Erend and Eccar stood among the shattered remains of the scorpions, their bodies still brimming with the aftermath of battle. The hot desert wind swept across the battlefield, carrying with it the faint scent of burning venom and disturbed sand.
Erend blinked as a soft chime echoed in his mind accompanied by a glowing window appearing in his vision.
[You have received 6,000 EXP.]
[Scorpions defeated: 6.]
He smirked slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting in satisfaction.
"Not bad," he muttered under his breath. He felt the surge of power from the experience seeping into his bones, fueling his strength further.
Meanwhile, Eccar didn't receive the same notification. But he could feel a strange energy flowing into him. It was subtle but undeniable. The power of the slain creatures was now his to claim.
Eccar glanced at Erend. "What we got?" he asked.
Erend shrugged. "I can only say that it must be some kind of energy from those creatures that entering our body. Yes. Just think about it like that."
"Alright." Eccar shrugged.
Without saying much more, they nodded to each other, both understanding the unspoken agreement. They had more to do. The desert was vast and they were far from done.
After a few minutes of walking through the endless dunes the searing heat radiating from the sands beneath their feet they shared a silent decision. Flying would be easier.
With a single beat of their powerful wings they launched themselves into the sky, leaving the desert floor far below.
As they soared above the landscape, the wind rushing past them, their eyes scanned the horizon. The sun hung high casting shadows on the desert floor.
The endless sea of sand stretched out in every direction, but in the distance, something stood out. It looks like a massive formation, towering high above the desert like a mountain of rock.
"There," Eccar pointed, his voice cutting through the wind. "That might be where we'll find something useful."
Erend followed his gaze, his sharp eyes locking onto the mountain. It was massive, jagged, and seemed unnaturally still. They angled their wings toward it and sped forward, the gap closing quickly.
[Skill activated: All Thunder-Based Power (Lv.1)
In an instant, he summoned a massive bolt of lightning, channeling it into his hands before shooting a powerful pillar of thunder down at the towering creature.
The lightning struck with explosive force, crackling as it connected with the creature's rocky exterior.
The thunderous boom echoed across the desert as bolts of electricity danced across the creature's surface. But even as the rocks sizzled and fractured under the assault, the creature's crystal-encrusted body endured, only showing little signs of damage.
"It's tougher than I thought," Erend muttered, but he wasn't done yet. He gathered even more energy, preparing for another attack.
Meanwhile, Eccar took a different approach. Instead of attacking directly he descended toward the ground landing with a soft thud.
He kneeled and placed his hand on the sand, his eyes closing as he began to channel his power into the sand itself. His connection to the land ran deep, and with his Earth Dragon abilities, he could manipulate the very terrain beneath them.
"I'll need a moment before I join the fight," Eccar called out loudly.
Erend nodded. He could feel the ground rumbling beneath him as Eccar's power began to flow through the sands.
The giant creature seems unfazed by the initial lightning strike. It then took a lumbering step forward. Each movement sent tremors through the desert. Its massive arms raising slowly.
It let out a deep sound like the grinding of stone against stone that reverberated through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them.
"Come on, big guy!" Erend said
His wings flared behind him as he shot forward again, dodging the creature's slow but powerful swipe. The massive arm carved through the air where Erend had been just moments before, sending shockwaves through the sand as it hit the ground.
Erend darted around the creature with lightning speed, summoning another blast of thunderous energy. This time, he aimed for the creature's legs, hoping to destabilize it and slow it down.
Another bolt of lightning shot out from his hands, striking the creature's rocky limbs. More cracks appeared, and chunks of rock began to fall away, but still, the creature stood.
At that moment, the sand around Eccar began to move.
---