Era of Players: Death God

The desert wind screamed like a banshee outside Noah's flimsy tent. Inside, nestled in his sleeping bag, he trembled despite the extra layer of clothing he had on. The thought of his warm, comfortable bed back in the forest called out to him, tempting him to abandon this self-imposed torment.

But Noah gritted his teeth. Giving up was not an option. Not when he was so close to earning ten valuable points in the Survival Test. Ten points that could help him maintain his place in the rankings for a moment.

However, what truly excited him was the untapped energy that pulsed through the desert - the promise of formidable creatures. Yes, they were more treacherous than the monsters he encountered in the outskirts, but the experience points they offered were an irresistible lure. Leveling up faster meant gaining more power, more opportunities, and gaining an advantage in this fiercely competitive world.

Clutching his teeth against the biting cold, Noah forced himself to envision the desert not as a barren wasteland, but as a training arena brimming with possibilities. He imagined himself battling colossal sandworms, evading the venomous stingers of spiky-backed scorpions, each triumph bringing him closer to his ambitions.

With renewed determination, he pulled his sleeping bag tighter and focused on regulating his breath, willing himself to slumber and confront the challenges of daybreak. The desert night might be ruthless, but Noah was determined to be even more resilient.

Thus, the night in the desert passed.

As the sun rose in the desert, its fiery rays transformed the sand dunes into a breathtaking canvas of vibrant orange and red. Noah stirred from his sleep, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. A mix of soreness and satisfaction coursed through his body. He had conquered the long, chilling night, turning the harshness of the desert into a symbol of triumph.

Noah stretched, feeling the desert air whispering promises of thrilling adventures. The ten points for the Survival Test were secured, he had now 185pts, but his true excitement lay in the creatures that lurked beneath the sandy expanse. Each new day presented an opportunity to test his skills, to collect the valuable experience points that would propel him closer to his ultimate goals.

A wide grin spread across Noah's face as he embraced the challenges that awaited him. The desert may be unforgiving, but he was prepared to be equally relentless in his pursuit of victory against the formidable monsters that called this barren landscape their home.

Noah took a moment to assess his supplies, picking up one of his water bottles and ensuring it was filled. He retrieved his toothbrush from his pack and quickly cleaned his face and teeth, aware that the desert did not offer the luxury of elaborate morning routines. With a few simple stretches, he aimed to loosen the stiffness that had settled in his body after a night battling the cold.

Each twist and turn, each reaching of his arms towards the sky, felt like a declaration of defiance against the unforgiving environment. Noah's determination grew with each movement, and with a final satisfying pop of his knuckles, he stood tall, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

The vast expanse of the desert stretched before him, an empty canvas waiting to be filled with the heroic deeds of a monster slayer. It was time to embark on his hunt.

The desert sun beat down mercilessly, already turning the morning air into a shimmering furnace. Noah, sweat already beading on his forehead, chomped on a strip of dried wild boar jerky. The salty, chewy meat provided a much-needed burst of energy and a welcome distraction from the growing thirst gnawing at his insides.

Each step crunched audibly on the hot sand, the only sound breaking the vast desert silence. He scanned the endless dunes, his senses on high alert, searching for any sign of movement but still didn't detect anything. He continued marching forward.

As Noah chewed on a piece of jerky, the gentle desert wind suddenly transformed into a ferocious frenzy. A wall of sand, coarse and unyielding, surged towards him, engulfing the horizon and blotting out the sun within seconds.

''Fuck!"

Reacting swiftly, Noah cursed and spat out the jerky, diving for his tent. The flimsy fabric whipped around him as he scrambled inside, hastily pulling the sleeping bag tight over his head.

Inside the suffocating darkness, the roar of the sandstorm was deafening. The tent trembled under the assault of the relentless sand, threatening to tear away from its moorings. Noah held his breath, mustering all his calmness as the world outside descended into a chaotic dance of wind and grit.

Minutes, or perhaps an eternity, dragged on as the wind gradually subsided. Noah cautiously unzipped the tent, relief washing over him as he realized the storm had passed. However, his relief was short-lived.

The world that greeted him was unrecognizable, transformed by the sandstorm's fury. Where once there were rolling dunes, there now lay an expansive, undulating plain of sand. His half-buried tent resembled a shipwreck on a sandy beach. Panic surged through Noah as he stepped out, his boots sinking into the loose sand.

He spun around, desperately searching for any familiar landmark, any sign of where he had been just moments ago. But the wind had erased everything, leaving him disoriented and stranded in a featureless wasteland.

The harsh reality hit him like a punch to the gut. Noah was reminded again that he was no longer solely battling monsters. He was now locked in a struggle against the unforgiving desert itself, and his fight for survival had taken an even more perilous turn.

Standing amidst the vast desert, one realized how insignificant humans were.

''Hah!! Noah let out a heavy sigh.

He continued forward and half an hour later, he felt the presence of incoming monsters. He calmly waited for them to come closer.

The creatures, though slow, were steadily closing in on him, forming an encircling trap, ready to spring forth.

Armor-like, glistening hard shells, sturdy pincers split into two, six legs, and a pair of antennae.

The creatures were ants.

However, unlike regular ants, they were much larger than humans.

They were called Wolf Ants. D-rank monsters.

They moved in packs like wolves, reflecting their ferocity and roughness.

In the desert, Wolf Ants posed the most significant threat to caravans crossing through.

Once a single Wolf Ant appeared in the vicinity, it was assumed that there was a nest nearby—a typical anthill.

Anthills housed hundreds, if not thousands, of ants and larvae.

Once prey was caught, they'd drag it to the anthill, feeding the queen and the larvae.

What made the Wolf Ants fearsome was their venom injected when they bit.

The frightening aspect of this venom was that while the body became immobilized, the mind remained intact.

Those bitten by Wolf Ants had to endure the sensation of being devoured alive while in full consciousness.

That's why in the desert, encountering Wolf Ants often led to suggestions of opting for suicide instead.

Well, not that Noah was afraid of them because he simply needs to be cautious of their venom.

[Ding! Annihilate the ant ill.

0/100

Reward: A Rare grade longsword. Additional reward may be granted depending on your performance.]

A timely mission, naturally Noah welcomed it with open arms.

Noah's Wind boots kicked up a swirling cloud of sand as the ferocious Wolf Ants charged towards him. The blinding gleam of their armored bodies momentarily dazzled him under the harsh sunlight. Their mandibles clashed together, creating a rhythmic clicking sound that sent shivers down his spine. With determination, he raised his twin swords, their polished metal shining defiantly.

This wasn't the "stress relief" he had expected, but a surge of adrenaline coursed through him nonetheless.

Letting out a battle cry that echoed across the desolate landscape, Noah sprang into action. Activating his sword aura, the blades were enveloped in a vibrant blue light. The first Wolf Ant lunged towards him, its mandibles snapping with fury. Noah swiftly ducked, feeling the hot wind of its miss brush past his ear. With a single fluid motion, he spun around, his blades flashing with deadly precision.

One Wolf Ant fell, its jeweled shell cracking with a sickening crunch.

However, the remaining six Wolf Ants showed no sign of faltering. They swarmed towards him like a relentless wave, their chitinous bodies clicking in fury. Noah's training kicked in, as he deftly parried and deflected their attacks. The metallic clang of his swords against their shells resonated like a twisted desert symphony.

He used the disorienting sandstorm to his advantage, moving in unpredictable and erratic ways. One Wolf Ant lunged blindly, confused by the shifting dunes. Seizing the opportunity, Noah thrust his sword with great force, piercing through its underbelly. The blue aura sizzled through its chitin, causing it to writhe in pain.

Yet, for every Wolf Ant he defeated, another seemed to take its place. Their sheer numbers threatened to overwhelm him. Gritting his teeth and with sweat stinging his eyes, Noah knew he couldn't afford to be surrounded. Taking a gamble, he propelled himself backwards, kicking off the sand with an unexpected burst of power.

He landed precariously on a small, wind-sculpted sand dune, causing the Wolf Ants to momentarily hesitate at its foot.

With his twin swords raised high, their blue auras crackling with renewed intensity, Noah didn't back down. Instead, he let out a roaring battle cry that echoed through the desolate landscape, a primal challenge that seemed to shake the very sand beneath his feet.

And then, he unleashed his fury. It wasn't the calculated precision of a seasoned fighter, but the raw, untamed rage of a cornered beast. He transformed into a whirlwind of steel, a blue blur that danced across the dune. His movements were wild and erratic, driven by the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. only-found-at-MVLeMpYr

As one Wolf Ant lunged, its mandibles snapping at thin air.

Shaa!

Noah had already vanished, a phantom swiftly navigating the battlefield. His blades flashed with merciless speed, a storm of destruction that carved through chitin and left behind a trail of severed limbs. The symphony of clanging metal was drowned out by the sickening crunch of collapsing exoskeletons.

It was a brutal ballet, a dance of carnage. The remaining Wolf Ants, bewildered and disoriented by the sudden shift in tactics, fell one by one. Their clicking mandibles gradually quieted, giving way to an eerie silence.

When the last glistening carapace lay shattered on the sand, Noah sank to his knees, his chest heaving. Fighting the Wolf Ants was difficult than predicted but he would prevail. It would not be fun otherwise.

"Only 93 more to go," he muttered through gritted teeth, determination burning brightly in his eyes.