Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 89: A Storm!

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Past the Rift the sand mellowed into hummocks dotted by hardy thorn trees. Here the Coatl team waited. Thea intent on resupply from a cistern oasis. Mia approached under white flag; army etiquette demanded trading of hazard data.

Kai watched from ridge. Sisters spoke alone; gestures sharp then softened. Perhaps Thea grudgingly acknowledged Cerastis’ survival.

But Darius stood behind Thea, helmet off, expression smug. When his eyes met Kai’s across seventy paces, he tapped his four-star insignia then traced a throat-cut motion.

Kai returned a slow smile, baring mandibles black with dried Crawler ichor. Let Darius wonder what monster’s blood he wore.

Both banners set separate camps at opposite dune horns. The air was filled with tension.

That night Mia gathered her warriors around a small lamp.

"Tomorrow we enter the Shifting Labyrinth," she said. "Storms move dunes like ocean swells. Landmarks vanish. Our map from Needle is incomplete."

She knelt, drew lines in sand. "Our objective is the central pillar, where scouts say the Ruler’s death-spasms crack sand into canyons. We claim relics first; Coatl will try as well."

Shale gripped hammer. "We beat them today. We’ll beat them again."

Mia nodded but eyes lingered on Kai. "I task Kai with forward command of spear unit."

Shock ran through the ranks, Shale raised brow but said nothing. Kai inhaled, chest tight with gratitude and weight. "I won’t fail."

Dustmere twin Axe slapped his back. "Lead us to glory, milk-thief," he joked (a rumor about Kai liking honey-sap milk). Laughter eased tension.

Under starfire they renewed oaths to each other, to Mia, to fallen comrades. Kai re-checked his kit: water flask, spare spear heads, a single hourglass vial of Glass-Crawler acid (harvested earlier). Might prove useful.

Sleep came fitful.

Day eleven dawned under the copper sky. Wind already wailed. Banners packed camp swiftly. Coatl advanced first, their black cloaks arrowing into maze valleys.

Cerastis followed an hour behind. Dunes here were steep, edges knifed; sand avalanched at slightest vibration. Whirlwinds birthed ghost-columns twenty stories tall then died.

Mid-march a gale struck, sand needles pelting at bone-bruising speed. Mia ordered ground tack; warriors linked shields overhead while tents formed lean-tos. Visibility fell to zero.

Within the roar Kai’s ears caught faint clacking. Something large moving counter-wind.

He signaled Shale. Both crouched, scanning through sand veil.

A massive outline lumbered toward collapsed slope: a carapaced beast twelve feet high, six long legs, horns like scimitars. Sand-Ram, 3.5-star desert herbivore known to stampede anything in path when panicked by storms.

But behind it, half hidden, padded six smaller predatory shapes, sleek panther-ants with obsidian mandibles: Dune-Shades (3-star), pack ambushers.

Kai grit mandibles. "Guard front line. Brace."

Wind howled so fiercely the world became a tunnel of whirling grit; each warrior saw only two bodies left or right. Yet training held.

The Sand-Ram barreled into view first. It’s hooves pulverizing slope crust into powder bursts. Glittering armor plates ran down its flanks like a mineral composite rumored to deflect three-star javelins. Its eyes, milky from grit, rolled white in panic.

Kai’s analysis clicked: kill the Shades first; the ram will flee once predators gone.

He shouted orders but wind swallowed words. Instead he raised his spear and hammered the butt twice on the shield. It was Cerastis code for "flank threat." Warriors pivoted into wedges.

The first Dune-Shade leapt like a black blur. Kai met it mid-air, twisting his spear tip sliced under jaw, ripping the gullet. Blood hissed on hot sand. The corpse slammed behind him. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Two more Shades veered at Shale; one bit his calf plating, failing to pierce; the other tried hamstring strike. Shale roared and swung hammer in an overhead arc. The blow splattered the attacker into cartilage pulp though recoil staggered the giant ant.

Needle though injured loose tri-blades (spinning throwing knives). One lodged in a Shade’s eye; it howled, crashed into Mia’s shield; Mia counter-stabbed through rib gap, ending it.

But two Shades circled farther left, targeting wounded Ash and Vexor (arm still in sling). Kai sprinted, sand blasting his face raw. One Shade pounced Vexor; Kai shoulder-rammed its side, both tumbling. Pain lanced through a cracked rib but he rolled upright.

He baited the beast, waving spear. It lunged low; Kai vaulted using spear haft as pole, flipping over its back. Mid-air he triggered Tiny Tank. His exoskeleton hardened; he landed blocking tail snap; then thrust down, severing spine.

Last Shade tackled Ash, pinning twin to ground. Ash struggled, dagger flashing but losing. Kai hurled his spear javelin straight from into Shade’s flank. Monster shrieked, whirled, tongue lashing. Before Kai could react, Shale arrived, booted the beast off Ash and ended it with a stomp that cracked skull.

[System: Dune-Shade defeats ×5. EXP +600.]

[Level up: Current level 25.]

Kai retrieved the spear, panting. HP 42 %. Shame he couldn’t essence-eat under a sandstorm. He totally ignored the level up notifications. Until he reaches level thirty / Three star rank he doesn’t care about some small achievements.

Wind slackened just enough for vision to widen, just in time to see the Sand-Ram still stampeding... straight at Mia who was checking on Needle.

"MIA!" Kai sprinted but the sand sucked his feet like mud. Mia noticed the attack too late. The ram’s horn bore down.

Kai abandoned speed, he launched Ant’s Instinct for path selection, glimpsed unstable dune lip above Mia. He hurled his last tri-blade at dune crest. The vibration + weapon impact triggered a mini slide. Sand sheet cascaded between Mia and Ram, deflecting the creature’s charge. Horn sliced air inches from her.

Ram thundered past, disappearing into blowing dust.

Mia looked up. Her eyes met with Kai’s eyes. Gratitude flared, then she pointed upward where the dune crest now wobbled. It collapsed fully, burying three warriors near the rear.

Kai raced to dig, as did others. They hauled comrades out, they were alive but coughing.

Storm faded after fifteen agonizing minutes. When wind died only silence and bodies remained.

They tally, Three soldiers seriously wounded; no additional deaths. Ram gone; Shades is dead.

Cerastis re-formed ranks. Mia’s armor was scratched but eyes bright. She clasped Kai’s wrist. "I owe you. Thanks."

Kai shook head. "Consider it as future debts." He murdered himself, "In case I walk on you while you are bathing. Remember your debts."