Volume 3 Chapter 166: The Predators Beneath the Sand

The rocky mountains stretched across the eastern edge of Floor Two, their jagged formations rising above the desert like the remains of an ancient fortress. Afternoon sunlight poured over the reddish-brown cliffs, illuminating the rough stone and casting long shadows across the narrow trails that wound between them. The higher they climbed, the thinner the vegetation became, until even the occasional patch of stubborn grass disappeared beneath layers of dust and loose gravel.

Rio walked at the front of the group, occasionally checking the map displayed in her system interface whenever the trail divided. Ryota followed close beside her, stepping over the larger rocks with an ease that seemed almost careless. Several paces behind them, Akari and Memory struggled to keep up with the winding path. Bubbles bounced happily near Memory's shoulder, apparently unaffected by either the heat or the exhausting climb.

Akari, on the other hand, had developed a habit of touching the white scarf wrapped around Narukami Tenrai's scabbard. Every few minutes, she would check that the cloth remained securely fastened, her fingers lingering against it for a moment before she continued walking.

Memory noticed the gesture but said nothing. She had already learned that Akari sometimes became unusually quiet whenever the subject of her weapon arose, and she didn't want to spoil the pleasant atmosphere by asking questions Akari wasn't ready to answer.

Unfortunately, the same consideration did not extend to her complaints about the journey.

"How much farther is it?" Memory asked, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "We've been walking between rocks for ages. I thought we were going to a dungeon, not climbing an entire mountain range!"

Rio glanced over her shoulder, amusement flickering across her face. "We're almost there."

"You said that twenty minutes ago."

"And now it's even more true."

Memory stared at her, seemingly searching for a reasonable response to such an infuriating answer. After several seconds, she turned toward Akari instead.

"Can you believe her?"

Akari sighed. "She's not going to give you a proper answer. Just keep walking."

"You're saying that like you know where we're going."

"I don't."

"Then how are you so calm?"

"Because complaining won't make the mountain shorter."

Memory opened her mouth, paused, and slowly closed it again. She looked down at the rocky path beneath her boots as though the ground itself had personally betrayed her.

"...I hate how reasonable that is."

Ryota laughed as he stepped over a large stone blocking the trail. "You'll get used to it. Rio has a talent for making terrible ideas sound like perfectly reasonable plans."

Rio turned her head. "You volunteered to come with me."

"Because I trusted you."

"And?"

"And I'm starting to question that decision."

"Too late."

Ryota released a dramatic sigh, earning a small laugh from Akari. Even Memory smiled, and for a few moments, the climb felt considerably less miserable. The warm breeze carried their laughter along the mountainside, briefly drowning out the crunch of gravel beneath their boots.

Then the trail curved around a tall rock formation, and the landscape beyond it came into view.

One by one, the four adventurers slowed to a stop.

The final outcrop opened onto a natural overlook, revealing an immense expanse of golden sand that stretched toward the distant horizon. Dunes rolled across the landscape like waves frozen in the middle of an ocean, their curved ridges catching the sunlight in shades of amber and pale gold. Here and there, isolated rock formations emerged from the sand, resembling tiny islands scattered across an otherwise endless sea.

There were no forests, no obvious roads, and no settlements within sight. The distant boundary between land and sky had almost disappeared beneath the afternoon haze, leaving the impression that the desert continued forever.

The wind swept over the dunes, carrying fine grains of sand through the air. From their elevated position, the landscape appeared peaceful, almost beautiful enough to make the long climb worthwhile.

Memory stepped closer to the overlook, her exhaustion temporarily forgotten.

"...Whoa."

Akari stood beside her, staring at the immense landscape with equal amazement. Even Ryota, who had spent most of the journey trading jokes with Rio, fell silent as he took in the view.

Memory slowly raised a hand and pointed toward the horizon.

"Is that..."

She swallowed.

"...the entire desert?"

Rio smiled. "Not the entire thing."

Memory immediately turned toward her.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NOT THE ENTIRE THING?!"

Ryota chuckled. "Welcome to the Endless Sand Valley."

Rio gestured toward the landscape below. "It's one of the largest regions on Floor Two. The valley extends far beyond what we can see from here, and most of the terrain consists of loose sand. There are a few settlements and scattered rock formations, but once you leave those areas, you'll find yourself surrounded by dunes for miles."

Akari continued studying the horizon. "It really does look endless."

"That's why it's called the Endless Sand Valley," Ryota replied.

Memory barely seemed to hear him. Her earlier exhaustion had been replaced by curiosity, and she leaned forward to examine the sloping terrain leading down from the overlook.

"So we just go down there and cross it?"

"Pretty much!" she declared, already moving toward the edge.

Her foot was about to leave the solid stone when Ryota suddenly reached out and caught her wrist.

"Wait. Don't step on the sand."

Memory froze with one foot suspended above the ground. Akari immediately turned toward them, while Rio's expression shifted from amusement to quiet attention.

"...What?" Memory asked.

Ryota didn't release her wrist. His gaze had settled on the dunes below, and the easygoing expression he had worn throughout the climb had disappeared.

"Don't step onto the open sand unless you know what's underneath it."

Memory slowly lowered her foot back onto the stone.

She looked down at the desert, then at Ryota.

"...Why?"

"Because the things living beneath it are much faster than you think."

That answer did not make her feel any better.

Akari frowned. "What lives under the sand?"

Rio didn't answer immediately. Instead, she approached the edge of the overlook and crouched beside a patch of hard, stony ground where the rocky slope gradually gave way to the first stretches of loose sand.

At first glance, nothing appeared unusual. Small stones littered the dusty ground, and the surface looked no different from the terrain they had crossed during their climb. There were no obvious tracks, burrows, or signs warning travelers to stay away.

Rio studied the boundary between rock and sand for several seconds.

Then she noticed a movement.

It was barely perceptible, little more than a faint ripple between two pebbles. The disturbance vanished almost immediately, leaving the surrounding ground seemingly undisturbed. An inexperienced player might have mistaken it for a stone shifting beneath the wind.

Rio's eyes narrowed.

"There you are."

Before Akari or Memory could ask what she meant, Rio reached forward. Her fingers slipped between the stones, and she closed her hand around something hidden beneath the surface.

A moment later, she pulled it free.

A brown snake twisted violently in her grasp. Its short, thick body was covered in rough, stone-colored scales that blended almost perfectly with the surrounding terrain. A triangular head emerged from the coils, its mouth opening to reveal small fangs as it attempted to bite the hand holding it.

Memory jumped backward so abruptly that Bubbles nearly bounced off her shoulder.

"AH! A SNAKE!"

"PYYYYUU!"

Bubbles sprang into the air before landing against Memory's head. Akari immediately reached toward the scarf covering Narukami Tenrai, but stopped when she realized Rio was holding the creature without the slightest sign of concern.

Rio examined the snake as it hissed and twisted between her fingers.

"A Stone Rattler."

Memory stared at the creature from a safe distance.

"WHY ARE YOU HOLDING IT?!"

"Relax. Stone Rattlers are low-level monsters. They spend most of their time hiding among rocks and waiting for something to approach them. If they manage to bite a player, their venom causes temporary paralysis."

Akari raised an eyebrow. "How long does the paralysis last?"

"About two hours."

Memory's face went pale.

"TWO HOURS?!"

Rio shrugged. "Their attacks are easy to avoid, and the venom doesn't deal much direct damage. The real problem is getting bitten somewhere inconvenient. Imagine being unable to move while another monster discovers you."

Memory slowly looked toward the enormous desert.

"...I suddenly don't like this place."

"Good," Rio replied. "That means you're paying attention."

Akari looked between the snake and the open dunes. "Then why did you warn us about the sand? Is this little thing the reason?"

Rio smiled faintly.

"No."

She turned toward the valley and, without another word, swung her arm and threw the Stone Rattler into the open desert.

The snake landed several meters away. Its body briefly disappeared beneath the loose grains before it emerged again, wriggling toward a nearby rock formation.

Memory stared at Rio.

Akari stared at Rio.

Ryota merely folded his arms, wearing the expression of someone who had already guessed what was about to happen.

"...Why did you do that?" Memory asked.

Rio pointed toward the snake.

"Watch."

The Stone Rattler had barely traveled a few meters when the sand beneath it began to move.

A narrow ripple followed the snake's movements, traveling beneath the surface with unnatural speed. Another disturbance appeared several meters away, followed by a third. Within moments, the surrounding dunes were shifting in several directions, as though enormous creatures were swimming beneath the desert.

Memory's expression gradually changed.

"...Rio?"

The ripples accelerated.

Then the sand erupted.

SHHHHHRRRAAAAAASH!

A gigantic creature burst from beneath the dunes, its enormous jaws opening around the unsuspecting snake. The Stone Rattler disappeared between rows of sharp teeth before it could even react.

For one brief moment, the creature's body emerged fully enough to reveal its broad, shark-like head and thick, muscular frame. Sand-colored scales covered its back, while powerful fins sliced through the loose grains as naturally as a shark moved through water.

Then it plunged beneath the surface again.

The sand collapsed into the space it had occupied, leaving behind a deep depression that gradually flattened as the creature swam away. Within seconds, the desert looked almost exactly as it had before.

Silence settled over the overlook.

Memory's mouth hung open. Akari stared at the place where the creature had vanished, while Bubbles remained unusually still atop Memory's head.

Neither girl spoke for several seconds.

Finally, Memory turned toward Rio with the slow, horrified expression of someone struggling to accept what she had just witnessed.

"...THE SAND JUST ATE THE SNAKE."

Rio nodded. "Correct."

"THE SAND ATE IT!"

"Technically, the creature beneath the sand ate it."

"THAT IS NOT BETTER!"

Akari finally found her voice. "What was that thing?"

"A Namizame," Rio answered. "A Sand Shark."

Memory immediately backed away from the overlook.

"Okay. Great. Wonderful. So the desert has sharks."

"Not exactly the entire desert," Rio replied.

Memory looked at her suspiciously.

"...Why do I feel like you're about to tell us something worse?"

Rio's smile widened.

"Because there is something worse."

Memory made a small, distressed noise.

Ryota laughed quietly while Rio returned to the edge of the overlook and studied the dunes. Her expression had become more thoughtful. The demonstration had served its purpose: the girls now understood why crossing the valley without preparation would be dangerous.

"The easiest way to understand this region is to think of the sand as an ocean," Rio explained. "The Sand Sharks move through loose sand almost as easily as fish move through water. They can detect vibrations from creatures walking above them, and some species can launch themselves out of the ground before their prey has time to react."

Akari looked toward the desert again, this time with considerably more caution.

"So walking across the sand can attract them?"

"It can. Not every Sand Shark attacks whenever it detects movement, but the open dunes are their territory. If you wander across them without understanding their hunting patterns, you might as well be walking through shark-infested water while splashing around and announcing your location."

Memory hugged herself.

"...I was literally about to step onto it."

Ryota nodded. "Which is why I grabbed you."

Memory slowly turned toward him. For once, her expression contained genuine gratitude rather than another complaint.

"...Thank you."

Ryota gave her a thumbs-up. "You're welcome. I'd rather not explain to Akari why her best friend got eaten by a desert shark five minutes after we arrived."

Akari sighed. "I would have blamed you too."

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about."

Rio chuckled before standing and brushing the dust from her knees.

"Now you understand why we can't simply walk across the valley."

Memory looked toward the dunes again, her earlier enthusiasm thoroughly extinguished.

"So..."

She swallowed.

"...what's the plan?"

Rio's smile returned.

"We get a boat."

Memory blinked.

"...A boat?"

"More specifically, a sand cruiser."

Rio pointed toward the eastern side of the overlook. Following her gesture, the others noticed a small structure built against the mountainside. The surrounding rocks concealed most of it, making it difficult to see from a distance, but a narrow wooden sign stood above its entrance. Beyond the building stretched a small yard filled with compact vessels designed to travel across the dunes.

It was a shipyard.

Akari tilted her head. "A shipyard in the middle of the mountains?"

"Sand cruisers are essential transportation in this region," Rio explained. "Players use them to cross the valley, explore distant areas, and organize hunting expeditions. Larger vessels are available for guild operations, but we don't need anything that expensive."

Ryota glanced toward the distant dunes. "How much are we talking?"

Rio started down the rocky path.

"We'll find out."

Memory followed immediately, although she maintained a respectable distance from the sand.

"I would just like to point out that if we get eaten by sharks, I'm blaming you."

Rio glanced over her shoulder.

"If we get eaten by sharks, you'll have much bigger problems than assigning blame."

"...I hate traveling with you."

"No, you don't."

Memory opened her mouth to argue, only to discover that she didn't have a convincing response. She eventually settled for an annoyed huff, which earned a quiet laugh from Akari.

The closer they came to the shipyard, the more clearly its construction became visible. The main building was made from weathered timber reinforced with iron brackets, and several broad platforms extended toward the dunes. Compact sand cruisers rested beneath wooden shelters, their wide hulls designed to glide over loose terrain rather than float on water.

Unlike ordinary boats, the vessels had no deep keels. Their undersides were smooth and slightly curved, with broad runners extending beneath the hulls to prevent them from sinking into the sand. Several magical propulsion units were mounted toward the rear, their metallic surfaces etched with glowing runes.

The shipyard was modest, but it appeared well maintained. Ropes, repair tools, and spare components had been arranged neatly along the walls, while a few NPC workers moved between the vessels, inspecting their runners and adjusting the magical engines.

An NPC stood behind a counter near the entrance, checking a stack of inventory documents. When Rio approached, he looked up and greeted the party with a practiced smile.

"Welcome, adventurers. Are you looking to rent a vessel for an expedition?"

"Actually, I'd like to purchase one," Rio replied. "How much does a small sand cruiser cost?"

The NPC's smile widened.

"You're in luck. We have several available. A small sand cruiser costs twenty-five copper coins."

Memory immediately turned toward Rio.

"Twenty-five copper?"

Rio nodded. "That's reasonable."

Akari blinked. "You're buying it? Just like that?"

Rio looked at her.

"Would you prefer to walk across the sand and hope the sharks are feeling generous?"

Akari paused before shaking her head.

"...No."

"Then we're buying it."

Rio opened her inventory and transferred the required currency through the system interface. A confirmation window appeared before her eyes.

[Purchase Successful]

Item Acquired: Small Sand Cruiser

Cost: 25 Copper Coins

The NPC bowed politely.

"Thank you for your purchase, adventurer. The vessel has been transferred to your inventory. Please remember that this is a single-use transportation item. Once summoned and deployed, the cruiser cannot be returned to your inventory through normal means."

Rio acknowledged the warning.

"Understood."

She accepted the transaction and stepped away from the counter.

Memory stared at her in disbelief.

"...You can store an entire boat in your inventory?"

"It's a game," Rio replied. "The inventory system isn't particularly concerned with the laws of physics."

Ryota shrugged. "She's got a point."

Memory looked down at Bubbles, who had returned to bouncing happily beside her.

The slime gave a cheerful wobble.

"Pyu!"

"...Don't get any ideas," Memory warned.

Bubbles tilted slightly to one side.

Memory narrowed her eyes. "I'm serious. You are not jumping into the sand."

The slime responded with another innocent-sounding squeak.

Memory looked away before she could be tempted to believe it.

After confirming that the purchase had been registered, the four adventurers left the shipyard and returned to the rocky overlook. The sun still shone brightly over the Endless Sand Valley, illuminating the dunes in shades of gold and amber. Far in the distance, a faint disturbance moved across the surface, suggesting that something was traveling beneath the sand.

Rio opened her inventory and selected the newly purchased vessel.

A system prompt appeared before her.

[Summon Small Sand Cruiser?]

[Confirm]

Rio confirmed the prompt.

A bright flash spread across the rocky platform. The air shimmered, and a compact sand cruiser materialized before them with a low mechanical hum. Its hull settled onto the ground, and the magical runners beneath it began glowing with a faint blue light.

The vessel was large enough to carry all four adventurers comfortably. A raised steering station occupied the rear of the deck, while the forward section offered an unobstructed view of the terrain ahead. Several seats were positioned along the middle, each equipped with a simple safety strap to keep passengers from being thrown overboard when the cruiser encountered rough ground.

Memory stared at the vessel, her fear temporarily replaced by admiration.

"...Okay. That's actually pretty cool."

Ryota climbed aboard first and headed toward the steering station. He examined the controls for a moment, testing the handles and studying the glowing indicators before resting both hands on the steering mechanism.

"I'll pilot."

Rio nodded. "Keep the speed moderate until we reach the deeper dunes. The sand can shift unexpectedly, and we don't want to flip the cruiser before we even reach the valley proper."

Ryota grinned.

"You say that like I have a history of crashing vehicles."

Rio looked at him.

Ryota paused.

"...Right. Don't answer that."

Akari stepped aboard next, followed by Memory. The two girls settled into the middle seats while Bubbles bounced into Memory's lap and immediately leaned over the side to examine the sand below.

Memory caught the slime before it could leap.

"No. Absolutely not. You are not getting out."

Bubbles wobbled sadly.

"Pyu..."

"Don't give me that face. I just learned that the sand is full of sharks."

Akari sat beside her and fastened the safety strap across her waist.

"That's probably the first sensible thing you've done today."

Memory looked offended.

"I've done plenty of sensible things!"

Akari raised an eyebrow.

Memory considered the accusation carefully.

"...I've done at least two."

"Name them."

"...I'm not doing this."

Rio stepped onto the forward deck and took her position near the bow. She checked the surrounding terrain one final time, then called toward Ryota.

"Ready?"

Ryota gripped the controls.

"Ready."

"Then let's move."

The sand cruiser hummed to life.

Its propulsion units released a soft burst of blue light, and the vessel began gliding down the rocky slope toward the open dunes. The runners touched the sand, sending a thin spray of golden grains outward as the cruiser accelerated across the surface.

The transition was startling. One moment they were traveling over solid rock; the next, they were skimming across a sea of sand.

The vessel rose and fell gently with the shifting terrain, its hull cutting a smooth path across the dunes. Warm wind rushed over the deck, carrying fine grains of sand past the passengers as the rocky mountains gradually receded behind them. Within minutes, the overlook had become a distant shape on the horizon, and the open valley stretched around them in every direction.

Ahead lay the Endless Sand Valley.

Ryota maintained a steady pace, following the route Rio indicated from the bow. Whenever the sand formed a steep ridge, he adjusted the controls and guided the vessel around it. Rio watched the terrain carefully, pointing toward smoother stretches where the surface appeared stable and warning him away from areas where the dunes had collapsed into unusually deep hollows.

They had not come here simply to cross a desert. The valley's increasingly dangerous inhabitants made it necessary to understand the environment before attempting to reach its deeper regions. For now, their priorities were simple: observe the monsters, learn their behavior, and avoid unnecessary encounters until they had a clearer picture of what awaited them.

For several minutes, the party traveled in relative silence.

The scale of the valley was difficult to comprehend. Without trees, buildings, or roads to measure the distance, the dunes seemed to continue forever. Sunlight reflected from their curved surfaces, while the wind slowly reshaped the ridges in an endless pattern of shifting gold.

Eventually, Memory leaned forward in her seat.

"So..."

Rio glanced back. "Hm?"

"Where exactly are we going?"

Rio smiled.

"Deeper into the valley."

Memory stared at her.

"...That's not an answer."

"It's the beginning of one."

Akari sighed. "Just ask her properly."

Memory folded her arms.

"Fine. What are we looking for?"

Rio opened a system window beside her. A large image appeared in the air, displaying a Sand Shark emerging from beneath a dune. Its broad head was covered in pale, rough scales, and several rows of serrated teeth lined its open jaws. Compared with the creature that had devoured the Stone Rattler, this one looked considerably larger and more heavily built.

Akari leaned forward to examine the image.

"...Wait."

She studied the creature's proportions, comparing its broad head and thick body with the smaller shark they had witnessed earlier.

"That's not the same Sand Shark we saw near the mountains."

Rio's smile widened.

"Good observation."

Memory looked between them.

"How is it different? It's still a giant shark that swims through sand!"

Akari pointed toward the image. "The head is broader, and the body looks much thicker. The one we saw earlier was smaller."

Rio nodded approvingly.

"Exactly. The Sand Sharks in the Endless Sand Valley aren't all the same species. The ones near the rocky outskirts are called Namizame. They're relatively small, fast, and specialized in ambushes. They hide beneath the surface, wait for unsuspecting players or monsters to cross their territory, and then launch themselves out of the sand before their prey has time to react."

Memory shuddered.

"Namizame are the more common species," Rio continued. "They're dangerous to inexperienced players, but their hunting behavior becomes relatively predictable once you understand what to look for. Their greatest advantage is surprise. If you recognize the signs early enough, you have a much better chance of avoiding an encounter."

Akari continued studying the image. "Then what about this one?"

Rio's expression became more serious.

"This is a Ganzame."

She enlarged the image, revealing the creature's powerful jaws and thick, muscular body.

"Ganzame inhabit the deeper parts of the Endless Sand Valley, particularly the outer regions beyond the safer routes. They're much larger than Namizame, and their hunting behavior is considerably more dangerous."

Ryota glanced back from the steering station.

"How much more dangerous?"

"More intelligent. More aggressive. And they hunt in groups."

That answer made Akari sit straighter.

Rio continued explaining while the image rotated slowly in the air, allowing them to examine the creature from several angles.

"Namizame usually rely on surprise. They'll detect movement, rush their target, and attempt to swallow it in a single attack. Ganzame are different. They coordinate their movements, approach from multiple directions, and force their prey into positions where escape becomes difficult. Instead of relying on a single ambush, they can pressure a target until it makes a mistake."

Memory's face gradually paled.

"...They coordinate?"

Rio nodded.

"Yes."

"Like a party?"

"Like a hunting pack."

Memory immediately hugged Bubbles tighter.

"I don't like that."

Akari remained focused on the image. "How big are they?"

Rio considered the question for a moment.

"Roughly the size of a truck."

Memory slowly turned toward her.

"...A truck?"

"More or less."

"And the little ones?"

"Namizame are closer to the size of an ordinary car."

Memory stared at the desert passing beside the cruiser.

"So the little ones are car-sized..."

She looked at the image of the Ganzame again.

"...and the bigger ones are truck-sized."

Rio nodded.

Memory slowly leaned back in her seat.

"...I want to go home."

Akari crossed her arms.

"You were the one who wanted an adventure."

"I wanted an adventure! I didn't ask for a desert full of giant sharks!"

Bubbles bounced anxiously in her lap.

"Pyu..."

Memory immediately hugged the slime.

"It's okay, Bubbles. If a shark comes, I'll protect you."

Akari looked at her.

"How?"

Memory froze.

"...I'll think of something."

Ryota burst out laughing at the steering wheel, his shoulders shaking hard enough that Rio glanced back at him.

"Don't laugh," Memory protested. "You're supposed to be helping us!"

"I'm sorry," Ryota replied, making no attempt to sound sorry. "It's just that you sound like you've already accepted that we're going to be eaten."

"We might be!"

"We haven't even seen a Ganzame yet."

"THAT'S THE PROBLEM!"

Rio smiled as she watched the dunes pass beneath the bow. Despite her complaints, Memory was listening carefully, while Akari continued examining the creature's proportions and considering how its hunting patterns might differ from those of the smaller Namizame.

That was precisely what Rio wanted.

A powerful skill or weapon could make an adventurer dangerous, but neither guaranteed survival. Understanding an enemy before engaging it was one of the most important habits a player could develop, especially in a region where a single mistake might lead to an ambush from beneath their feet.

Akari finally looked up.

"Then..."

She pointed toward the image.

"Are we going to a dungeon filled with Ganzame?"

Rio smiled.

"There is no dungeon."

Akari blinked.

"...What?"

Rio closed the image and gestured toward the endless desert surrounding them.

"The entire Endless Sand Valley is the dungeon."

The words settled over the deck.

Memory slowly turned toward the dunes, her expression becoming increasingly uncertain as she reconsidered the journey ahead.

Rio continued explaining.

"There isn't a conventional entrance, and there isn't a single building with a boss room waiting at the end. The valley itself is the dungeon. The farther you travel, the more dangerous the environment becomes, and the stronger the monsters you'll encounter."

Ryota kept his hands on the controls, guiding the cruiser around a broad dune.

"So the deeper we go, the more likely we are to run into Ganzame."

"Correct."

Memory stared at Rio as though she had just revealed a terrible secret.

"And you knew this before we came here?"

Rio smiled.

"Of course."

Memory pointed accusingly at her.

"YOU COULD HAVE WARNED US!"

"I did warn you about the sand."

"You warned us about the little sharks!"

"Namizame."

"WHATEVER THEY'RE CALLED!"

Akari covered her mouth, trying to hide her laughter. Rio, meanwhile, looked entirely too pleased with herself.

"Besides, we're not going to the deepest part immediately," she said.

Memory visibly relaxed.

"...Oh."

Rio raised one finger.

"We're going to travel through the valley, observe the monsters, and learn how they behave. We'll avoid unnecessary fights until we understand the terrain. Once we have enough information, we can decide how far we're prepared to go."

Memory nodded slowly, taking comfort in the fact that Rio at least appeared to have a plan.

"Okay. That sounds reasonable."

Then Rio raised a second finger.

"But eventually..."

Memory froze.

"...Eventually what?"

Rio opened another system window.

The image displayed this time was considerably larger than the previous one. The creature shown within it made the Ganzame look almost harmless by comparison.

Its enormous head resembled that of a prehistoric shark, with jaws wide enough to swallow a sand cruiser. Dark, rugged scales covered its thick body, and its powerful fins looked capable of propelling it through the sand at terrifying speed. Rows of massive teeth lined its open mouth, while its eyes possessed a cold, predatory intelligence that made the creature seem almost unnervingly aware of its surroundings.

The image alone was enough to change the atmosphere on the deck.

Akari stared.

Memory stared.

Even Ryota glanced back from the steering station.

Rio smiled.

"The deepest part of the Endless Sand Valley contains the Ouzame."

Memory's mouth slowly opened.

"...The what?"

"The Ouzame."

Rio enlarged the image slightly, revealing the full scale of the creature's head.

"They're considered the Imperial Elites of the Sand Shark species. They're far rarer than Ganzame and can be found only in the deepest, most dangerous regions of the valley."

Akari's eyes widened as she examined the enormous creature.

"How big are they?"

Rio's expression became almost cheerful.

"Think of them as the megalodons of the Endless Sand Valley."

Silence fell over the cruiser.

The wind continued sweeping across the deck. Beneath them, the runners hummed steadily as the vessel glided over the dunes, completely unaware of the emotional crisis unfolding among its passengers.

Memory stared at the image for several seconds before slowly turning toward Rio.

"...You mean a prehistoric shark."

Rio nodded.

"A very large one."

Memory looked toward the desert, then back at the image, and finally toward Rio again.

"...And we're going there?"

"Eventually."

Memory immediately grabbed Akari's arm.

"AKARI, WE NEED TO DISCUSS OUR LIFE CHOICES."

Akari continued staring at the image.

"...I have several questions."

Memory shook her head vigorously.

"No. No, no, no. I think my questions have evolved into a desire to return to the shipyard."

Ryota laughed so hard that the cruiser briefly drifted off course. The vessel veered toward the side of a dune, forcing Rio to turn sharply and point toward the safer route.

"Ryota, keep us on the route!"

"I'm trying!"

"You're the one steering!"

"You're the one showing them prehistoric monsters!"

"Eyes on the controls!"

Ryota straightened immediately and corrected the cruiser's direction, guiding it back onto the smoother stretch of sand. The vessel tilted slightly as it crossed the dune's lower slope before leveling out again.

Memory clutched the safety strap across her waist.

"Can we please stop doing things that make the desert more likely to kill us?"

"That was Ryota's fault," Rio replied.

"You're both responsible!"

Akari finally laughed, her earlier anxiety giving way to amusement at the absurdity of the situation. Even Memory managed a reluctant smile once the cruiser had returned to a steady course.

Rio closed the system window and turned her attention back toward the valley.

"Don't worry. We're not going to challenge an Ouzame without preparing first."

Memory slowly lowered her shoulders.

"...Promise?"

Rio smiled.

"Promise."

Akari looked toward her sister, studying the confidence with which Rio had made that declaration.

"You sound very sure of yourself."

"I am."

Rio turned toward the endless desert ahead. Her silver hair shifted in the warm wind as she watched the dunes roll past the bow, her expression becoming more focused.

The Endless Sand Valley was not simply a stretch of terrain to cross. It was an ecosystem with its own rules, one where the monsters' instincts, the shifting ground, and the geography itself could become as dangerous as any enemy. The Namizame near the rocky outskirts relied on sudden ambushes. The larger Ganzame hunted in coordinated packs. Farther within the valley, the Ouzame occupied territory where even experienced adventurers would need to think carefully before proceeding.

Their objective was not to rush blindly toward the strongest monster they could find. First, they needed to understand the region and its inhabitants, identify the dangers along their route, and determine how to travel safely through the valley. Only then could they consider venturing into its deepest regions.

Power alone would not be enough. They would need patience, preparation, and the discipline to recognize danger before it reached them.

Behind Rio, Memory was still whispering to Akari about the possibility of a shark swallowing the entire cruiser. Akari listened while occasionally glancing toward the dunes, apparently trying to decide whether she was more interested in the challenge ahead or more concerned about her friend's growing fear of sand.

Bubbles bounced quietly in Memory's lap, blissfully unconcerned with the conversation.

Ryota steered the vessel steadily onward, occasionally adjusting their direction when Rio pointed out a change in the terrain.

And Rio stood at the bow, watching the golden horizon with a small, confident smile.

Somewhere beneath the shifting surface, Namizame hunted alone. Farther into the valley, Ganzame moved through the sand in coordinated packs. In the deepest regions, the Imperial Elites waited, their enormous bodies hidden beneath dunes that gave no indication of what lay below.

The party had a long journey ahead of them, and every kilometer would bring them closer to more dangerous territory.

For now, however, they had a vessel, a route, and enough knowledge to avoid their first unnecessary encounter.

That was a start.

Rio narrowed her eyes as another stretch of dunes appeared ahead, studying the surface for any unusual movement before signaling Ryota to adjust their course.

Their real adventure in the Endless Sand Valley had only just begun.