Erend and Eccar sat cautiously in the wooden chairs that appeared as if they had been prepared just for them. The chairs were simple but sturdy, positioned near the edge of the water with a clear view of the tranquil oasis.
The warm breeze moved gently through the palm trees, making the setting feel almost too perfect. It was as if the place itself wanted them to relax. They also feel that their fatigue begin to dissapear slowly.
The woman moved with an elegant grace as she sat across from them on a large ornate stone that rose out of the sand. She watched them with a calm amused smile, her golden-brown hair cascading over her shoulders.
"I am Sahura," she finally introduced herself, her voice smooth and melodic. "And I am the guardian of this oasis... and the BOSS of the 30th floor."
Erend and Eccar's eyes widened in shock at her words and they immediately tensed. Their hands instinctively formed into fists, adrenaline beginning to spike as the realization hit.
A BOSS. The thought sent their hearts racing. They had fought powerful enemies before and the bosses they had encountered were always the deadliest. The fact that she revealed herself so casually didn't sit right with them.
Sahura noticed their reactions and chuckled softly. "You don't need to worry," she said. "I will not attack you now. It is not time for that."
Erend's mind raced as he tried to process the situation, but then a memory from long ago surfaced. He had encountered something similar before. Another BOSS, a man named Haril, had once confronted him and ask him to sit with him because it wasn't time for their final battle.
With a deep breath, Erend relaxed slightly, though his wariness didn't completely fade. He glanced at Eccar and gave him a subtle nod.
"It's true. I've seen this before," Erend said in a low voice. "She won't attack us. At least, not yet."
Eccar hesitated, still eyeing Sahura with suspicion, but he trusted Erend's judgment. Slowly, he eased his stance, though he still remained vigilant.
Sahura leaned back, clearly satisfied with their reaction.
Eccar simply gave a grunt of approval, lifting his glass again to drain it. The drink had a power of its own, leaving both of them feeling almost... peaceful.
Sahura merely nodded in response, her enigmatic smile never leaving her lips. She seemed in no hurry, waiting patiently for them to gather their thoughts.
Erend set the glass down on the sand.
"It was something called The Great Calamity," he began slowly. "It's a force... something beyond anything I've ever faced before. It wants to devour the world I'm protecting. And it's growing stronger." .net
His gaze shifted toward the horizon, where the desert stretched out endlessly. "We've been fighting it trying to stop its advance. But... it's relentless. It doesn't stop. And if we fail, this world an the other world will be lost."
Eccar listened silently, his expression darkening as Erend spoke. The weight of the situation hung over both of them, and for the first time since they'd sat down, the serene oasis seemed almost too peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos they were preparing to face.
Sahura, still smiling, tilted her head slightly. "The Great Calamity," she repeated softly as if tasting the words. Her eyes gleamed with an ancient understanding. "A force of destruction, seeking to consume all in its path. I see now why you carry such heavy burdens."
She leaned forward, her gaze intense as she studied them both. "But tell me, warriors... what makes you think you can stop it?"
Erend held her gaze, the weight of her question sinking deep into his chest. It was a question he had asked himself countless times, but now, sitting here in the calm of the oasis, with Sahura's piercing eyes on him, he knew there was only one answer.
"We have to," he said, his voice firm. "Because if we don't... everything will be lost."
Sahura smiled wider. "And that is exactly why you will be succesful."
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