, he began to move, keeping his steps light and silent, eyes locked on the horizon. There was no visible threat yet, but his instincts screamed otherwise.
"Should I run or prepare to dance, Houston?" he smiled as he held his sword tighter.
“I already forgot how the last orb tasted. Let’s hope it gives more progress than the panthers.”
The ground trembled again, harder this time. A low rumble echoed from beneath the sand, and suddenly, Alonso saw it—a massive ripple moving through the dunes, like a wave beneath the surface, heading straight for him.
“No need for enhanced sensation motion for this one? So what, a big worm?”
“Big worms in a desert? What are you gonna do, take a ride? Should I start calling you Messiah?”
Alonso chuckled. He threw his backpack to the side as far as he could and then dashed forward.
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The ripple in the sand halted briefly before erupting into a shower of sand and dust. Emerging from the dune was no worm—but a massive, metallic scorpion, gleaming under the harsh desert sun. The creature’s ten-foot-long body moved with unnatural precision, its armored tail arching overhead, ready to strike.
Alonso’s smile faded as he observed the scorpion’s metallic sheen. "A black scorpion made of metal… fantastic," he muttered.
The scorpion darted toward him with startling speed, its claws clamping shut with a sharp metallic snap. Alonso’s mind raced, and in an instant, his Simulation skill kicked in. A mental overlay of the battlefield appeared in his vision, multiple scenarios playing out simultaneously. He saw himself dodging left—claw strike. Rolling right—tail strike. Going forward—caught by the pincers.
A jump back. That was the move.
Without hesitation, Alonso leapt backward, narrowly dodging the scorpion’s pincer as it snapped the air where he had been standing. The sheer force of the strike sent sand flying, and Alonso felt the pressure even from several feet away. His mind was already calculating the next sequence of moves. The scorpion was fast—too fast for something that big and heavy.
The Simulation fed him dozens of possible outcomes, narrowing them down in a split second. He moved instinctively, sword ready as he circled the beast, looking for an opening. The creature’s metallic armor was nearly impenetrable, reflecting the harsh desert sun with an intimidating sheen.
The scorpion charged again, its tail lashing out like a whip, aiming for his head. Alonso dropped to the ground, rolling to the side as the tail slammed into the sand, leaving a deep gash where he had just been.
He pushed off the ground, using the momentum to spring to his feet, his eyes never leaving the creature. His EM Domain picked up the scorpion’s movements as it scuttled in a circle, anticipating his next attack.
Its tail was its most dangerous weapon—fast, lethal, and heavily armored. But the joints… the joints were vulnerable.
The scorpion lunged forward again, its claws leading the assault. Alonso’s body reacted before his mind caught up, his Simulation already showing the path. He sidestepped the first claw strike, his feet barely touching the ground before he spun around the second pincer, his sword slicing through the air.
The blade connected with one of the joints in the scorpion’s claw, sparks flying as it hit the exposed, more fragile area beneath the metallic exoskeleton.
Alonso didn’t waste a second after the strike. The metallic scorpion recoiled slightly from the damage to its claw, but it wasn’t slowing down. Its tail lashed out again, the stinger striking the sand with a sharp thud as Alonso darted sideways. He could feel the intense pressure of each strike, even when it missed by inches.
As the scorpion reared back, preparing another attack, Alonso’s hand darted to his sling. His eyes locked onto another exposed joint on the creature’s rear leg. A plan began to form.
He loaded a smooth rock into the sling, his fingers working quickly and instinctively as the scorpion lunged again. The stinger came first, then the claws, both deadly and fast. Alonso leapt back, narrowly dodging the strike, and spun the sling above his head.
Timing was everything. He stepped left, just outside the reach of a snapping pincer, and let the rock fly. The projectile whistled through the air and connected with the joint at the back of the scorpion’s leg. A metallic crunch followed, and the leg buckled slightly, the armor around the joint cracking from the impact.
Alonso grinned. "Still got it."
The scorpion, however, was far from done. The tail shot toward him again, faster this time. Alonso dropped to the ground, rolling underneath the massive creature just as the stinger sliced through the air where he had been standing.
Sand sprayed up around him as he slid beneath the scorpion’s belly. He could feel the vibrations through the sand, every twitch and movement of the beast above him as he spun back onto his feet. His sword gleamed in the sunlight as he drove it upward into another joint near its front leg.
The metal gave way under the precise strike, sending sparks flying as the scorpion's front limb jerked violently, its movement impaired.
The scorpion slightly tumbled—its tail, though still operational, was becoming increasingly erratic, flailing wildly in an attempt to catch him. Alonso ducked under a wide swipe, sliding around to the creature’s side as it struggled to maintain balance with its weakened legs.
The scorpion was big, strong, had high defense, and several ways to attack, but… not fast enough and not smart enough.
"Feeling sorry for it already?"
"Nah, just a bit frustrated thinking how hard it’s gonna be to forage this big guy. I wish it was white instead of black."
The scorpion’s next strike came fast, its pincer snapping wildly at the air as it tried to regain control. Alonso sidestepped the attack with a swift pivot, narrowly avoiding the jagged edges of the claw as it tore through the sand where he had just been.
His mind raced through his options. The scorpion was slower now, its movements less precise with each joint he severed. But it wasn’t finished—not by a long shot. Its tail, still deadly, swung in unpredictable arcs, the stinger gleaming in the harsh sunlight.
He circled the creature again, his body low and tense, his sword gripped tightly in his hand. His EM Domain pulsed outward, tracking every subtle vibration in the sand, every twitch of the scorpion’s remaining legs.
Without warning, the scorpion lunged forward, its good leg pushing it toward him with surprising speed. Alonso was ready. He twisted his body, avoiding the lunge by inches, and whipped his sling into motion. The stone flew through the air with a sharp crack, striking another exposed joint just beneath the scorpion’s battered exoskeleton.
The rock hit its mark. The joint cracked and gave way, the creature stumbling again as one of its pincers dropped lower, no longer able to snap with the same ferocity. Alonso pressed the advantage. He dashed forward, rolling beneath the scorpion’s massive body, his sword flashing as he aimed for the vulnerable underbelly.
The blade cut deep into the exposed joint of another leg, severing it cleanly. The scorpion’s movements became even more erratic, the loss of mobility making it struggle to stay upright.
But the fight wasn’t over. The tail lashed out again, almost catching him by surprise. Alonso threw himself to the side, rolling through the sand as the stinger struck the ground with a deafening thud. His breath came in short bursts, but his mind was sharp.
He moved in closer, his sword ready. The scorpion’s claws snapped weakly, and its tail wobbled in the air, but Alonso was quicker. He dashed in, delivering a clean strike to the base of the tail, his sword slicing through the weakened joint. The tail fell limp, crashing to the ground in a metallic heap.
With the tail neutralized, Alonso knew it was only a matter of time. He stepped back, watching as the scorpion thrashed one last time, its remaining legs struggling to hold it up. The fight had drained the creature, and Alonso’s precision had crippled it beyond recovery.
He took a deep breath, then moved in for the final blow. His sword gleamed as he drove it into the last functioning joint, severing the last of the scorpion’s mobility. The massive creature collapsed into the sand, its legs twitching before finally going still.
Alonso stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily. His body ached from the relentless pace of the fight, but there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing he had taken down a creature so formidable. He wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced down at the scorpion's dark, gleaming shell.
“That was a good warm up.”