Ulon rolled his shoulders once, the metal on his arms catching sunlight as he turned his head back toward Kiel.
"You heard the lady," he said loudly, voice echoing across the sand. "Focus. And don't shoot me with your arrow this time."
Kiel raised his bow, jaw tight but eyes sharp. "I won't miss."
Ulon snorted. "You almost hit my ear earlier—"
The sand behind him shifted.
Not gently. Not naturally.
Ulon's grin widened as he cut himself off. "Ah. There he is again. You see that, boy? That little wiggle?" He lifted his mace slightly. "That's your cue. Be ready."
The mound of sand swelled, then surged forward like something swimming beneath water. Ulon stepped half a pace forward without thinking, placing himself squarely between Kiel and the moving sand.
The worm burst out.
It charged like an oversized sand torpedo, its movement violent and fast enough to kick up a roaring wave of grit. As it rushed forward, several sharpened sand spears shot out from its false body, spinning through the air toward Ulon.
Kiel's breath caught. "Ulon—!"
Ulon didn't move.
He stood his ground, feet planted, mace held tight in one hand. The sand spears slammed into his chest and shoulders—
And splashed apart.
They burst like water balloons against solid steel, scattering harmlessly across the ground. None pierced. None slowed him.
The massive maw erupted from the sand next, rows of jagged teeth snapping open as it lunged for him.
Ulon smiled.
He swung.
The mace came down hard, smashing into the worm's head with a thunderous crack. The impact rippled through the sand like a shockwave. The beast shrieked, a high-pitched, grinding sound that hurt the ears, and immediately dove back underground.
Ulon clicked his tongue. "Still ugly as ever."
Kiel lowered his bow slightly, eyes wide. "That… worked?"
"Of course it did," Ulon said, rolling his neck. "We already learned its trick from the first one."
He stomped the ground once, pointing the mace downward. "Long body, fake sand shell. Uses tendrils to shape it. Looks big, but it's lying to you." He tapped his own temple. "Real body's hidden beneath the thick sand. Weakness is the head. Always the head."
As if insulted by that explanation, the sand exploded again.
The worm struck from the side, its massive tail whipping out of the sand toward Ulon's ribs. The force behind it bent the air.
Ulon didn't dodge.
Instead, he slammed his hand into the sand just before it hits.
His fingers closed around something solid.
The real tail.
The worm screamed again as Ulon yanked upward, muscles bulging beneath the metallic coating. Sand sprayed everywhere as the beast was dragged halfway out of the ground.
Then Ulon flinched.
"—Tch!"
He released it instantly, stepping back as the tail vanished beneath the sand once more. He shook his hand, staring at his palm.
Small dents had formed in the metal skin.
"Oho," Ulon muttered, eyes lighting up. "That's new."
Kiel blinked. "What happened?"
Ulon flexed his fingers, then laughed. "The tendrils. They vibrate like crazy. So much friction it's making electricity." He grinned wider. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
The sand shifted again, circling.
Ulon chuckled. "I thought being lower level than the first one would make this boring." He cracked his neck. "Guess not."
He glanced back over his shoulder. "You planning to shoot, or are you just here for moral support?"
Kiel scowled. "Your massive body is blocking my sight."
Ulon gasped loudly. "Did you just call me fat?"
"I didn't say that," Kiel shot back. "You said it now, not me—behind you!"
The sand surged.
Without looking back, Ulon swung his mace upward. The weapon connected with a heavy thud, knocking the worm's head back into the sand.
"Now," Ulon said calmly.
Kiel released.
The arrow flew—fast, clean—
And missed by a hair.
Ulon sighed deeply. "You put too many points into intelligence. Add more dexterity next time."
"My skills scale with intelligence!" Kiel protested.
"And yet," Ulon replied, dodging another burst of sand spears without even glancing, "intelligence doesn't make you smarter."
Kiel gritted his teeth. "That doesn't even make sense."
"Neither does missing at this range," Ulon shot back.
The mound rose again, larger this time, charging straight toward them.
Ulon pointed his mace at it. "Last chance, boy. Hit the target or I'll hit you."
The worm launched its sand spears again. Same result. They shattered harmlessly against Ulon's body.
As the massive mouth burst from the sand, Ulon dropped his mace.
Kiel's eyes widened. "Ulon—?!"
Ulon stepped forward and grabbed the worm's jaws with both hands.
Metal screeched against teeth as he forced the mouth open, lifting the writhing head high above him. Sand poured off the beast's body like a waterfall.
"Now!" Ulon roared.
The metallic sheen on his legs flickered.
Kiel inhaled sharply. "Ulti—"
"Don't use that," Ulon snapped without looking back. "Are you going to kill me!"
Kiel swallowed and shifted his stance. His mana surged, but he kept it controlled.
"Coup puissant!"
The arrow glowed faintly as it flew.
The worm thrashed violently, its tail slamming into Ulon's side with a sickening impact. Ulon grunted, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. The metal covered only his arms now. Pain ripped through his ribs. Blood started to soak his robe.
Still, he didn't let go.
"Shoot!" he barked.
The arrow pierced clean through the worm's head.
The shriek cut off instantly.
The massive body collapsed, dragging Ulon down with it. Sand exploded outward as both hit the ground hard.
The arrow kept going.
"—!"
Petra turned just in time.
She slammed her scythe flat against the arrow, knocking it aside with a sharp clang. The projectile buried itself harmlessly in the sand behind her.
"You idiots!" she roared. "What are you—"
She stopped.
Her eyes flicked to Ulon lying in the sand, bloodied chest rising slowly, blood staining his lips.
For once, Petra didn't shout.
"…Tch."
She turned away sharply, shoulders tense. "Get him up," she snapped, already facing the next threat. "And if that kid fires another arrow near me, I'll cut his bow in half."
Kiel swallowed hard, staring at Ulon. "…He's alive, right?"
Ulon coughed and lifted one hand weakly. "Unfortunately."
Kiel let out a shaky breath.
Ulon smirked through the pain. "Next time," he muttered, "aim faster."