01.39 - The Storm

The direction indicator on the map projected by the observer pointed to a location about 15 minutes away by foot.

“You think we’ll get there in time?” Mirai asked.

“To get the points?” Luc countered.

“To rescue the party,” Mirai clarified. “I don’t think we need the points.”

“There’s not much we can do that wouldn’t get us points,” Luc said. “We don’t have a healer. The best we can do is eliminate the threat, which comes with points one way or another.”

“Just stop it with the silly sibling rivalry for now,” Mirai told him.

“I don’t think you’ll catch up, even with bonus points,” Gabe added.

“Not with that attitude,” Luc countered. He looked back at a group of four people kicking up dust while in pursuit. “Looks like we’ve got competition.”

“More like, we’ve got help,” Mirai said. “We could use their support. They have a healer. We don’t.”

Electra, Imbrius, Sarpedon, and Glaucus caught up to Mirai, Gabe, and Luc about halfway to their destination.

“Would you kindly leave those points to us?” Electra asked without beating around the bush.

“Ignore her,” Imbrius said. “We can share the work and the points. Got a plan of action?”

“Not yet,” Luc replied. “I saw your match recap yesterday. The team that issued the alert probably has some injured people. Blue hair over there has some healing spells, right?”

“I have a name, you know?” Glaucus interjected.

“Yes,” Imbrius confirmed. “Glaucus can take care of the injured.”

“Great,” Luc said. “You and the weirdo can take care of the front line. Green hair can help us keep them at a distance.”

“Did you just call me a weirdo?” Electra asked in a ticked-off voice. “We all have names, you know, Oudeis?”

“Who is Oud…” Luc began before a strong jab to his side by Mirai reminded him of his alias.

---

The source of the nearby threat alert came into view. A group of five hunter candidates fought a losing battle against more than three dozen Lesser Sand Elementals, barely holding the line. They were surrounded on all sides, with two injured teammates.

A distant sandstorm raged not too far away from their position, with two smaller dust devils leading the way, getting closer by the minute.

Gabe exchanged the positions of Electra and Imbrius with the two injured hunter candidates.

Luc took aim at the Core of the nearest Lesser Sand Elemental. It was part of a small group that had turned their attention to the new arrivals.

His projectile cut through the air and zeroed in on a shimmering spot on the upper part of the Elemental’s torso. It collided with the Core and pushed it outside of its body, leaving the remaining mass to crumble into sand and dust.

Glaucus tended to the two injured, conjuring a translucent liquid that seeped into their wounds, slowly regenerating cuts and mending broken bones.

Sarpedon conjured a few veins below the Lesser Sand Elementals that started to advance toward their position.

Two of them became entangled and came to a standstill.

Another one ripped off its own right leg, almost tripped, but then slowly reassembled a new one from the ground below.

Electra attempted to paralyze her opponents with her electric spells, but it was not very effective. She switched to brute force punches aimed at their Cores. The first couple of hits were absorbed, but the third finally managed to overcome and split their rocky armor; the fourth one severed their Core.

Imbrius, without even attempting a fire spell, in turn used his spear like a needle to sever the Elementals’ Cores, pushing right through their protective layers with pinpoint accuracy.

---

The sandstorm, meanwhile, drew closer and closer, and the first of the two supposed dust devils had almost reached the group.

Gabe remained ready to exchange more people.

Mirai observed the fight from afar, then turned after hearing approaching footsteps. “Looks like the cavalry’s here. And not a minute too late.”

Esmeralda, Rubi, and Zafiro had almost arrived at their position, and the shadow of what must have been Aer flew over the group and straight toward the sandstorm.

The remaining three hunter candidates who had been trapped amidst the Elementals slowly broke through the encirclement, using the path cleared by Electra and Imbrius from within and Luc from outside.

The group met to face the remaining Elementals head-on with a united front as Esmeralda, Rubi, and Zafiro joined the fight.

Rubi anchored the group in place, while Zafiro drew the Elementals toward a point not too far in front of him.

Half the remaining Elementals were crushed by the force of the impact.

Esmeralda, Rubi, Electra, and Imbrius eliminated the leftovers.

The two dust devils had grown in size and almost reached their position, kicking up sand and dust in the process.

“Great job,” Luc shouted. “Now let’s get out of here before the sandstorm arrives!”

“That’s not a sandstorm,” Esmeralda said bluntly.

“What do you mean that’s not a…” Luc began.

At the same time, Aer rapidly descended between the nearest dust devil and the sandstorm behind. He almost crashed into the ground, then soared above, carrying a spherical object. He carried it away from their position.

Suddenly, the sandstorm changed course, following in his direction.

The smaller one farther away changed its course too, but the one closer to the group kept approaching.

“Are those monsters too?” Luc asked.

“Two Greater Sandstorm Elementals,” Esmeralda confirmed. “Plus the Elder one following Aer. We’ll take care of the farther one; could you eliminate the one close by? The Core is in the heart of the storm.”