Dangers Of Sandwhirl

After several days of exploring the outer fringes of sandwhirl, the group's progress had been disappointingly meager. Despite obtaining a handful of cores, their path was riddled with dangerous creatures that had to be evaded, and most of the potentially valuable magical treasures remained tantalizingly out of reach in the depths of sandwhirl. Returning from yet another expedition, the trio gathered at their makeshift base to discuss their next course of action.

"We need to venture deeper; we're not achieving much staying at the edges," Quinn asserted with frustration evident in his voice. "This place isn't as perilous as the rumors make it out to be anyway."

"Quinn, we've encountered enough danger even without delving further. We've been forced to avoid a significant portion of the monsters we've come across," Luca countered, his tone marked with caution. "And let's not forget that many of them could overpower us."

"Come on, most of them we could handle," Quinn responded dismissively.

"Frankly, that's an assumption we can't afford to make," Luca retorted. "Going deeper will only increase the risks. You're far too inclined to take unnecessary chances, Quinn."

Adding his perspective to the conversation, Noah spoke up. "While it's true that it's hazardous, I believe we could cautiously move a bit further in. We need to balance the danger with the potential rewards."

"If we push much deeper, visibility will become a significant issue due to the perpetual sandstorm," Luca pointed out, expressing his reservations. The inner regions of sandwhirl were shrouded in a constant tempest of sand, obscuring visibility and rendering it nearly impossible to see deep within.

"We don't have to venture too far; a slight progression should be manageable," Noah reassured. "And if we can find something of greater value, it'll be worth it."

"I'm on board, but at the first sign of real danger, I'm retreating," Luca said, his resolve tinged with caution.

"Sure thing, Mr. Caution," Quinn teased.

The meeting concluded shortly thereafter, and the group dispersed to get some rest. As they settled into sleep, thoughts of the challenges and potential rewards that lay ahead in the depths of sandwhirl weighed on their minds.

The following morning, the group awakened, ready to delve deeper into Sandwhirl. After making their necessary preparations, they set out into the treacherous terrain. Despite the challenges, they skillfully avoided potential dangers and arrived at the sandstorm's edge, the farthest point they had reached. Cautiously, they pressed forward, pushing deeper into Sandwhirl. The landscape grew increasingly barren as they ventured onward, the relentless sandstorm masking much of their surroundings.

Quinn stated the obvious, "There's nothing down here. We should go deeper."

Luca, however, expressed an opposing view, "I was thinking the exact opposite."

Noah couldn't shake his worry about the barrenness of the land. It seemed too empty for it to be a mere coincidence.

As Luca and Quinn engaged in their argument, a loud roar shattered the moment. Their attention snapped towards a massive tiger-like creature with peculiar humps on its back. Noah instinctively expected danger, but upon closer inspection, he noticed that the creature appeared injured. Although it bore only a chip in its bark-like skin, the monster's movements were unsteady, as if it was on the brink of collapse. The creature locked eyes with them and emitted another roar. In a show of fear, Luca burrowed into the sand using his unique power and fled.

Quinn seemed poised to follow Luca's example, but his concern for the injured creature seemed to bolster his confidence. Prepared to confront the beast, he stood his ground. Noah, wary of the situation, readied himself to flee if necessary, his gaze fixed on the monster. Suddenly, the creature let out a final roar before succumbing to its injuries, collapsing to the ground. Quinn cautiously moved forward but abruptly halted his steps. Two figures, a man and a woman with striking red hair, appeared next to the creature's lifeless form. Their resemblance hinted at a shared lineage.

"Amavines?" Quinn muttered to Noah.

Noah affirmed, "Probably." The Amavine clan wielded significant influence in Averane city.

The red-haired pair wasted no time in extracting the creature's core, then turned their attention to Quinn and Noah. Although caution lingered, Noah sensed that the Amavine clan held no immediate hostility towards him. The two approached cautiously.

"What brings you two to this place?" inquired the red-haired man.

"Exploration," Noah replied succinctly.

"It's best to return from whence you came," the woman said arrogantly. "This territory isn't meant for the weak."

Quinn retorted, annoyance evident, "We aren't weak."

The woman's demeanor turned cocky, as she challenged, "Want to prove that?"

"Not now, Ivy," the man intervened, quelling her.

"You'd better..." Quinn began, only to be stopped by Noah. In an instant, the two red-haired individuals vanished.

"Be cautious," Noah advised Quinn, just before the red-haired woman reappeared beside them. A phantom-like scorpion stinger materialized on her back and struck Quinn.

Quinn's cry filled the air as he staggered back. In response, Noah drew his sword and lunged at the red-haired woman. Although she managed to evade the sword's edge, she was caught off-guard by the ensuing wind blade. In the aftermath of her attack, Noah recognized her and his instinct urged retreat. He swiftly convinced Quinn to join him in fleeing, while the red-haired pair seemingly opted not to pursue them.

Noah led their hasty escape, though Quinn struggled to keep pace, likely due to the stinger wound.

"Heal me, and we can go back and fight them!" Quinn urged, the pain evident in his voice.

"No, I recognize them," Noah explained. "They're part of the Wandering Seven."

"But they're clearly connected to the Amavine clan," Quinn argued.

"I know, but I'm familiar with their abilities," Noah elaborated. "I've heard of them; they're the sixth and seventh members of the Wandering Seven."

"Seriously? Well, we're lucky they didn't pursue us," Quinn commented, his nervousness palpable. "Can you heal me, though? This won't be fatal, but it's sapping my strength."

"Of course," Noah consented, retrieving an item from his pouch and heading towards Quinn.

"Thanks, man. It's a stroke of luck that you're..." Quinn's gratitude was interrupted as he screamed, his sentence cut short.

With a swift motion, Noah withdrew his dagger from Quinn's chest, his power absorbing Quinn's life force. Despite Quinn's pleading gaze, he soon succumbed. Noah approached Quinn's lifeless form, opening his chest to extract the three cores nestled within. Gathering the remaining cores Quinn carried, Noah's pouch was now brimming. The weight of guilt was strangely absent; he had taken Quinn's life solely for the sake of his own empowerment.

Returning to the outskirts of Sandwhirl, Noah's gaze fell upon Luca. Adopting a distressed expression, Noah hastened his pace to reach him.

"We have to flee!" Noah urgently declared. "It's the Wandering Seven!"

Although the thought of eliminating Luca crossed Noah's mind, he dismissed it, apprehensive about the potential consequences and the suspicion it might raise, as well as the potential that Luca escaped him.

"Where's Quinn?" Luca inquired, already on the move.

Noah's voice weighed with sorrow as he replied, "The Wandering Seven took his life. I tried my best to save him, but they were too formidable."

"Damn it. Maybe I should've convinced him to leave," Luca muttered, his demeanor downcast.

"It's a painful truth, but dwelling on it won't change anything now. We have to keep running," Noah insisted. And so, side by side, they continued their sprint for several hours until they reached an oasis.

"This should provide us some respite," Noah stated.

Exhaustion etched across his features, Luca nodded in agreement. With no immediate sign of pursuit, they opted to settle down at the oasis. Though Quinn's loss still cast a shadow over Luca, the grim reality of their situation compelled them to persevere. With the oasis as their backdrop, they constructed a rudimentary shelter, seeking solace in the shelter's embrace as they finally succumbed to much-needed sleep.

The return journey to the Mercenaries' camp was a grueling one. With Quinn's absence, they treaded more carefully, constantly vigilant against potential monster threats. After several days of cautious travel, the duo at last rejoined the ranks of the Mercenaries. The expedition had indeed yielded considerable wealth, but the heavy price paid in Quinn's life cast a somber shadow. As the days spent in the wasteland took their toll, Noah and Luca eventually bid each other farewell, their paths diverging. Noah made his way back to his dwelling, the weight of recent events slowly easing from his shoulders.

Settled within the confines of his home, Noah allowed himself a moment of respite. The sense of security he experienced stemmed not only from their newfound riches but also from the conviction that he had managed to conceal his crime successfully from Luca, thus securing his safety.