Another group of sand worms found the formation less than an hour after the confrontation.
The last creature finally collapsed and slid down one dune before going limp among the bodies of its pack.
Hajin shook dust from his coat while reward notifications passed through the edge of his vision.
The skirmish had been quick, but fighting beneath the dry heat pulled moisture from every breath.
Juna and Loccy stood beside him with their chests rising harder than either wanted the knights to notice.
Vella floated several feet above the sand, her cyan armor untouched while she watched the wounded formation regroup.
Vanguard knights lowered heavy shields and sat where patches of shade formed beneath them.
The red sky showed no sign of changing, and the constant wind carried fine dust through every breath.
A supply soldier opened a wooden crate beside the resting vanguard.
He distributed dried meat, hard bread, and waterskins down the resting line until he reached Hajin's group.
