The winds of the Shagan Desert did not howl without reason.
They whispered.
Fine grains of sand drifted in slow, spiraling currents beneath a sky bleached pale by relentless sun, the air shimmering with heat so intense it distorted the horizon itself. Yet beneath that oppressive climate—beneath the dunes that swallowed ruins and bones alike—there pulsed a rhythm far older than the desert's cruelty.Fine grains of sand drifted in slow, spiraling currents beneath a sky bleached pale by relentless sun, the air shimmering with heat so intense it distorted the horizon itself. Yet beneath that oppressive climate—beneath the dunes that swallowed ruins and bones alike—there pulsed a rhythm far older than the desert's cruelty.
A heartbeat.
Minami felt it the moment the towering walls of UNM came into view.
The city rose from the sands like a defiant miracle—layered, structured, impossibly intact. Vast stone ramparts curved outward in a protective crescent, their surfaces etched with runic patterns that glowed faintly beneath the sun. Three colossal gates were embedded into the wall at ascending heights, each forged from a different alloy, each radiating its own presence.
Copper at the base.
Bronze above.
Gold at the summit.
The party halted several dozen meters from the entrance, their cloaks fluttering softly in the desert wind. Around them, scattered caravans and travelers queued in loose lines, a surprising number of them beastmen and demi-humans.
Minami stepped forward.
"We are a group of wandering beastmen," she said clearly, her voice steady but gentle, shaped carefully to carry both vulnerability and resolve. "We seek refuge. A place to rest… or perhaps, to call home."
For a moment, only the desert answered.
Then—puff.
A thick plume of smoke burst forth directly before them, rolling outward in a playful cloud. Before anyone could react, the smoke cleared to reveal an enormous figure looming over the group.
A panda.
Not a beastman of moderate stature—this one was massive, broad-shouldered, with fur as black and white as polished ink and snow. His presence radiated warmth rather than menace, and before anyone could step back—
He wrapped all of them into a crushing embrace.
"Ohhh, that's so touching!" the panda boomed, his voice rich and emotional. "Wandering the desert, searching for a place like UNM? That must have been so hard on you all!"
Bones creaked.
Air fled lungs.
Fei let out a long, contented sigh despite herself.
"…So squishy," she murmured.
The panda laughed heartily before releasing them, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Welcome to UNM! Name's Bow—former head of gate security. These days, I'm in charge of the Civil District Security Force."
Minami inclined her head politely. "I'm Minami. This is Fei, Kai, Nei, Yun, Valx… and Mesai."
Bow nodded at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering briefly—just briefly—on Mesai, though his expression never changed
.
With a heavy rumble, the Copper Gate began to open.
The sound alone was awe-inspiring.
Stone ground against stone. Mana circuits flared to life. The gate split apart, revealing the Civil District beyond—and what lay inside shattered every expectation they had.
It was not a desert city.
Lush greenery lined wide stone avenues. Canals of clear water ran between buildings, reflecting sunlight like ribbons of silver. Market stalls buzzed with life, their awnings vibrant with color. Children—beastmen, demi-humans, and humans alike—ran laughing through shaded courtyards.
Valx's eyes narrowed slightly.
"This doesn't look like something you'd find in the Shagan Desert," Yun muttered, unable to hide his amazement.
"Those other two gates…" Yun added, pointing upward. "Do they lead to other districts?"
Bow followed his gaze with a proud smile.
"Correct. The gate you just passed through is the Copper Gate—entry to the Common District. The Bronze Gate above us leads to the Warrior Barracks. And the Gold Gate at the very top…" His tone shifted subtly. "That's the National Zone."
He continued smoothly, as if reciting something long memorized.
"That's where the UNM President resides. Along with his adviser, the Prime Minister, the Spirited Gateway Manager, and the UNM Council. All the big shots, really—except the Commander of the UNM Bridge, the Vice Commander, and the Three Shields of UNM."
"…Whoa," Nei breathed. "Thanks for the info."
Valx crossed his arms. "So I'm guessing we'll need to register for the Civil Zone."
Bow nodded. "You can. Registration center's up ahead." He paused. "Or… the Bridge tryouts begin later today."
The shift in atmosphere was immediate.
"If you pass," Bow continued, "you'll live at the Warrior Barracks. But I won't sugarcoat it—it's brutal. Even I barely got in last time."
Minami exchanged a glance with Mesai.
"We'll register for the tryouts," Minami said calmly. "Can you take us there?"
"Sure thing," Bow replied without hesitation.
As they walked, Valx's voice echoed softly in their minds.
This is strange. Other regions are in shambles—rotted, broken by Blights. But here? No signs of corruption. No chaos.
It is concerning, Kai replied. But since when did you learn telepathy?
Picked it up, Valx answered simply.
Mesai's mental presence surfaced next, composed and analytical.
From what I've gathered, the Blights cannot take UNM by force. The mana density here suppresses rot propagation. Additionally… there are numerous powerful entities present.
Minami nodded faintly.
Good observation. Everyone—hold back during the tryouts. Do nothing drastic. We work quietly, reach the Spirited Gateway, and find where the Blight is hiding.
The Bronze Gate loomed before them.
They passed through.
Inside, a vast plaza stretched outward, its center dominated by a registration platform. At its edge stood a young woman behind a desk, flipping through documents.
"Hey, Katie," Bow called. "Got some applicants for the tryouts."
She looked up. "Names and signatures, please."
Minami and the others stepped forward, carefully inscribing false identities, their mana subtly masking any inconsistencies.
"Proceed to the waiting hall," Katie said briskly.
Bow turned to them, smiling warmly. "I've got urgent matters to attend to. Hope you succeed."
With a wave, he was gone.
The waiting hall was immense.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of beastmen and demi-humans filled the space. Some sharpened weapons. Others meditated. The air buzzed with anticipation and suppressed aggression.
A young beastman stepped onto the stage.
"Hello. I am Leon. I will supervise today's tryouts."
Whispers rippled through the hall.
"That's Leon…"
"The Blazing Sun…"
"One of the Three Shields…"
Leon raised a hand, silencing the crowd.
"The rules are simple," he said. "Kill as many Desert Deathworms as you can. Each worm is worth 100 points."
He continued, voice unwavering.
"If you are injured, or score below 2,000 points, you are ineligible. Combined efforts only count for registered teams. Leaderboards will update in real time."
A murmur surged.
"I heard Leon scored fifty thousand points," someone whispered.
Leon's eyes flared.
"BEGIN!"
A portal tore open.
Minami turned sharply. "Split up! Gorgon triplets—Team A. Mesai and I—Team B. Yun and Valx—Team C!"
They vanished into the portal.
Yun spotted movement beneath the sand.
"Desert worm incoming."
Valx smirked. "You take it. Don't show off."
"As if," Yun muttered.
"Earth Pierce."
Stone erupted upward—jagged pillars skewering the worm instantly. The leaderboard flickered.
Yun: +50
Valx: +50
Meanwhile—
"Output fifty percent," Mesai intoned. "Rasp Detonation."
The explosion was restrained—but still devastating.
Minami shot him a look. "That was too much."
"…Sorry."Elsewhere—
Nei stared at the creature before them.
"…Is that supposed to be a Desert Deathworm?"
It was wrong.
Its body was blackened, semi-molten, oozing a viscous substance that melted the sand upon contact.
The air around it twisted.
And deep within its form—
Something watched them back.