The juggernaut, one of the rarest species in the entire grand desert. Its size was comparable to the grand tower in Sunahara, and it possessed incredibly strong carapace protecting it even against the sharpest swords. Coincidentally, with the creature's large fangs, it could also penetrate the defense of any other living being in existence. It truly was the ultimate predator.
The number of juggernauts sighted in the last hundred years didn't even amount to a dozen. Juggernauts normally preferred to hide deep within the desert, where humans normally didn't dare to enter. Therefore, no one would have expected to encounter one so close to a human city. But their surprise was secondary at the moment. Right now, every single expedition member had no other thought in mind but to run towards the city as fast as they could.
The juggernaut gobbled up one supply wagon after the other, gradually closing the distance to the fleeing expedition members. Its centipede-like legs carried the beast over the sandy ground at high speeds. Once the tenth wagon was devoured by the juggernaut, it set its horrifying eyes on the humans, who were still running away with all they got, and began the pursuit.
Corwyn broke out into a cold sweat, one much more uncomfortable then the one he got from the heat. Watching the giant monster coming closer and closer, he felt indescribable fear. This was the first time he truly felt his life to be in danger. He joined the expedition fully aware that he had to risk his life for his goal, but being in an actual life-threatening situation made his determination fly far away, like the sand being moved by the wind.
However, he didn't have time to think about his foolish determination right now. With all the strength he could muster, he sprinted towards the city. But would that really save them from their crisis? The juggernaut had such enormous power that it could easily destroy the whole city without any effort.
While he was still immersed in thinking about their situation, the juggernaut finally reached the first expedition members behind them. Those three men tried to increase their tempo in panic, but it was all too late. The juggernaut's massive jaw descended onto them.
"Gaaahhhh!"
Only their pitiful screams could be heard before the beast caught them with its jaw and swallowed them in one go.
Despair settled in among the humans. These were the first casualties they had suffered on their journey, and who knew how many would follow them? The juggernaut had already finished devouring those three men, and set its sight on its next prey. A moment later, two more were caught by it.
The distance between them and the city walls wasn't far anymore, but in the current situation, it felt like the end of the world to them. By the time they reached the city, a good half of their forces would be gone. But there was nothing they could do, except running.
However, fate seemed to smile at them. Just before the juggernaut would have reached the next group of adventurers, it suddenly turned and crawled back in the direction of the hole it came out of earlier. This made them dumbfounded for an instance. Relief showed on everyone's faces shortly after, but they couldn't relax yet. Only when the last members had reached the city gate, did they dare to calm down and take a breather.
"How many people have we lost? Are there any other injuries on someone? Count our material losses as well!"
As their leader, Rogar was the first one who regained his composure and started to evaluate the situation. Fortunately, merely five people died, but their other losses were pretty severe. Most of the wagons had been eaten up along with the dromos pulling them. A mere eight or so made it out of the predicament.
It was when the topic of losses came up, that Corwyn finally snapped out of his panicked state and began to sway his gaze around him. It seemed like Teo, Hanaan, and Dalios, as well as the rest of his squad, made it out alive. Finally, he could allow himself to feel relief. Though, it was short-lived.
That experience had just been too terrifying!
Corwyn had never watched someone dying right before his eyes. He had believed that death always held a meaning, like dying a heroic death or passing away after having lived a fulfilled life, until now. But at this moment, he discovered how naive he had been. In the end, death didn't hold any purpose at all! The way one left this world might differ, but no matter in which way, one left nothing behind at all. In the case of those five men, not even their corpses remained.
Teo walked up to him, having a solemn look on his face as well. Even the normally cheerful Hanaan, or the silent Dalios, couldn't hide their depression. Everyone had been made aware that death was a reality which could happen to any one of them, no matter if in battle or by bad luck, like what had happened a few minutes ago.
Corwyn's knees shook, like he only barely had the energy left to keep standing. Experiencing an adventure while searching for his father, this had been the motivation that led him to join the expedition and leave Quorin back then. Yet at this very moment, he couldn't summon the strength to keep believing in that motivation. He was afraid. He was truly afraid of death, and felt like progressing forward was utterly impossible for him.
Teo as well had never experienced the fear of death before. He could cope with it better then Corwyn could since he was trained as a soldier and therefore understood things like that might happen. But no matter how much you mentally prepared yourself for it, reality was always different from your imagination.
Once he had reached him, his friend supported Corwyn's unsteady body, but didn't do or say anything else. They both guessed what the other one was thinking, and chose to keep their silence. Instead, it was Rogar who spoke up, breaking the silence once again.
"Everyone, I know what you are probably feeling right now. I really know it all too well. Watching someone die in front of you, losing your comrades, I have experienced all of it. It is painful, especially when they die in a way that doesn't even leave us bodies to bury."
He broke into silence briefly, keeping his head lowered, before looking up again and continuing.
"However, even if their bodies are gone, our memories of them remain! If we can't do anything else for them, then at least we should burn their sacrifice into our minds and never forget it. This is the least we can do for them!"
His words didn't magically let the pain and anxiety everyone was feeling disappear. But his words went through to them. That's right, memories don't die! Even if they die, their words and accomplishments would remain with the many people they had interacted with. This realization rose their spirits a bit.
Corwyn too felt the pressure he felt earlier slightly lessen. Once he had the confidence to stand on his own two feet again, he told Teo it was fine, and looked up.
His father had also left him for so long that one might think he was already dead. But Corwyn's memories of him stayed with him, all the way to this very day. They had made him move forward, no matter what had happened before. He couldn't let those memories and the determination he got from them down now! He would find his father, no matter the cost!
Returning his gaze to the front of him again, he saw that Teo was also looking better already. Hanaan had walked over by now as well and patted Corwyn on the shoulder, a slight smile back on his face. Dalios too faced him and showed a small nod.
Right, they couldn't give up!
Once all the members of the expedition party had recovered from their shock to some extent, Rogar led them into the city. As they passed through the gate after briefly being questioned by the guards, they were greeted by a wonderful sight.
As one of the few surviving cities without an Arcor well, Konen got built around a large oasis. Palm trees and other greenery were greeting them in abundance, growing around a large lake. Although the houses here built from the same sandstone one found in most cities, the many small gardens on the roofs and the occasional trees and bushes along the roads gave Konen an indescribable charm. Birds, monkeys and all other kinds of animals flew, climbed and ran around everywhere, making the city appear alive to them in a different way to the ones they had seen before.
Konen was a small city, its population only decent at best. The number of fields being tended to inside the city walls was small, however, with all those palm, date, coconut trees and other sorts of plants, having a lack of food was quite unlikely. Since the population was inferior compared to big cities like Sunahara, the streets were less crowded, making Corwyn feel a lot more comfortable. Children were playing in the streets, looking happy. The women were wearing all kinds of colorful dresses as they walked through the streets with unique elegance, carrying large pots filled with water or food on their heads. For a short while, Corwyn believed he entered a different world. Everything looked just too beautiful, too charming.
It took him quite some time to regain his composure as they were escorted in the direction of the oasis by the local soldiers. They seemed to lead them to a building right next to the abundant river filled with water, which was built like a small pyramid. It was made of pure white stone, having up to five floors, each one slightly smaller than the one below it. Small holes serving as doors and windows were carved out of the otherwise flawless stone, in addition to wide stairs leading all the way to the top floor.
Their appearance must have already been reported by the guards, since a small group of people was awaiting them in front of the pyramid. At the front stood an old man with long white hair, dressed in elegant blue silk. His beard was also quite long, nearly hiding his mouth, and thick white eyebrows accompanied his small eyes. He gave off the perfect image of an elderly sage.
The elderly man reached out one of his arms in a welcoming motion, while the other arm held a long staff of wood, supporting him.
"I welcome you, travellers, to the city of Konen, for which I hold the position of mayor! My name is Lonren Shan!"
Lonren bowed deeply.
"I have already been informed by my men that you were unfortunate enough to encounter the juggernaut outside the city, as well as that some of your men died from its attack. As the representative of Konen, I offer you my deepest sympathy! That beast has been plaguing us for three years now, and it seems like it doesn't show any signs of disappearing any time soon."
At his last sentence, the man sighed pitifully. Corwyn's eyes went wide. Had he just said that monster had been staying here for three whole years?
Rogar seemed to have been surprised as well since his eyebrows jumped up briefly. Following Lonren's gesture, he bowed as well.
"Honorable mayor, my name is Rogar, and I am the leader of this expedition party. I deeply thank you for your sympathy, it is very much appreciated!"
Ending his bowing, Rogar straightened up and looked the mayor directly in the eyes as he said:
"Honorable mayor, you just said this beast has been plaguing you for three years. What exactly do you mean by that?"
Lonren sighed at the question, but answered just as quickly.
"It is exactly as I said. For three years by now, the juggernaut has been living next to our city, devouring anything and anyone who left the city or went near it!"
"But doesn't that mean..."
Lonren nodded.
"Yes, for the last three years, our city has been completely isolated from the rest of the world. You are the first visitors we have had since its appearance!"