The desert was endless. Golden dunes rolled under the blazing sun like waves of fire, and at their heart stood the Gate of Karzakh—a colossal stone arch, half-buried in sand, carved with runes that shimmered faintly in the heat.
At the south side of the desert, the group 2 defeated the sandworm with their team effort.
Trueso Dom, the sword saint, his sword are shining with elemental mana.
Peter York, a cunning rogue whose twin daggers gleamed like fangs.
Kyle Larson, a swordsman with a fiery spirit, wielding a blade said to drink monster blood.
Claire Vetson, a mage who commanded wind, her staff are surrounded with wind mana.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, sand whipping around their boots.
"The boss monster won't come out without killing every monsters," Trueso growled.
"Then let's kill every monsters," Claire replied, wind elements across her palms.
"You are saying like you are some kind of big shot or something," Peter said with teasing smile.
"Hey I'm just saying. Also there is also other groups who are going to kill monsters after all." Claire retorted back.
"But we need to be the one to defeat the boss monster." Trueso said seriously.
Not far away, another roar shook the desert.
From the shifting dunes rose the mini boss monster—a titanic sandworm, not larger than the one Tendou's group had slain. Its body stretched endlessly, its armor-like scales shining like iron. Each time it slammed against the desert floor, the ground quaked like thunder.
Yuvel Oblik grinned, raising his staff high.
"Shadow Flame: Collapse!"
A sphere of black fire spiraled into the worm's open maw, exploding violently. The beast roared, rearing back.
Lugia Xerves hurled his spear, striking the worm's eye.
Allen Walker dashed forward, his silver sword glowing.
"Holy Cross Slash!"
He carved into its side with a blazing X-shaped strike, leaving the scales shattered.
But the worm wasn't done. It dove into the sand, emerging behind them with terrifying speed.
Dick Ashdrew slammed his warhammer into the ground.
"Sanctuary Barrier!"
A dome of golden light shielded them just as the worm's gaping maw snapped down. The impact cracked the desert floor, but the barrier held.
"We'll cut it down piece by piece," Yuvel growled, his eyes burning with determination.
On the far ridge, Uriel Aegis's group 4 also faced the sandworm monster.
Uriel swung his greatsword, his strikes heavy enough to cleave the air itself.
"This thing is harder than I thought !"
Mira Solven danced across the sand, her crescent blades glinting. Each slash released a mist of venom that ate away at the sandworm's armor.
Oric Durnham raised both arms, the desert itself answering his call.
"Sand Coffin!"
The ground rose like shackles, binding the beast's legs. Kaelen Veyra's arrows flew one after another, glowing with spirit energy, striking the creature's core.
The Gate of Karzakh rumbled, its runes glowing brighter with each death that stained the sand. The desert was no longer silent—it screamed with the roar of monsters.
Far from the frontlines of Tendou's team and the others, two more groups of students were thrown into chaos.
Angela Smith, Ice Witch whose staff producing the cold air around the area .
Louis Guard, a shield knight wielding a tower shield broad enough to block a wagon.
And two others—quick-footed duelists and support mage—followed their lead.
The sand split open beneath their feet as two colossal sandworms emerged at once, their armored scales rattling like drums.
Angela twirled her staff, her voice sharp:
"Frozen Spear Rain!"
Dozens of spears of frost streaked down from the sky, piercing the worms' armor and setting the dunes freezing cold. But the creatures did not stop—they thrashed wildly, creating shockwaves of sand around the area.
Louis slammed his tower shield into the ground.
"Bulwark! Hold formation!"
The shield expanded with a rune glow, creating a barrier wall. The worms' strikes slammed into it, sending vibrations through his arms, but the line held.
The duelists darted in and out, cutting into the worms' exposed joints, while Angela continued to hammer them with flames.
One worm dove into the sand to flank them—but Angela was ready. She raised her staff high, unleashing a massive ball of ice that turned the desert floor into freezing zone. The worm shrieked as it burst back out, wounded but enraged.
Damian Cane, saber wielder warlock whose every strike split sand and stone alike. He can also chant magic spells.
Levy Greenwood, spirit tamer with a calm voice and ruthless precision.
Alongside them, their teammates—a swordswoman and a cleric—formed a tight-knit unit.
A sandworm twice their size erupted from beneath, lunging directly at Damian.
He spun his shining saber and thrust upward with raw force.
"Dragon Fang Pierce!"
The weapon glowed, piercing through the worm's lower jaw and forcing it back. The desert trembled with its scream.
"Levy, pin it!" Damian shouted.
Levy Greenwood spread her hands calmly, her magic circle glowing brown and gold.
"Stone Coffin!"
Pillars of rock surged from beneath the sands, wrapping around the worm's massive body, locking it in place. The swordswoman slashed along its underbelly, while the cleric imbued Damian's weapon with radiant light.
The saber shines with blue mana as Damian charged again.
"Flow Style:Wave Splitter!"
His strike tore through the worm's armored hide, causing blood and sand to spray across the battlefield. The monster writhed violently, crashing into dunes, but Group Six pressed their assault relentlessly.
Across the battlefield, the six groups fought separately—slaying, bleeding, surviving.
But as each group fought, the runes of the Gate of Karzakh glowed brighter. The monsters they fought were powerful, yet only heralds of what was to come.
The earth split, a storm of sand and blood rising into the sky.
From the heart of the gate, a deep, bone-rattling roar echoed across the desert.
The true boss monster was emerging—greater than any worm or scorpion. Its massive shadow rose behind the arch of the gate, blotting out the desert.
And for the first time, all six groups realized the truth:
They would not survive this fight alone.
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