The massive herd continued its hurried trek across the desert, propelled by Ga Ga's anxious directives. Whether by luck or some other factor, the sandworm hadn't attacked the herd, though Ga Ga couldn't be certain it wasn't following. Consequently, the herd traveled with urgency, depleting water and nutrients quickly.

With care, Ga Ga instructed the tentacle Ga Ga Beasts to gnaw a hunted spiny dog down to the bone, leaving no blood wasted, while it waved its head tentacles to cool down.

Suddenly, an excited cry came from a tentacle Ga Ga Beast ahead, which then dashed toward a dune.

"Be careful, damn it," Ga Ga grumbled at the reckless beast, commanding the entire herd to follow.

Over the dune, Ga Ga's spirits lifted at the sight of a small lake. Though not as large as the previous oasis and could barely accommodate a dozen beasts at a time, the water was precious life.

Instructing the sated ones to keep watch from the dune, Ga Ga led the others for orderly drinking at the lake.

"Get in line, no pushing, no cutting, Ga!"

On the dune, three vigilant tentacle Ga Ga Beasts scanned the surroundings. For them, the primary consciousness's commands were their guide, urging them to unite closely around it, follow its directives, and emulate its actions.

Suddenly, one of the beasts sniffed the dry air curiously, prompting the others to follow suit.

A delightful aroma filled their senses.

The scent spread a soothing sensation through their bodies, compelling the trio to follow it. At their current elementary brain level, they couldn't fully comprehend the primary consciousness's will—only the tantalizing aroma mattered.

Meanwhile, Ga Ga remained focused on managing the herd’s orderly watering...

Descending the dune, the trio inhaled the increasingly pervasive aroma like a fog around them. They became more focused and invigorated with each breath, the scent energizing their bodies. Their only thought was to move forward toward more of the enticing scent.

At the tail of the line, Ga Ga licked its dry lips, eyeing the small lake ahead...

The trio moved further from the herd, unchallenged by any creature. They ignored scorpions and snakes in the sand, bypassed desert plants that could provide moisture, and even overlooked a small passing oasis, driven solely by the scent.

Arriving at last!

The scent was overwhelming, as if the air itself were made of it. Before them lay a purplish-red, moist sand pit, the source of the aroma, burbling like a fountain from below.

The fragrance's intoxicating effect kept the tentacle Ga Ga Beasts in a euphoric, uncontrolled state, diving into the sand pit like addicts, releasing all their pent-up electricity.

Blue sparks danced, intensifying the aroma. Following suit, the other two Beasts also discharged their electricity, heedless of their dwindling energy reserves.

The electric buzz sliced through the sand but instead of amplifying the aroma, it shook the ground violently, releasing a deafening roar.

Roar!

The roar, filled with anger and a hint of pain, echoed. In that moment, every creature present made a critical decision between survival and the alluring scent—they ran.

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The three tentacle Ga Ga Beasts led the retreat from the aromatic fountain, racing back the way they came.

Above, a shadow grew larger—an unfortunate animal failed to escape and was crushed into a meat patty by the descending shadow. Ignoring the body and other fleeing creatures, the shadow pursued the electrically charged beasts.

Flee! Run fast!

The only thought in the tentacle Ga Ga Beasts' minds as they sprinted back toward the safety of the herd.

The colossal creature—massive and serpentine—pursued with roars and growls.

The tentacle Ga Ga Beasts fled in silence.

Zooming out, we saw the full scale of the creature: a gargantuan sandworm—an epic creature running across the desert sands.

It didn't dive into the sand to attack, instead lumbering over it, creating a long trail aimed at the herd.

Meanwhile, a portion of the herd still awaited their turn to drink...

The sandworm, unaccustomed to surface travel, moved slowly, unable to catch up. It reared mightily, raising its front half high, creating a shadow that gradually engulfed the fleeing Beasts.

Slam!

Exhausting its momentum, the sandworm's toothed maw engulfed two Beasts in shadow, swallowing them whole, as a third dodged sideways to escape. The worm then dove into the sand.

The survivor gazed upon the sandworm’s retreat, shook its head clear, and continued its desperate dash to the herd.

Just as Ga Ga, now leading the refreshed Beasts over the dune, witnessed the scene unfold...

"Huh, this is..."

"Everyone, pay attention—follow me, run!"

Upon Ga Ga's command, the hydrated Beasts scrambled to follow toward their destination, driven by fear.

The lone survivor, spotting the gathered herd, dashed madly toward it.

Below, the sandworm tunneled beneath, aligning with the Beast's path, sensing vibrations overhead. It surged, claimed the Beast, and subsided, puzzled by the herd's direction.

Once more, it burrowed silently toward them.

"Damn it, why is there a tentacle Ga Ga Beast leading the sandworm? Wasn’t it one of the sentries?"

Racing across the shifting sands, Ga Ga led fearlessly like a stallion leading a herd.

Quicksand, predators, dangerous plants—all ignored by the two hundred-plus tentacle Ga Ga Beasts. They were pursued by an epic creature—a sandworm occasionally breaking the surface like the Loch Ness Monster. (Applause, indeed!)

A few tentacle Ga Ga Beasts, weary and lagging, struggled to keep pace.

As they paused, raising a leg to join the herd, the sand split open, the worm’s toothy maw appearing before plunging back under, leaving silence and fewer Beasts.

Beasts continued to fall, unnoticed by Ga Ga until a backward glance revealed the peril.

"No other way, they’re all exhausted."

"Continue running, and they’ll either be swallowed or collapse from exhaustion."

"Forget it, if running means death, let’s fight, Ga!" Ga Ga!

Planting its feet, Ga Ga turned to face the sandworm, halting as the trailing Beasts huddled close, fearfully eyeing the dunes.

Darkness fell, the winds howling with sand, as night descended.

"Not attacking yet?"

Surrounded, Ga Ga felt no safer within the Beast throng, knowing the worm's stealth favored sandy ambushes.

With the wind sweeping sand into the night, Ga Ga pondered, eyes catching a moving wall of dust on the horizon...

"No way, a sandstorm!"

"Everyone, gather tight, form a circle!"

Ignoring the sandworm, the sandstorm’s natural force posed greater danger; the worm could strike underground at any moment, unaffected by the storm. Facing the approaching sandstorm, Ga Ga focused on survival.

Left to fate...

Nightfall’s final light dimmed, with the towering sand wall looming, the moonlight casting a grave reflection.

In the sandstorm's massive size, the two hundred-plus tentacle Ga Ga Beasts were mere grains, swept away in a breath.

Despite inexperience with sandstorms, Ga Ga instructed the Beasts to huddle with heads turned away to minimize dust inhalation. They kept away from dunes to avoid burial.

Through the night, the tentacle Ga Ga Beasts endured the pelting sand, clinging to each other, shaking off sand, struggling to breathe, and fearing the worm's attack, unable to sleep.

With dawn, Ga Ga gazed at the punctual sun, astounded to still be alive.

Wobbly, Ga Ga stood, leaning on its tail and legs, shaking loose clinging sand into dust clouds.

Surveying the sandy mounds around, Ga Ga roared, seeking signs of life.

They, too, were kin.

One by one, the mounds stirred, rising as sand cascaded, obscuring Ga Ga's view.

"Is everyone alive?"

As the dust settled, Ga Ga's eyes counted the standing tentacle Ga Ga Beasts.

One, two, three...

One hundred fifty-six, one hundred fifty-seven, one hundred fifty...

"Where are the others? We had over two hundred!"

In the storm's wake, dozens of high sand piles stood silent. Despite Ga Ga's and the others' calls, there was no response.