The Butcher of Sargon (LoL x Arknight Fanfiction)

Choosing to enter the Foehn Hotlands during the rainy season had both advantages and disadvantages.

The good aspect was that the climate during this season was more bearable. Even when out of their vehicles, Rhine Lab operatives could maintain a certain level of combat effectiveness for a short time. The bad aspect, however, was that the arrival of the rainy season made the disaster beast dwelling in the Hotlands more active.

Garde referred to the creatures living in the Hotlands as disaster beast. 

Any creature from this place, once released into a town, would cause a disaster.

On the roof of the vehicle, Garde silently counted down the seconds. When the convoy entered a sandy area, he spoke up.

"All vehicles, accelerate! Avoid the protrusions on the sand and get through here quickly!"

Garde's voice reached all the drivers. Visible on the sandy ground were house-sized mounds. 

As the convoy passed, dozens of sandworms, as thick as barrels, burst out of the ground. 

They resembled oversized earthworms but had a much tougher structure, with thick layers of sand and gravel coating their exterior, making Garde think of calling them "Great Rock Snakes." However, these sandworms were far more aggressive.

Entering their territory meant becoming their enemy, and to them, enemies were food.

The Originium engines of the dune buggies roared, the vehicles speeding up to 160 kph. Garde had to cling to the roof to avoid being thrown off. 

He remembered this area well since it was where he had escaped from four years ago. 

Back then, fueled by rage, he had slaughtered his way through these sandworms, but now only a few dozen remained, most of them small. 

The few fully grown ones were immediately hostile upon recognizing Garde, their massive bodies wriggling in an attempt to catch the convoy. 

However, a bunch of crawling sandworms had no chance against the speed of the dune buggies.

Garde had chosen this route because he had already dealt with the threats here, unless other disaster beasts had entered the sandworm territory. 

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a massive mound appeared on the sandy path ahead, blocking their way. 

A four-legged beast over ten meters long emerged, clutching a young sandworm in its jaws. 

Hearing the vehicles, it slowly turned its head.

Seeing the beast, Garde sighed in relief.

"Go around it. It won't attack us."

Not all creatures in the Hotlands were aggressive toward humans. This one had just caught a young sandworm, and its full mammary glands indicated it was nursing. 

Some disaster beast would avoid confrontation with unknown threats.

After leaving the sandworm territory, the convoy slowed down. 

Maintaining high speeds for long periods in the scorching environment had worn down the specialized high-temperature-resistant tires, despite being made from refined solvent materials. 

Although they couldn't bring all their equipment, essentials like wheels were salvaged from their original vehicles.

The convoy stopped for a tire change. The moment an operative stepped out, a wave of heat hit him, prompting a fellow team member to shove him out and slam the door shut.

"Shit!!"

Swearing, the operatives quickly changed the tires, frequently glancing at Garde, who sat on the roof writing in his journal, unfazed by the heat.

"Garde, do you want to come inside and rest?" Carnelian asked, poking her head out from the vehicle below. The deeper they ventured, the hotter it got outside.

"If I come inside, will you observe the surroundings?"

"Tch."

Feeling the heat from outside, Carnelian hesitated but eventually nodded reluctantly.

"Fine, switch with me!"

"Forget it, you stay inside."

The Hotlands' environment was unbearable for ordinary people of Terra. 

Living here required at least an Excellent or Outstanding Physiological Endurance. Knowing this, the number of casters among the Rhine Lab operatives was minimal. 

Many had withdrawn halfway, unable to endure. 

Thus, Carnelian was the only caster left in the team, not counting Saria, who, despite being a caster, took on the role of a heavy defender.

There wasn't much to say about the first day in the Hotlands. The creatures in the outer regions weren't strong or overly aggressive. As long as they avoided territories of highly territorial creatures, the convoy faced no major threats.

The convoy chose to enter at dusk and drove for only two hours before setting up camp on a clean rocky ground after sunset. 

The temperature in the Hotlands was relatively low only before noon and at dusk. At noon, temperatures could soar to sixty or seventy degrees Celsius, and even at slightly lower times, it exceeded fifty degrees. 

At night, however, the temperature plummeted, making it feel like they were in the frozen tundra of northern Ursus, necessitating thick blankets for sleeping.

"Garde, rest now. We'll take the night watch."

Saria's voice broke the silence. 

Before entering the Hotlands, it might not have seemed so bad, but once inside, it was evident how inhospitable the place was. 

Garde had spent hours on the vehicle roof, enduring the heat that would have roasted anyone else alive.

Despite not needing a blanket, Garde habitually wrapped one around himself. 

He recalled his first time in the Hotlands four years ago, alone, eyes wide open day and night to avoid attacks. 

Now, at least he could get some rest at night.

Through a slit in his eyes, Garde saw Saria sitting beside him. Her face showed little emotion, and he wondered if she'd lean on him when she got tired, but she didn't. She just sat there quietly, sometimes gazing into the distance, sometimes looking down, making Garde feel somewhat tortured.

The night passed without incident, and Garde didn't sleep a wink.

<+>

If you want to see more chapter of this story and don't mind spending $5 monthly to see till the latest chapter, please go to my Patreon1

Latest Chapter in Patreon: Volume 1 Chapter 113: I'll Drain You Dry!1

https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl1