Darian, hearing Arkie's words, reacted with a mix of frustration and anger, his voice rising above the wind. "Now? After you got your loot, you're just going to ditch us?"
Arkie, caught off guard by Darian's outburst, quickly realized the futility of his statement. "Wait... that's right, we can't log out. We're still engaged in this battle," he responded, his voice laced with a resigned frustration.
Darian, still simmering with annoyance, shot back, "So let's finish this quickly then!"
Arkie nodded, his momentary desire to escape giving way to a renewed focus on the task at hand.
A sudden movement caught their attention. The Urhzig, with a mighty effort, began to stir. Its rocky body shifted and groaned as it pushed itself up off the ground. Slowly, steadily, the Urhzig rose to its feet. Despite being knocked down, the creature refused to give up. With a long shriek, it began its retreat to the cliffs. The behemoth moved across the sand dunes like a ship cutting through the waves of the ocean.
As the Urhzig fled, Florrie raced towards Roh with a determined grace. Her eyes were not just light blue in color, but they were also tinged with violet. Her pointed ears twitching slightly with every movement.
Her long, ashen, wavy locks bounced with each stride. As a mystic ranger, Florrie’s outfit was both practical and elegant. Her white tunic flowed around her, allowing her to move and fight with ease, while the silver trimmings added a touch of sophistication. The deep purple leggings hugged her curves, accentuating her long legs and enhancing her agility. Her boots were crafted from the finest Elven leather, soft and supple, providing comfort and protection for her travels.
“You’re looking a little less worse for wear,” said Florrie. Roh’s stomach knotted and, to avoid her gaze, he looked over at Darian, with his usual beaming smile. Nothing ever phases him. I wish I was like that. Roh turned back toward Florrie as he forced a half-smile in response to her kind words.
The wounded Urhzig limped across the scorching desert sands. As it moved in the distance, it seemed to merge with the desert itself, becoming one with the arid landscape. It was fast, belying its size and injuries. It knew it was in dire need of shelter and rest. The mammoth creature had been badly injured. Despite the pain and exhaustion, it trudged on, determined to reach the safety of its lair.
“Dammit, it’s getting away!” Darian pointed at the Urhzig. “Let’s not lose it.”
“This must mean its health is getting low. We don’t want to give it a chance to retreat and heal up,” said Roh.
Roh and his party were in hot pursuit of the Urhzig, but the relentless heat was taking its toll. With each passing moment, their stamina depleted at a faster rate, and the unforgiving landscape offered no respite. A group of pale, dead trees clawed at the sky like the fingers of a giant skeleton, offering a bleak reminder of the harshness of their surroundings.
As they trailed the Urhzig, Roh and his party kept a close eye on the wounded behemoth, careful not to lose sight of it. “We need to stay vigilant,” Arkie warned. “The Urhzig’s cries of pain and rage may attract the attention of other dangers lurking nearby.”
Suddenly, the Urhzig came to an abrupt halt. This unexpected stop sent a ripple of confusion through Roh and his party, briefly unsure if the behemoth had sensed their presence or something else.
Feeling increasingly exposed on the open plains, Roh quickly surveyed their surroundings. The perimeter looked clear, offering them a brief respite. Seizing the moment, the party crouched behind a large rock, scanning the desert sands for any signs of movement.
Huddled behind their makeshift shelter, the group was enveloped by the Urhzig's distant cries that reverberated through the desert air. Suddenly, a chilling silence fell. Cautiously peering over their cover, the party's hearts skipped a beat. Mere feet away, a pack of beasts lurked, their presence marked by barely perceptible movements and the occasional rustle of sand. Roh, relying on his quick thinking, activated [Creature Recognition], since [Analyze Species] was not ready for use.
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Creature Recognition
This ability allows players to recognize and identify the name of the creature they are facing, but would not provide any detailed information about their abilities or stats.
Name of creature: Sandstalkers
The Sandstalkers’ bodies resembled carved sandstone, while what looked like fur coats were actually composed of delicate desert sand. Their eyes glowed like embers in the dim light, and their sharp teeth gleamed in the sun.
The hunting party focused their gazes on the Sandstalker pack’s faces. They had pointed ears, long snouts, and sharp teeth. The Sandstalker pack’s seemingly fur-like coverings rippled and shifted as they moved, blending seamlessly with the desert sands around them. The hunting party could barely make out their forms, but they knew that these were predators.
They watched as the Sandstalker pack prowled through the desert. They seemed to move without making a sound, and the hunting party was struck by how perfectly adapted they were to their environment.
As they watched, the Sandstalker pack sprang into action. They leapt into the air, their bodies twisting and turning as they darted towards the Urhzig.
The Sandstalker pack circled the Urhzig with hungry eyes. Despite their smaller size, their fluid movements, numbers, and tenacity posed a deadly threat to the massive beast.
Arkie instinctively crouched down and raised his right arm as he gestured to the others to stop. “Everyone hold back. This could prove an easy kill if we just stand back and let them finish the Urhzig off.”
“I’m not being funny, but they could be far more dangerous than the Urhzig,” said Roh, hunkered down beside Arkie.
Arkie rolled his eyes. “Not if we stay out of sight and wait for them to disband.”
Roh didn’t like how Arkie always looked down upon him and spoke to him in a condescending manner, but he held his tongue and simply nodded in response. It was how their friendship had managed to survive this long.
The Urhzig, though wounded, was not about to go down without a fight. It let out a mighty roar and charged at the predators, its massive bulk sending them scattering. Its roar echoed across the desert like thunder rolling across the sky.
The predators attacked from all sides, snapping and snarling at the Urhzig. The Sandstalker pack was relentless as they darted in and out of the behemoth’s range.
With lightning-fast reflexes, the Sandstalkers leaped at the Urhzig, their sharp teeth sinking deep into its flesh. But the behemoth fought back. Each powerful swipe of its massive limbs sent Sandstalkers flying, while it endured their bites and scratches, standing firm against the onslaught.
Despite the Sandstalkers’ coordinated attack, the Urhzig managed to hold its ground. Its thick hide protected it from their sharp teeth, and its massive strength allowed it to fend off their attacks.
The Sandstalkers worked together using their numbers to try to overpower the Urhzig. But the behemoth was too strong, and it fought back with equal ferocity, using its mighty limbs and sharp tusks to fend off the predators. It launched its strike with bloodthirsty abandon. As the Sandstalkers closed in on the colossal beast, one of the predators leaped at the massive creature, its jaws wide open and sharp teeth bared. But the behemoth was ready, and with a swift movement, it brought its massive horns crashing down upon the predator.
The horn pierced through the Sandstalker’s body, skewering it and lifting it into the air. The Sandstalker let out a howl of pain as it struggled to free itself from the Urhzig’s grasp.
The other Sandstalkers circled around, snarling and snapping at the Urhzig in an attempt to distract it and free their fallen comrade. But the behemoth was unmoved, and it held the Sandstalker in a vice-like grip.
Despite its injuries, the Sandstalker continued to fight. Its sharp claws raked across the behemoth’s hide, drawing blood and causing the massive creature to bellow in pain.
With a final, crushing blow, it ended the Sandstalker’s struggle, tossing the limp body to the ground and roaring triumphantly, a clear alpha warning to any challengers.
The other Sandstalkers watched as their pack mate was felled by the Urhzig’s massive horns. They knew that they were no match for such a mighty creature, and they retreated, their tails between their legs, having failed to bring down their prey.
As the predators retreated into the shadows, the Urhzig let out a triumphant roar.