Combat Training

Kwarrrr…

Under the azure sky, pale dust rose from the desert.

Beneath the sunlight, an unusual group is charging forward.

Rumble-!

Death Worms carrying assassins race across the sandy field.

Saddles were arranged in a row matching their long body length.

It looked like multiple people riding a dragon roller coaster.

It was extraordinary yet slightly humorous.

The much larger and more massive Sand Worms had palanquins mounted.

Structurally, more assassins could ride them.

Even tall siege towers or turrets could be installed.

Various other things are possible.

“Hik! Dust!”

Nadia was comfortably riding alone in a palanquin tied with ropes on my head like a crown.

With a hood covering her face and windproof goggles on her eyes, she withstood the sandstorm of yellow dust rising enormously around her.

She currently serves as a commander in the training.

Nadia exclaimed in admiration:

“Th-This is…! The Worm Rider Corps…!”

Currently, 150 out of the 320 tamed worms have come out, which is half.

This is simply for the purpose of joint training.

The remaining assassins and worms stay in the village.

Even a Death Worm, at an adult standard of 15 meters, can accommodate multiple riders with several saddles.

Even at 1-meter intervals, at least 10 people can ride; at 2-meter intervals, 5 people.

There’s no cruise ship in the desert that moves faster than this.

Sand Worms are much larger, allowing for palanquins to be mounted.

One can easily carry up to nearly a hundred people.

More efficient than war elephants used in past conflicts.

“It’s really amazing… normally you’d need great determination and preparation for a long-distance expedition, but to come so easily to such a deep area…”

[Worms are some of the desert’s foremost mobility specialists.]

Worms carrying assassins are truly excellent transportation.

They immediately dismiss the usual risks associated with desert crossing.

This is due to the physical structure of worms, different from those with legs or wings.

Worms, capable of tremendous energy conservation by sliding on sand, can easily travel 100km in a day.

They even inherently possess a fear effect on adversaries stemming from their appearance and size.

They are completely desert-specialized tactical armored vehicles.

Specifically, they are closer to biological armored trains.

“Ah, this seems sufficient.”

[Signal them.]

At some point, Nadia stood at the edge of the palanquin.

“We’ve arrived! Prepare for battle!”

Nadia shouted with all her might from my head.

“Destination reached!”

“Arrived at operation site!”

“Warrior corps! Prepare to disembark!”

The commands of the Warrior Captains echoed in layers.

A commotion arose among the assassins riding the Worm Riders.

Nadia ordered everyone at the scene.

“All disperse! Basic simultaneous formation of burrowing cobra and soaring eagle! From the start of full-scale combat, deploy free formations according to squad leader commands! Conduct active combat based on individual judgment!”

Passssss-!

Assassins riding the worms leaped high.

Some remained aboard saddles and palanquins.

Their purpose is to provide ranged support to warriors fighting on the ground.

Black dots scattered across the desert under the deep blue sky.

“I’ll join the battle too.”

[Be careful.]

Nadia also jumped from the palanquin on my head.

Approximately 100 assassins, 98 deployed personnel, stood on the sandy field.

“Prepare the frenzy fragrance!”

Following Bajid’s instruction, assassins pulled out something.

It was a large leather water bag that required four people to carry.

Inside was blood collected drop by drop from warriors.

It is said to be a special item used in assassin training.

Kasim stepped forward toward the object.

“Frenzy fragrance! Disperse!”

Kasim raised his right wrist with an extended assassination blade.

Hwaryuk-

Kasim drove his magic-infused assassination blade into the water bag.

Pushuk!

A hole immediately formed in the leather water bag filled with blood.

Chwahaaak-!

A red mist containing thick blood fragrance spread in form.

It was not simply blood flowing out profusely.

The blood inside was dispersing in gaseous form.

It was a kind of artificial bomb based on magical tool principles.

“Wait!”

With Nadia’s command, silence descended.

Even my sensitive nose stung.

The blood fragrance spread across the desert in an instant.

Rumble…

Suddenly, a small ripple appeared on the horizon.

Kwarrrrr-!

“Kyuhyaaak-!”

“Kyarrruk-!”

“Kek! Keeek-!”

All kinds of monsters rushed forward, overturning the sandy field.

The sight of them entangling and falling over each other was spectacular.

Nevertheless, they gathered as if enchanted.

“Kyuek! Kueek-!”

“Kyaaaak-!”

“Kuhyak-!”

They were converging not only from the ground but also from the sky.

Their force was tremendous, like moths drawn to a lamp.

Creatures within the range affected by the blood fragrance were definitely being attracted.

A comprehensive gift set made from all kinds of dangerous desert poisonous herbs, including effects of excitement, appetite, anger, and hallucinations.

From the perspective of desert monsters living engulfed in fighting spirit and survival instinct, they would go crazy.

Currently, in their eyes, the assassins appear as adversaries that must be crushed and prey to be devoured.

Rumble…

The sandy field where we were located rippled slightly.

As expected, there are those who arrive first.

One assassin shouted:

“Ground! Desert piranha swarm occurrence warning!”

Pushushushushuk-!

“Ku, shashashashak-!”

“Kuhyaaak-!”

“Kuhwak-!”

Immediately, something burst through the sandy fields.

Sharp teeth on bodies with brownish-red and black-red striped patterns.

They were desert piranhas hungry for the flesh and blood of prey.

“Here they come!”

“Engage in battle!”

“Fight!”

The assassins chanted in unison, each crossing their left and right boot feet.

Chikung-!

Sharp blades protruded from the soles of their boots as well.

They were long enough to inflict injuries like knives.

Kasim kicked the sandy field with all his might.

“Get lost!”

Chwak!

“Kihyak!”

A blood line was immediately drawn on the desert piranha that rose with Kasim’s kick.

The creature, spraying red blood, was cut in half.

All the assassins kicked at the ground.

Chwachwachwachwachwak-!

The assassins ground up the rising piranhas with their boot assassination blades.

Piranhas attracted to prey leap up like salmon.

The assassins merely deliver dazzling kicks.

“Mere desert piranhas cannot stop us!”

“These creatures have small mana stones, not even nutritious!”

“Don’t underestimate the Rashkaaaa-!”

Passssuk-!

The assassins violently flipped their bodies.

Sand and blood were splashed around grandly.

Their movements looked like dancing on a hot plate, or performing dazzling tap dance and breakdancing.

In the midst of slaughtering desert piranhas, a second aftershock occurred on the surface.

Passssuk-!

“Krorarararok-!”

“Kurururur-!”

“Kishak-!”

Desert sharks with tawny bodies and red eyes also surfaced.

In the midst of the frenzy fragrance’s effect, their eyes were completely rolled back.

“Oh! Delicious desert shark!”

Dukal, a large-built assassin who was a Warrior Captain under Bajid, charged forward with a cheer.

He attempts a test of strength by embracing with his whole body a desert shark exceeding 3 meters.

He was treating the desert shark simply as an excellent source of protein.

Sand scattered noisily around them like a wrestling match.

Assassins still mounted on worms also moved.

“Approached sufficient range! Throw!”

Assassins simultaneously pulled back their arms holding javelins.

Shwak! Shwaeshweshweshweshwap-!

Long javelins flew with an eerie rupturing sound.

A shower of javelins that had flown an absurd distance poured down on the monsters.

Pyushushushushuk-!

“Kieok!”

“Kueek-!”

“Kkwek!”

Desert monsters that had been charging disorderly were pierced by the javelin baptism.

Even rough hits were fatal wounds, and countless creatures fell and perished.

The flight distance was at least 200 meters, breaking through the initial velocity of 100 meters for arrows shot from compound bows.

Even for stationary javelins, it was a distant range that naturally exceeded the usual 65-meter flight distance of frontal charging mounted javelins.

This was possible because, as mana users, they infused the javelins with plenty of magic power.

“All javelins thrown! We’re joining too!”

“Let’s go! Today is the day we become stronger and surpass our limits!”

“Glory to the White Sovereign, his worms, and Akran!”

The assassins shouted as they stepped off their respective saddles and palanquins.

Pat!

Even the assassins who had been waiting last sprang up high.

Everyone joined the battle that began in earnest as they landed.

“Kyu, eeek-!

“Kyaruk! Kyaaaak-!”

“Kueoeo-!”

An absurd number of monsters gathered from all directions.

It created an optical illusion where the vast desert horizon seemed narrow.

At the moment they overlapped like a bottleneck phenomenon in insufficient space.

Kwassss! Chwahaaak-!

“Kyuhak! Kurururu-!”

“Kyaak! Kek!”

“Krururuk-!”

Eventually, the desert monsters began fighting among themselves.

The frenzy fragrance leads all monsters to rampage without distinction.

Only beings with reason and consciousness can safely withstand it.

This is why such dangerous training was possible.

The vast sandy desert began turning into a sea of blood.

[Tsk, utterly stupid morons. They’re all like dumb moths flying into a lamp…]

[Do you know that you were the same until right before the Sovereign bestowed his grace?]

[But I wonder if some worms will emerge too? Many need to come out to become friends…]

[Wasn’t that our purpose from the beginning? Surely many will come out. Just wait.]

Death Worms Batar and Erden, Sand Worms Sharan and Zand whispered to each other.

Just a scene where one can choose what to eat according to their level.

No dangerous variables were observed.

Today was a perfect day for everyone’s hunt.

“For the Rashka!”

“For them!”

“Oooh-!”

The Rashka slaughtered monsters converging from all directions.

Everyone engaged in battle with faithful zeal and fierce commitment.

They were already surrounded by an overwhelming number of magical beasts and monsters.

However, fear was hard to find in anyone.

Only enthusiasm for victory was abundant.

They were the true warriors of me, the White Sovereign.