1. Mutation: A Golden Dusk
[Time: 05:20 PM]
The moment Link stepped out of the dry, suffocating entrance of the pyramid—
the world changed.
The crimson sunset vanished, swallowed whole by a thick, unnatural golden haze.
The wind erupted.
What had once been harmless grains brushing against his armor
became a storm of microscopic bullets.
"Clink! Clink! Clink!"
The sand hammered against his helmet in rapid bursts, the metallic ringing drilling into his ears.
"…A sandstorm."
Link narrowed his eyes.
The air was suffocatingly dry.
Every breath felt like dragging dust into his lungs.
In this 3D world—
a sandstorm wasn't just visual interference.
It was a full-body assault.
His vision collapsed to less than three meters.
Everything beyond that dissolved into swirling yellow chaos.
Even the nearby dunes blurred into shifting shadows.
It felt as if the world itself was being devoured.
2. Aerial Struggle: Flight Suppressed
He couldn't stay here.
Stopping meant being buried alive.
Without hesitation, Link activated the Flying Carpet.
A burst of blue wind surged beneath his feet—
and he lifted off.
For less than a second.
BOOM—
A violent crosswind slammed into him.
His body tilted sharply.
The carpet wobbled uncontrollably.
It was no longer stable—
but a fragile leaf caught in a raging sea.
"Damn it… too much resistance!"
Link gritted his teeth.
No matter how he adjusted, the storm crushed his speed.
He was slower than walking.
He immediately pulled up the Wiki.
[Environment: Sandstorm]
Severe reduction in mobilityFlight effectiveness drastically decreasedEnemy spawn rate and aggression increased
Link let out a cold breath.
"This isn't weather."
He dropped back onto the sand.
"This is a survival event."
3. Hunters in the Blind Zone
From the storm—
eyes lit up.
Red.
One after another.
"Hiss—!"
The sand exploded.
A massive sandworm lunged upward, its circular maw snapping toward his ankle.
"Get lost!"
Link reacted instantly.
The boomerang cut through the storm in a blue arc.
He couldn't see—
only hear.
Only feel.
The wind distorted its path—
but it still hit.
The sandworm split apart mid-lunge.
Then—
"Thud!"
Something struck his shoulder.
Antlion spit.
The impact staggered him.
Before he could recover—
three massive shapes rolled through the storm.
Rolling Cacti.
They slammed into his chest like cannonballs.
Link was sent flying, crashing hard into a dune.
Sand swallowed half his body.
4. The Lifeline: Guided by the Map
"…Not here."
Link forced himself up.
The Map ignited in his mind.
His eyes were useless now.
But the map—
never lied.
A faint arrow pulsed.
East.
Home.
He stopped relying on vision.
Instead—
he moved by direction alone.
Step.
Step.
Through the storm.
One hand gripping the boomerang.
The other pressing against the carpet, stabilizing his balance.
Like a lone ship breaking through frozen seas—
he pushed forward.
[HP: 42 / 120]
A red warning flickered at the edge of his vision.
Critical.
No hesitation.
He pulled out a Lesser Healing Potion and drank it.
Cold fire surged through his body.
Muscles twisted—then healed.
[HP: 92 / 120]
5. The Light of Home
Time lost meaning in the storm.
Minutes—
or hours.
Then—
the ground changed.
From shifting sand
to solid earth.
The wind weakened.
The storm loosened its grip.
Moonlight pierced through the clouds.
Link lifted his head.
In the distance—
a line of warm light.
Torches.
His base.
He quickened his pace.
Crossed the stone wall.
Collapsed onto the steps.
"Clang—"
Iron armor struck stone with a heavy echo.
The door creaked open.
The Guide stood there.
Unchanged. Calm.
"It seems… the outside is unstable."
"Do you require rest?"
Link leaned back, breathing slowly.
Covered in sand and blood—
but alive.
His gaze shifted to his inventory.
The Flying Carpet.
Three gold coins.
Proof.
A faint smile appeared.
"Rest?"
He let out a quiet breath.
"…No."
"This game—"
"…has only just begun."
[End of Chapter 10]Status Summary
Consumables Used:
Lesser Healing Potion ×1Torch ×2
Condition:
Minor bruisingSlight armor durability loss
Assets:
8 Gold Coins90 Silver CoinsFlying CarpetSandstone Blocks
Map Progress:
Western Desert UnlockedReturn Path Recorded