Chapter 14: Weak Point

The monster paused for what felt like an eternity, its grotesque form frozen under the harsh, blazing sun. Its multiple eyes scanned the surroundings, lingering on every shadow, as though sensing something unseen. Kael held his breath, his body motionless. His fingers flexed around the handle of his scythe, his instincts screaming at him to stay still and not do anything crazy.

Finally, with a slow and deliberate movement, the camel spider tilted its head, the massive central eye narrowing slightly, and then it turned away. Its spindly legs began to move once more, carrying its bulky form across the shimmering dunes. The rhythmic crunch of its limbs on the sand echoed faintly in the oppressive silence.

Kael's mind racing. Where is it going? Should I attack now? No... attacking this spider without a plan at my current level would be the greatest mistake of my life."

His thoughts churned, but his body acted decisively. Activating Darkness Transportation, Kael vanished from his hiding spot in a swirl of shadows. He reappeared silently behind a dry, withered tree several meters away. The tree's brittle branches stretched skyward like skeletal fingers, casting long, thin shadows across the sand. Kael pressed his back against its cracked trunk, keeping his silhouette hidden as his eyes sockets followed the spider's lumbering movements.

The vast desert stretched endlessly around him, a barren sea of golden waves rippling in the heat. The air was thick with the scent of dry earth and scorching sun, and the faint whisper of wind carried grains of sand that stung against Kael's skeletal body. The horizon blurred into a hazy mirage, making it difficult to discern where the land ended and the sky began.

Kael's sharp gaze remained fixed on the camel spider. Its legs moved in a precise, methodical rhythm, leaving faint indentations in the sand. Every so often, its whip-like appendages twitched, as though sensing the air for danger. Kael's eyes narrowed as he studied the creature's movements, searching for any potential weak spots a gap in its armor-like exoskeleton, an exposed joint, anything that could be exploited.

His concentration was broken when the camel spider came to an abrupt halt. Its entire body stiffened, the bristling hairs on its legs standing on end. Kael's breath caught in his throat. Slowly, the monster's head turned forward, its large central eye focusing intently on something in the distance.

Kael's instincts flared. He followed its gaze, shifting his position slightly to peer past the jagged terrain. His own eyes locked on the far horizon, where the heat haze seemed to ripple unnaturally.

A low growl escaped Kael, almost involuntarily. He gritted his teeth and hissed.

"Curses."

The dry wind carried the faintest of vibrations through the ground, subtle but unmistakable.

Kael pressed himself further into the shadows of the dry tree, his hand tightening around his scythe. His other hand rested on the rough bark, steadying himself as he leaned forward for a better view. The camel spider remained frozen, its many eyes unblinking as it waited for the approaching presence.

The tension in the air grew heavy, the stillness of the desert broken only by the faint rustling of wind and the distant, rhythmic tremors. Kael's body tensed.

Something was approaching.