Labyrinth, Second Floor (3)

A massive wave of sand surged upwards, towering over ten meters high. The blinding sandstorm swept across the ground, reshaping hills and valleys in real-time as they crumbled and reformed.

Deep beneath the surface, the bedrock shattered and erupted. The sparse desert trees, already brittle, snapped and crumbled to dust. Creatures lurking below, waiting for unsuspecting prey, fled in panic, fearing the sudden catastrophe.

And at the heart of this natural disaster…

A colossal sandworm, the very cause of the chaos, writhed in agony. Atop its massive body, Dalen clung precariously to a spear, maintaining his balance with practiced ease.

“Hmm…”

With one hand gripping the spear, he thoughtfully stroked his chin with the other. Beneath his calm demeanor, the labyrinth’s apex predator thrashed and screamed in pain.

“What to do with you…”

With a decisive thrust, he drove the spear deeper.

Electricity crackled along the spear, its blue tendrils piercing the sandworm’s scales and burrowing into its flesh. No matter how formidable the creature, it couldn’t escape the searing pain of electrocution, especially when one of its few weaknesses was electricity.

‘Of course, that’s only if you can pierce its scales.’

The sandworm’s scales were tougher than most metals, deflecting crossbow bolts and even bullets from the special forces’ rifles with ease. Only someone with Dalen’s superhuman strength, wielding a weapon crafted by the legendary Laveron Ahakim, could break through and deliver such a devastating attack.

The sandworm let out a piercing scream, its thousands of black eyes vibrating in a grotesque symphony of terror.

“Dammit.”

Dalen winced at the nerve-wracking sound, feeling the curse-laden scream wash over him. A momentary wave of fatigue threatened to overwhelm him.

But before it could take hold, a rune on his left shoulder flared to life, dispelling the fatigue. The curse itself was devoured by a ravenous demon, leaving Dalen unscathed.

With a powerful leap, Dalen moved to another part of the sandworm’s body, avoiding its attempts to crush him. The creature’s massive size provided plenty of targets for his spear, which once again pierced its scales, delivering another jolt of electricity.

Smoke and the acrid smell of burning flesh rose from the wounds. Dalen repeated the process several times, each strike weakening the beast further.

The sandworm’s screams grew more desperate, its many eyes vibrating in a frenzied dance. It was a creature that enjoyed paralyzing its prey with a sleep-inducing curse, much like a spider immobilizing its catch.

“How long is this going to take?”

Below, the dwarf Bjorn shouted up to him, dodging the sandstorm and flying debris as he carried unconscious special forces members to safety. His race’s natural immunity to curses was proving invaluable.

Dalen’s task was clear: subdue the sandworm without killing it, a challenge that required precision and patience. In the game, it had taken only ten minutes to knock the creature out, but reality was proving far more demanding.

As the sandworm’s thrashing intensified, Dalen realized he needed a new strategy. He called upon the demon in his pocket dimension.

“Hey.”

[Yes? What do you need?]

“How’s the taste?”

The demon hesitated, its eyes betraying a mix of satisfaction and fear. It sensed something was amiss.

Dalen smirked. “Transform into a hammer or a mace. That’s an order.”

[But I was just—]

The demon’s protests were cut short as it began to reshape itself. Dalen withdrew his spear, stowing it on his back, and prepared for the next phase of the battle.

As the warrior’s silhouette faded into the distance, a ripple in the air marked his departure. The sandworm, sensing his presence, immediately turned its massive head.

This was its perfect opportunity. Its black eyes locked onto Daelon with a predatory glare.

“[Screeeeech!]”

A curse surged toward him like a tidal wave. Though Daelon knew it wouldn’t work, it was a desperate attempt to create an opening.

Meanwhile, more than half of the sandworm’s body emerged from the ground, churning up a sandstorm in its wake.

Using the swirling sand as cover, its ten gaping maws lunged at Daelon.

It only needed to catch him once.

The sandworm’s instincts told it so.

The moment its jaws and teeth, capable of grinding even rocks to dust, touched the warrior’s steel-like body, he would be reduced to mere scraps of flesh.

“[Screeeeech!]”

As the maws closed in, Daelon pulled out a massive hammer.

Sssssss…

The hammer was dark and ominous, with a handle over two meters long and a disproportionately large, rounded head.

From the head of the hammer, a malevolent energy pulsed, and the chains wrapped around it exuded a dark, corrupting power, like a fallen relic.

Gripping the colossal two-handed hammer, fit for a legendary warrior, Daelon launched himself into the air once more.

Thud―!

He tore through the sandstorm with ferocious speed. The sandworm, too, opened its jaws wide, revealing its teeth.

The sandworm was a cunning creature. It instinctively knew this would be their final clash.

Crack!

Inside its rotating maw, the teeth, designed to carve tunnels deep underground, sparked as they ground against each other.

“[Screeeeech―!]”

Thousands of blinking eyes radiated a curse more intense than ever.

And then.

“Ughhh!”

The center of the hammer’s head split open, swallowing the curse whole. The sandworm realized in that moment.

The weapon in the human’s hand was the source that nullified its curse all along.

It was no ordinary hammer.

”[······!]”

But it was already too late.

Crack!

Veins bulged on Daelon’s arms as he gripped the hammer’s handle. His movements in the air matched the speed of sound.

The warrior, now at supersonic speed, swung the hammer with all his might, unleashing a massive shockwave.

Boom―!

“Ughhh! I think I’m gonna be sick…!”

The hammer’s head wobbled like a soft, doughy mass, emitting a wailing sound.

Thud―!

The demon’s body, eyes rolling back, struck the sandworm’s maw, which hesitated in surprise.

“Uwaaaah!”

The essence of the sleep curse the sandworm had been spewing was regurgitated from the demon’s mouth, covering its original owner.

“[Cough, cough…]”

The sandworm staggered. Its mind began to fade.

It was as if a human had been struck on the head with a giant, non-lethal rubber mallet, while a sleep gas capsule exploded in their mouth.

”[···Grrr…]”

Soon, thousands of eyes lost focus.

Thud…

The massive body of the sandworm crashed to the ground.

”…Good heavens.”

A dwarf, who had just moved the unconscious enforcer to safety, blinked in disbelief at the scene before him.

Daelon approached, a demon dangling from the ominously glowing chains in his hand.

Bjorn pointed at the demon, his face a mix of shock and awe. He spoke.

“Is that…?”

“A demon. My slave. It’s also my backpack and weapon.”

”…And this?”

His trembling finger pointed at the massive, ochre-colored pillar.

Daelon nodded in response.

“Yes, you saw right. Slave number two. It’s my personal bus.”