Chapter 255: The Sandgrave Stalkers

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: The Sandgrave Stalkers

The expedition resumed its advance, with the Awakeners maintaining their formations as they crossed the seemingly endless expanse of sand. Although the first wave of giant scorpions had been dealt with, no one was foolish enough to assume that the desert had become safe, especially after learning that creatures capable of suppressing their mana signatures were lurking beneath their feet.

For a while, nothing happened.

Then, the sand shifted.

A subtle ripple passed across the ground several meters ahead of the expedition, moving against the direction of the wind. Before anyone could properly examine it, another disturbance appeared to the left, followed by several more scattered across the desert.

One of the Awakeners narrowed his eyes as he tightened his grip on his weapon.

"Did you see that? Something’s moving beneath the sand!"

"I see it," another replied, drawing his sword as he cautiously watched the ground. "And judging by the number of disturbances, there isn’t just one of them."

The ripples multiplied, spreading across the battlefield until dozens of moving patches of sand could be seen advancing and disappearing in rapid succession. Whatever was beneath the surface was circling the expedition, searching for an opening in their formation.

Kang Ji-hoon’s expression hardened as he surveyed the approaching disturbances.

"Everyone, prepare to attack! Don’t allow those creatures to separate you from the others, and keep your eyes on the ground. The moment one emerges, strike without hesitation!"

"Understood!"

The Awakeners responded in unison, their voices carrying across the desert as weapons were drawn and mana began gathering around their bodies. Several mages immediately prepared their spells, while the swordsmen shifted their stances, ready to intercept anything that dared to emerge within striking distance.

They did not have to wait long.

BOOM!

The sand erupted beneath one of the Awakeners, and a long, armored creature shot out of the ground with its jaws wide open, attempting to seize the man before he could react. However, the swordsman had already anticipated the attack. Twisting his body, he drove his blade downward with both hands, striking the creature the instant it emerged.

SHING!

SPLAT!

His sword pierced the monster’s head, sending dark blood spraying across the sand. The creature released a harsh, guttural screech as its body writhed violently, its segmented limbs clawing at the ground before finally going limp.

"KRRRIEEEEK!"

The Awakener pulled his weapon free and stepped back, breathing heavily as he watched the creature’s body collapse.

"Damn it! They’re faster than I expected!"

"Don’t let them catch you off guard!" another Awakener shouted. "They’re coming from every direction!"

As if responding to his warning, several more creatures burst through the sand, their elongated bodies twisting through the air before they lunged at the nearest targets. The expedition’s formation immediately shifted, with the Awakeners moving to intercept the ambushers before they could reach the more vulnerable members.

The real battle had begun.

---

On the right flank, Park Tae-hyun watched as a Sandgrave Stalker emerged directly in front of him, its elongated jaws snapping toward his chest.

Rather than retreating, the Titan Guild Master stepped forward.

His muscles tightened beneath his combat gear, and a powerful surge of mana gathered around his fist. With a fierce grin, he drove his punch straight into the monster’s armored head.

BOOOOM!

The impact resounded across the desert, and the creature’s head was crushed beneath the overwhelming force. Its body was sent flying several meters before crashing into the sand, leaving a shallow crater where it landed.

Park Tae-hyun glanced at his fist before turning toward the next disturbance.

"Not bad for a bunch of underground pests, but you’ll need more than a surprise attack to take me down!"

Another Sandgrave Stalker lunged at him from the side.

BANG!

His fist struck its body before it could even reach him, sending it tumbling across the ground. He followed with a powerful kick that shattered its armor, then turned toward the next attacker without giving the previous one another glance.

For Park Tae-hyun, fighting these creatures was hardly complicated. Their ambush tactics might have posed a serious threat to ordinary Awakeners, but against someone who specialized in close combat, their attempts to approach him only provided more opportunities to strike.

’Their armor is tougher than it looks, but their bodies can’t withstand repeated impacts. As long as I keep moving, they won’t be able to surround me.’

His grin widened as another monster emerged from the sand.

"Come on, then! I’ll take on every last one of you!"

He clenched his fist and charged forward, meeting the approaching creature with another devastating blow.

---

Meanwhile, Kang Ji-hoon stood near the center of the formation, his expression composed as he observed the movements beneath the sand.

Unlike Park Tae-hyun, who relied on overwhelming physical strength, the Apex Guild Master preferred to control the battlefield itself. Gravity was an exceptionally versatile force, and against creatures that depended on ambushes and unpredictable movements, controlling the space around them offered a decisive advantage.

A Sandgrave Stalker emerged behind a group of Awakeners, its body arching as it prepared to drag one of them underground.

Kang Ji-hoon raised his hand.

"You’re not going anywhere."

The surrounding air grew heavy.

Dark mana gathered around him, condensing into several elongated, razor-sharp objects that hovered in the air like black spears. Their surfaces shimmered with a faint distortion, as though the space around them had been compressed under immense pressure.

With a slight movement of his fingers, he directed them toward the ground.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The dark projectiles plunged into the sand, piercing through the emerging monsters with frightening precision. Their momentum did not stop at the surface; reinforced by gravitational force, they drove deep into the ground and crushed anything caught in their path.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Several patches of sand exploded upward, revealing the contorted bodies of Sandgrave Stalkers that had been struck before they could complete their ambush.

The nearby Awakeners stared in astonishment.

"Those things were still underground, yet he managed to hit them all!"

"That’s the power of the Apex Guild Master for you. He doesn’t even need to wait for them to emerge!"

Kang Ji-hoon paid little attention to their remarks. His gaze remained fixed on the battlefield as he adjusted the direction of his gravitational attacks, preventing the creatures from slipping past his position.

"Maintain your formation! Don’t chase them underground, and don’t waste your skills on empty patches of sand. Wait until you have a clear target, then strike with everything you’ve got!"

His instructions spread quickly through the central formation, allowing the Awakeners to coordinate their attacks more effectively.

---

On the left flank, Yoon Ha-eun had already begun preparing her next move.

Her three summoned beasts were holding their positions, each performing a different role. The Stormcrest Griffin circled above the battlefield, its powerful wings stirring the desert air as lightning flickered between its feathers. The Ironhide Earth Bear guarded the front line, intercepting creatures that emerged too close to the Awakeners, while the Tidefang Serpent moved between the gaps in their formation, using its water magic to restrain anything that attempted to escape.

However, the Sandgrave Stalkers were becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Some emerged directly beneath their targets, while others attacked from several meters away, forcing the Awakeners to remain constantly alert.

Ha-eun clicked her tongue.

’They’re troublesome opponents, especially when they refuse to remain aboveground long enough for a proper attack. If we continue fighting them this way, we’ll waste too much time chasing their movements.’

Her gaze shifted toward a particularly large disturbance moving beneath the sand.

An idea occurred to her.

"Let’s see how you like being dragged out of your hiding place."

Ha-eun extended her hand, and the summoning sigil glowing across her palm changed shape. A fresh surge of mana flowed through the contract, and the sand ahead of her began to bulge upward.

RUMBLE...

Something enormous moved beneath the surface.