Kapitel 257: Sandstorm
As my mp is quickly draining and I feel my mind strain at the monumental task of moving at least a metric ton of sand, the first signs of success show themselves. Grains of sand begin to lift of the ground all around me. They slowly swirl into the air causing the skull goblins to look around in confusion.
The desert hunters also cease their previously unending barrage of arrows to warily scrutinize the moving grains of sand. I did yell out the spell but that was in monster language. With countless skull goblins screaming as they were shot at, the desert hunters haven't realized that I am the caster.
They likely believe that an additional unknown monster entered the floor but has remained hidden. Grains of sand moving in a large area indicates a strong spell.
The desert hunters clearly think nothing of the remaining skull goblins and want to focus on the hidden enemy.
More and more grains of sand are swept up into the air as a giant swirl begins to form. I admit that I've never seen or even witnessed a real sandstorm so I just imagined a tornado made of sand.
Sure, unoriginal and certainly not my best idea but the image of a sand-filled tornado is seared into my brain. The image is so clear as if it were a picture taken from what will hopefully form here soon.
And from what I've learned of magic and its inner workings so far, clear mental imagery is vital. So I'd rather use an inaccurate image that works for me than nothing at all.
With the image still clear in my head, the sand begins to pick up speed. There is no real wind so the desert hunters' robes do not flutter at all as they pull them up to keep the sand away.
A vortex of rotating sand is formed with me and the remaining skull goblins at the center. The desert hunters seem to notice that the origin is center of the vortex but instead of attacking, they retreat. Perhaps the abnormalities of this sandstorm are making them act especially wary of it.
They pull back until they are a safe distance away from the now rapidly spinning wall of sand. Sigh, I had hoped that they would panic and be caught in the swirling sand.
If so, the skull goblins might have been able to get a kill or two . But now…
The sandstorm has nearly been up and running for 5 seconds when my mp hit rock bottom. I feel drained. I could perhaps buy myself a couple of seconds by over-drafting but this is just a temporary fix.
I definitely can't move the sandstorm towards the desert hunters, way to much expenditure. And even if I could, they would probably just pull back further. Damn their cautious tactics!
And with that, the spell comes to its end. The moving sand is scattered in all directions around us as the force keeping it going in a swirling motion disappears. It will take a few more seconds for the clouds of sand that are left in the air to sink back to the ground.
I attempt to use those seconds as I lead a final charge at the desert hunters. A futile effort really. They are all carrying bows and the moment they catch sight of us, they fire arrows that descend on us like rain. Painful and lethal rain that is.
We don't even get close to them before they wipe us out. Hello darkness my old friend. Oh well, we tried. I just wish that sandstorm would have done more.
<Greedy much? You get that kind of a result for just winging it and still have the cheek to complain? You got a bunch of enemies that had a terrain specific class, that out-leveled and outnumbered you to temporarily retreat!>
I stopped them for a dozen seconds tops. What's the worth of that?
<A dozen seconds can be a lot of time once you level up. Plus, you didn't just stop them.>
I didn't? What else did I do?
<They are currently searching for what caused your little spell. They seem pretty vexed that they can't make heads or tails out of what happened.>
So they really think there is another monster there? Isn't that a little gullible of them?
<Not really. At least I don't think so. They don't think it's a monster per se but are vary of whatever Vespasian may have up his sleeve. As you saw with the burning swamp and the tunnels below the jagged rocks, he has a particular fondness of hidden gimmicks and ugly surprises. They probably think they've accidentally discovered some hidden mechanic unique to that floor.>
Is there a hidden mechanic on that floor?
<I'm sure there is at least one but I don't have access to that kind of data. And even if I had access, I wouldn't be allowed to tell you. As I said, he likes his surprises.>
It's a sandstorm, isn't it…
<It is. While he does tend to come up with unthinkable stuff, he can be surprisingly predictable at times.>
Is he mad that I spiked his surprise?
<But you didn't spoil anything. He even said that he found your little spell quite a nice touch. A misleading hint. After all, a real sandstorm is completely different from what you made.>
So we'll have to fight in a sandstorm? Visibility will be pretty bad then…
<You won't be fighting this time, leave that to the undead legion. Once that entire region is submerged in flying sand and dust, sight will be reduced to the minimum, eyes will be filled with sand, and breathing will be a nightmare for any living creature. The undead legion isn't effected by the latter two conditions so they will have an insane strategic advantage. Plus, even if they partially sink into the sand and need to slow down, the ground is flat and thus the legion is at its strongest.>
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein