After the day's events had left them exhausted, Ray, Ra, and La'ru retired to their respective rooms for some much-needed rest as the night enveloped the temple. However, for Ray, the night was far from peaceful. As he drifted off to sleep, his mind was transported to a place he had never been before, yet it felt strangely familiar. After the day's events had left them exhausted, both physically and emotionally, Ray, Ra, and La'ru retired to their respective rooms for some much-needed rest as the night enveloped the temple. However, for Ray, the night was far from peaceful. As he drifted off to sleep, his mind was transported to a place he had never been before, yet it felt strangely familiar.
He stood near the edge of El'Valar, a vast desert city known for its towering dunes and legendary Zurghest worms. Although he had only heard of it from passing merchants, he was now able to experience its scorching heat and dry, stifling air firsthand. Gusts of wind carried a fine layer of golden sand that swirled in the air, creating an ethereal and shimmering effect on the horizon.
The desert was a harsh and unforgiving place, with nothing but endless stretches of sand as far as the eye could see. Amidst a raging sandstorm, a lone figure stood tall, almost defiant, against the howling wind. He was a tall man dressed in all-black plate mail that seemed to absorb the harsh sunlight rather than reflect it. Despite the blistering heat and the sandstorm, he stood his ground, his presence commanding and his stance unwavering.
In the distance, a monstrous worm emerged from the depths of the sand, its massive form casting a shadow over the land. The Zurghest, a behemoth of the desert, roared menacingly, its maw wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. It was a creature of legends, known to devour entire caravans and leave nothing but desolation in its wake. Yet, the armored man did not waver. In his hand, he wielded a sword that was as black as night. It seemed to eat the light around the man, its blade humming with power.
The man's eyes narrowed as he surveyed his foe, assessing its size and movements. He knew that this battle would not be easy, that the Zurghest was a formidable opponent. But he was not one to back down from a challenge. With a fierce determination in his eyes, he charged towards the beast, his sword held high.
The sand kicked up around him, obscuring his vision, but he pressed on, driven by an indomitable will. As he drew closer, the Zurghest lashed out with its massive tail, but the man was too quick. He dodged the attack, rolling to the right, and plunged his sword deep into the creature's side.
The Zurghest roared in agony, writhing in pain as the man delivered blow after blow. His dark sword slashed from right to left in arcs of fury. The sandstorm raged on around them, but the man remained focused, his eyes fixed on his foe. And finally, after some time, the Zurghest fell, its massive body crashing to the ground.
The towering Zurghest, seventy feet long and ten feet wide, appeared to be defeated by the man in black's final, decisive strike. However, the battle took an unexpected turn. The beast's fall, dramatic and seemingly final, was nothing but a ruse, a clever deception. While the warrior stood catching his breath, believing the fight to be over, the desert itself seemed to betray him.
Without warning, the sands around him came alive, manipulated by the Zurghest's Earth Alma. From the swirling sands, sharp spikes erupted with lethal intent, each one aiming with unerring accuracy at the man in black. It was a trap, and the warrior found himself in the heart of it, the desert turning into a deadly field of sand spikes threatening to impale him from all directions.
But the man in black was no ordinary foe. His reaction was instantaneous, a testament to his prowess and the dark Alma he wielded. With a burst of speed that defied the eye, he leaped into the air, evading the deadly spikes as they shot from the ground like venomous serpents striking at their prey. In mid-air, he was a silhouette against the harsh sunlight, a specter of vengeance cloaked in darkness.
From his elevated position, the man in black saw his opportunity. The Zurghest, momentarily exposed as it controlled its sandy assault, had not anticipated his adversary's resilience. With a swift motion, the warrior summoned the dark Alma from the depths of his being, channeling it through his sword. The blade, now a conduit for his formidable power, glowed with a menacing, dark energy.
With a swift movement, he wielded his sword and channeled all his energy towards the terrifying Zurghest. The sandstorm raged fiercely, but he remained steadfast in his approach. As he advanced towards the creature, a beam of dark Alma erupted from the tip of his sword, piercing through the violent sandstorm with its ominous glow. The beam cut through the storm of sand with unyielding force, hitting the Zurghest with lethal precision. The attack was so sudden and unexpected that the Zurghest was caught off guard, unable to defend itself against the mighty strike.
The effect was immediate and devastating. The beam of dark Alma tore through the Zurghest, leaving a gaping wound from which its life force began to seep out into the sands. The desert that had been its ally moments ago now became its grave as the creature let out a tormented roar, its body convulsing in the throes of death.
The worm, a colossal creature, writhed and twisted on the arid ground, its movements gradually slowing until it lay still. From high above, a man in black could be seen descending gracefully towards the desert floor. As he approached, his descent slowed, and he landed with a soft thud on the sand. In his hand, he held his sword, which still pulsed with dark Alma; the energy radiated from the blade in small waves. Despite the triumph, the warrior's expression remained inscrutable, giving no hint of his thoughts or feelings. His face was a mask, revealing nothing of the man who had just faced death and emerged victorious. Ray could not seem to make out the details of his face. His dreams played games with him. At times, his face was recognizable, and then, in a blink, it was as if the face blurred.
In the aftermath of the fierce battle, the man dressed in black plate mail stood still in the midst of the tranquil desert. The shifting sands around him had subsided, and the only sound that could be heard was the gentle whisper of the breeze. The giant worm that had threatened his life had been vanquished, and he was now free to take a moment to himself. As he reached for his helmet, he could feel the weight of its enigmatic design in his hands. Its appearance was as foreboding as the armor he wore, and its polished surface seemed to reflect the scant sunlight, casting deeper shadows upon his figure. With the helmet now in place, he felt an added sense of security, as if it had become an extension of his own being..
He then turned, his gaze piercing the desert sands, fixating on a point beyond the immediate desolation. His voice, when he spoke, was clear and resonant, echoing slightly in the vast emptiness of the desert. "I am known as Sable," he announced, his tone devoid of warmth yet not unkind. "Remember this name, for if you and your brother find yourselves wandering into Valar, it will be I who will bring your end."
The declaration was stark, a straightforward acknowledgment of his prowess and a grim warning of the consequences of trespassing into his domain. Sable's introduction was not just a statement of identity but a delineation of his territory and a clear delineation of the stakes involved for Ray and his brother. With his warning delivered, Sable turned towards the silhouette of El'Valar, the ancient city that lay ahead, his figure disappearing into the sand. The atmosphere felt tense, and Ray felt as if he had spoken directly to him, even if this was just a dream.
Ray was abruptly awakened by a vivid dream that made his heart race. In his dream, he saw a man named Sable dressed in black plate armor and wielding a dark Alma with great skill. The image of this man stayed with Ray, and he could not help but feel that the dream was more than just his imagination running wild. It seemed like a direct message, a deliberate attempt to showcase power and intimidate Ray and his brother away from Valar.
Despite the ominous warning from Sable, Ray was not intimidated. Instead, he found the warning intriguing. The challenge that Sable had unwittingly posed, ignited a deep unyielding desire within Ray to become stronger and master not only Alma butt combat in all its forms. The feeling of being threatened only added fuel to this fire of desire within him. Ray felt driven to become powerful enough to stand toe-to-toe with formidable beings like Sable. He knew that it wouldn't be an easy task, but he was up for the challenge. The thought of being able to face such powerful beings head-on was made him smile. He knew that he had a long way to go, but the desire he felt was strong enough to keep him going. He was determined to become a force to be reckoned with, to protect himself and those around him.