Sandborn - Awakening of the Frozen Sand

[In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.] — Sun Tzu

Azar was certain that Surumadur lacked the foresight to think this far ahead, but he knew the man would eventually reach this realization.

"If that's what you're afraid of, let me assure you that I've done this before. I've built a strong clan, one that outside forces couldn't undermine, and created a place where people lived in peace. I've accomplished this on this planet and others. If I did it once, twice, or thrice, I can do it again. Perhaps that's why I was meant to stay on this planet," Azar explained.

"I can't offer you a finished product, nor can I guarantee your or my survival. I won't dazzle you with promises of success, as there are always risks and unknowns. But you and your people, Surumadur, like the Mirha, are merely surviving, not truly living. I'm not sure if you even know what it feels like to truly live and enjoy the life you’ve been given."

"For those who start with nothing or little, it’s worth the risk. Or die trying, at least. Otherwise, if you don’t change something, you don’t even know if your tribe will last a few more years if beasts like the one attacking now continue to come," Azar said, shifting his attention to the door in a natural manner.

"Chief!" one of Surumadur's personal warriors stormed into the room, disregarding all rules due to the emergency. "Chief, we’re under attack. There’s a giant scorpion outside. Hurry!"

Surumadur exchanged glances with Azar.

"Is this your doing?" he asked concerned.

"I can assure you, i am not of such cruelty, nor do i possess the ability to control the beasts. Even though i would like to," Azar replied, keeping his calm.

Surumadur nodded before before jumping to his feet, following the guard out, with Hamsha trailing behind him.

"What luck they have, Araumir. For us to be here when such a dire problem occurs. Let’s go; we can’t let them face this danger alone," Azar said, leading the way.

As Surumadur emerged from the meeting room protected by sound-blocking runes, his wife and children were already in the hallway, awakened by the commotion. The Calabi chief armed himself with the calm resolve of a warrior who had conquered life’s hardships and stepped out without a word.

"Chief!" the Calabi warriors called in unison.

"What's happening?" Surumadur bellowed as he saw his people fleeing through the streets.

"That!" the man who had informed him pointed toward a gigantic scorpion, illuminated by volleys of the flux cannons and arrows.

"Darub, open the tunnel and let the people take refuge," Surumadur ordered immediately. "Chalarub, gather all the brave men of the Calabi for battle. Anyone who refuses will be executed as a traitor."

"Yes, Chief," the two men replied, rushing to execute their orders.

"All women and children, gather at the tunnel!" Darub shouted on the streets, signaling his men to spread out and cover more ground.

Chalarub blew his horn three times in quick succession, summoning the men. In response, the scorpion let out a piercing screech that echoed throughout the settlement, threatening to damage the ears of the weaker people.

"Hamsha, help my wife and children get to the tunnel!" Surumadur shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

"Chief!" Hamsha replied with determination, ready to fight alongside his friend and chief as always.

"I don't have time to explain to my people about you, and they despise you for your betrayal," Surumadur said, quickly clarifying before leading his men into battle against the advancing beast.

Hamsha moved to guide the wife and children, clenching his jaw, biting his lip in embarrassment. He was old, but he was a man, a warrior, one of the few Bellator Class flux-weavers the tribe had. To sent him take refuge with the weak, to hide together with the women and kids, was the greatest insult he could endure. And all that was because of Azar.

"Syed, come with us," Surumadur's wife said toward Azar and Araumir, even though Hamsha didn't bother to take their safety into consideration.

Azar gave her a warm gaze, shaking his head however.

"If we go hiding, i am afraid you will never see your husband again, that beast is not something he can face," Azar said. "Take care of you, and we will take care of your husband out of consideration for your kindness."

The wife followed Hamsha on the street while Azar and Araumir stayed at the front of the house. Azar’s body was in no condition to fight or even run; his cultivation level was too low to protect him from the scorpion's attacks.

"Do you think they have a chance of defeating it?" Azar asked.

"After they pay the price, yes," Araumir responded, shielding his master from the chaos of fleeing people.

"And how high might that price be?" Azar inquired. "I don’t recall ever seeing this species of scorpion before, so I can’t identify its abilities. But its size is similar to that of Bashara Scorpions. Could they be related?"

"Judging by the pattern on its back, this type of scorpion is unfamiliar, but it could just be a design choice. Even if it isn’t related to the Bashara, a tribe usually has a maximum of fifteen hundred people. With their strongest fighters usually not surpassing the Bellator Class, they’re likely to lose more than half their numbers. Unless the scorpion has an area-of-effect skill, in which case, they stand no chance," Araumir shared his assessment.

"Detailed as always," Azar nodded. "The Calabi value their lives more than gold since they are quite poor in resources. The amount of gold hidden beneath Surumadur’s house is so meager it’s almost pitiable," he added with dramatic flair.

Using his [Spiritual Perception], Azar could see objects' shapes and contours through walls and barriers, thanks to his technique. This ability, limited by his low cultivation level, was particularly useful for finding hidden objects or monitoring people.

"Go and protect Surumadur from the shadows. When you assess that he’s in a favorable position, strike a deal with him. You’ll take out the scorpion in exchange for the drops and his allegiance to us," Azar instructed.

"Master, he is weak," Araumir expressed his concern. "Why are you trying to recruit such a weak person to serve you?"

“Mmm, in my current condition, any help is more than welcome. With the right potions, I can help him reach the Magister Magnus Class in his lifetime, and I consider him to be a valuable ally. I believe Mohul and Khaleb will benefit from his assistance in uniting the tribes. Any more questions?” Azar asked.

“No, but I think we can find more powerful people to serve you,” Araumir said, maintaining his viewpoint.

With a thoughtful expression, Araumir submerged into the world of shadows. The darkness of the night allowed him to move freely. Despite his differing opinion, Araumir was determined to complete his task efficiently. If any help mattered, then numbers did too. So, right in front of the impending danger, the Calabi warriors began to disappear, one by one.

“Archers, aim for its eyes! Spears ready to strike if it gets too close!” Omarabi shouted. "And why are the cannons not shooting this thing down?"

The ground trembled as the gigantic scorpion approached. Its carapace glistened in the torchlight, and its mandibles clicked ominously. The archers released a volley of flux infused arrows, many of which bounced harmlessly off the creature’s thick exoskeleton. A few found their mark, striking its eyes and causing it to shriek in pain and rage.

But the scorpion was undeterred. With a powerful thrust, it crashed into the wooden wall, splintering it as if it were made of paper. The force of the impact sent several warriors flying, and the wall sagged dangerously, widening the gaping hole through which the beast crawled inside.

"Fire!" someone shouted, and the few flux cannons on top of the watchtowers sent blue colored balls of energy that exploded upon contact with the beast's armor, pushing it back.

“Spears! Now!” Omarabi roared.

The spearmen charged, thrusting their weapons into the creature’s vulnerable joints. The scorpion retaliated with swift, lethal strikes from its pincers and stinger, sending men scattering and screaming. Despite their bravery, the warriors struggled against the scorpion’s immense size and power. And even the powerful shots of the flux cannons seem unable to deal considerable damage to the beast.

In the mist of the battle, the black creatures with humanoid forms and animalistic characteristics that roamed the shadow world under Araumir's command pulled many of the unfortunate warriors facing death into the world below, saving their lives. Nevertheless, without proper surveillance and driven by a desire to please their master, the shadow folk collected more people than necessary, often rescuing those not in danger at all.

In the chaos, Buhdul, Surumadur's oldest son, climbed a nearby watchtower armed with a long, black-iron-tipped spear. As the scorpion focused on the people at its feet, the young warrior leaped from the tower, aiming for the creature’s back. His spear, coated in a bright layer of brown elemental flux, found a chink in the scorpion’s armor, piercing deep and releasing all the built-up energy. The beast screeched in agony, thrashing wildly and knocking over several structures.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Surumadur, who had just arrived at the scene, rallied his men for a final assault. “For the Calabi! For our families and home!”

With a unified cry, the warriors surged forward, attacking the scorpion with renewed vigor.

They aimed for the creature's wounded back and exposed joints, hoping to bring it down. The Calabi tribe had long known that their desert home held many dangers, and they accepted their fate to fight for survival. But deep down, everyone prayed for the gods to bless them and protect their settlement from the attack of such a formidable beast.

This was no ordinary scorpion; it was infused with dark flux, its eyes glowing with an eerie light as it resisted the assault of flux techniques.

The chief of the tribe, Surumadur, stood at the forefront, his eyes narrowed in focus. Around him, the tribe’s strongest warriors gathered, their hands glowing with various hues of elemental light. Grabbing one of the beads from his bracelet, Surumadur activated the runic symbols without needing to draw them in the air.

“Focus your energy. We must strike as one,” his voice cut through the air with calm authority. Together with his men, Surumadur launched his attack. "Dune-splitting Slash!" he shouted as he slashed with his neon powered scimitar.

The air around him trembled, and the pebbles on the ground rose as the wide wind blade approached the scorpion’s face. But the beast protected itself with its pincers, surviving the barrage of attacks. The scorpion screeched, its pincers snapping and its tail arching high, radiating dark energy.

Surumadur grabbed another bead, infusing it with flux. The carefully carved runic pattern on it gleamed with light, summoning a sphere of bright golden energy that illuminated the surroundings.

"Prepare yourselves!" he shouted, and the warriors around him all channeled their elemental flux into the sphere.

The creature lunged forward, its tail striking with lightning speed. Surumadur thrust his hands forward, releasing a beam of collected energy that collided with the tail, deflecting its strike. The ground beneath their feet shook with the force of the impact.

Another round of shots from the flux cannons followed, giving the people a moment to collect their thoughts.

Beside Surumadur, Vadal, a seasoned warrior, summoned swirling winds to form a protective barrier around them. The airwaves from the scorpion’s pincers crashed against the barrier, creating sparks of energy.

“We must continue to attack its joints!” Vadal yelled, directing the flux-weavers’ focus.

A promising young warrior from the Calabi tribe, Amina, who specialized in fire energy, stepped forward. Flames danced around her hands as she drew runes, summoning a spinning fire arrow and aiming it directly at the scorpion’s vulnerable joint. The beast roared in pain as the flames scorched its exoskeleton, leaving charred marks.

"Excellent, we need to keep this up," Surumadur encouraged.

Enraged by the pain, the scorpion retaliated, spewing a dark, highly corrosive substance from its stinger without warning. Amina had no time to dodge, but she managed to leap to the side, hoping to avoid the attack. However, before the corrosive liquid could reach her, two hands pulled her below, into the shadow world. The ground where she had stood sizzled and melted, along with the warriors who screamed in pain, unable to be saved.

“Brave, but weak,” Araumir said, tossing the girl into the shadow world under his control.