章 19: Chapter 19

Ruby stood up, feeling the weight of her decision as the desert wind howled around her. The horizon stretched endlessly, the blazing sun painting everything in shades of gold and red. Fang slithered beside her, his massive body cutting a path through the sand like a ship in the sea. They had rested enough, and now it was time to find Ymitris, the Sandstorm.

The desert wasn't quiet anymore. Ruby could feel something shifting beneath the sand, the subtle vibrations of a threat that hadn't yet shown itself. She tightened her grip on her sword's hilt, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. "Fang, keep your senses sharp," she whispered.

Fang let out a low hiss in acknowledgment, his eyes scanning the area, unblinking. Ruby's heart raced a little faster. The Keeper could be anywhere. If the book was right, she wouldn't have much time once the fight started. She needed to hit hard and fast, no mistakes.

After what felt like hours, the sand beneath Ruby's feet began to stir. Slowly, a towering figure emerged from the dunes, standing nearly twice her height. It was Ymitris. The ten-foot giant stood still for a moment, his face hidden beneath a cloak of sand swirling in the air around him. His skin was rough and cracked, like the desert itself, and his eyes glowed with a faint, eerie light.

"Found you," Ruby whispered, steeling herself for what was to come.

Without warning, Ymitris raised his hand, and the air grew heavy. Ruby immediately felt it—the pressure weighing down on her, her limbs growing sluggish. This was <Oppression>. She gritted her teeth, pushing against the invisible force, feeling her muscles protest with every step forward.

"Come on, Ruby," she muttered to herself, "you've got this."

Ymitris was watching her, unmoving, as if testing how much she could take. Fang growled beside her, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Ruby knew they couldn't just charge in. She had to think.

Suddenly, Ymitris's hand shot toward the sky, and a massive ball of fire appeared above them. <Flamen>.

"Damn it!" Ruby swore, watching the flames start to grow, casting the whole desert in a menacing glow. She didn't have time to react before the first wave of heat hit her. Her skin prickled with the warmth, and she could feel the fire-enhanced attacks were coming. She had to counter it, and fast.

"Ice Cloak!" she shouted, a layer of frost immediately forming on her skin. It wasn't as strong as <Ice Armor>, but it would have to do. The heat was relentless, but at least now she had a fighting chance.

"Fang, go left!" Ruby commanded, and the snake shot off, burrowing into the sand in a flash. Ruby darted forward, swinging her sword with as much strength as she could muster, aiming for Ymitris's legs. Her strikes were slower, heavier than she'd have liked, but they connected, sparks flying off the giant's stone-like skin.

Ymitris barely flinched, but Ruby saw his eyes flicker in response. He raised his hand again, this time summoning another wave of heat, and Ruby could feel her defenses beginning to melt away. The weight of <Oppression> was building, pressing harder on her chest, slowing her movements even more.

Just as Ruby was about to back off and regroup, she saw it—a faint shimmer in the air behind Ymitris. Fang had resurfaced, slithering silently just behind the giant. In an instant, Fang struck, sinking his fangs into Ymitris's leg with deadly precision. The giant let out a guttural roar, stumbling forward as his skin began to crack where Fang's poison had seeped in.

"Now!" Ruby yelled, pulling back to prepare for another strike. She felt the pressure of <Oppression> intensify, but she pushed through it, using all her strength to launch herself at Ymitris.

With a mighty swing of her sword, Ruby landed a solid hit on the giant's torso, sending cracks spiraling up his body. Ymitris staggered, letting out a bellow that shook the ground beneath her.

Just then, Ruby saw a shift in his stance. His glowing eyes brightened, and she realized what was happening. <Struggle>.

"Damn it," Ruby muttered under her breath. The air around them grew hotter, the sand itself shimmering with heat. For the next 30 seconds, Ymitris's power would be tenfold, and she didn't have long to finish this.

But Ruby wasn't going to let him get that chance.

"Fang, pull back!" she shouted, quickly swapping her sword for a bow from her inventory. Annie's note flashed in her mind: Ymitris's <Struggle> wouldn't activate against ranged attacks. She grinned, pulling an arrow back and taking aim.

Ymitris let out a final, furious roar, raising his arms as if to strike with all his might—but Ruby's arrow flew true, piercing through the air and hitting its mark. The giant froze, the glow in his eyes dimming as the cracks in his body spread further.

Seconds later, Ymitris collapsed, his massive body breaking apart into dust and sand, leaving nothing but silence in his wake.

Ruby let out a shaky breath, lowering her bow. "We did it, Fang," she whispered, a tired but triumphant smile crossing her face. Fang slithered back to her side, hissing softly as Ruby scratched his head.

"Let's get out of here," Ruby said, glancing at the horizon where the desert stretched out endlessly. They still had many floors to go, but for now, they had survived.

And that was enough.

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The icy chill hit Ruby the moment she stepped through the floor portal. Gone was the blistering heat of the desert—replaced by an unforgiving frozen wasteland. Snow swirled around her, the wind biting at her exposed skin as she pulled her cloak tighter. Fang, usually comfortable in any environment, coiled closer to her, his scales glinting in the pale light. His body shivered slightly, unused to the freezing temperatures.

"Great… from one extreme to another," Ruby muttered, her breath forming small clouds in the air. The landscape was barren, endless snow stretching in every direction. Jagged ice peaks stood in the distance, and the sky, a dull gray, seemed to press down on them.

She checked her duffle bag. Thankfully, she had packed warm clothes, something Tyrone had advised her to always keep on hand for the upper floors. Quickly slipping on her heavy coat, fur-lined gloves, and boots, Ruby felt slightly more prepared.

"Come on, Fang. Let's move before we freeze to death." Ruby pulled up her hood, her eyes squinting against the icy wind. Fang burrowed into the snow next to her, struggling to adapt but determined to keep up.

As they trekked forward, the cold gnawed at them both, and Ruby couldn't help but wonder what sort of Floor Keeper awaited them in this frozen hell.