1208 Sandstorm Demon Locusts (1/2)
Translated by XephiZ
Edited by Aelryinth
Building a path along the sand in the river bed would require a huge amount of energy, since the team was still a long journey away from reaching the end.
After the team traveled ten kilometers, Mu Nujiao was running low on energy. She switched to her Plant Element instead, as the energy consumption using the Plant Element was lower compared to the Ice Element. If she kept using the same plants to build a path in front of her, she would not need to Summon new plants.
However, she only lasted for another twenty kilometers before the energy in Mu Nujiao's Plant Element was depleted too.
It was Xu Pingdong's turn to lay down the path. He had the Earth Element and the Ice Element. He did not have as much energy as Mu Nujiao. He only lasted for twenty kilometers...
Both Mu Nujiao and Xu Pingdong had used up all their energy to help the team travel another fifty kilometers, but it felt like they were still in the same spot in the meandering sand river.
---
The others took turns constructing the path, but when everyone used up all their energy of the Earth Element, Ice Element, and Plant Element, they realized they had at least another seventy kilometers left!
”Let's convert the energy of other Elements. It's the only option we have. I have an Energy Conversion Bracelet here. It's not as effective, but it's better than nothing,” Ge Ming said.
”If we convert our energy to the energy of their Wind Element, Earth Element, and Plant Element, the conversion rate is only around thirty percent. How are we going to protect ourselves when we reach the end later? Leader, that's too risky!” Lu Fang strongly disagreed with the suggestion.
”We have to overcome the situation before us first. Otherwise, we won't even make it to the end,” Ge Ming replied.
The others began to convert their energy with Ge Ming's bracelet and transferred the energy to Mu Nujiao, Xu Pingdong, Zhang Xiaohou, and the others with the suitable Elements to construct the path ahead.
The conversion rate was only thirty percent, meaning that the rate of consumption of the team's energy had tripled. Most people on the team soon ran out of energy for two of their Elements.
Losing the energy for two Elements was basically the same as losing their arms. They completely lost any sense of security in this desert that was full of danger. Even though they could see the end of the sand river now, none of them seemed relieved.
The rate of recovery of a Mage's energy was incredibly slow. Hunters usually treated their energy as their life, but they had already paid such a huge price just to follow the sand river!
”We should be able to rest up once we reach the relay station. Cheer up, everyone, the sand river is indeed a lot scarier than we expected,” Ge Ming comforted the members of the team.
Mo Fan was a fighter on the team, thus he did not transfer his energy to the others. There were only four people with full energy on the team: Mo Fan, Zheng Tong, Ge Ming, and a man called Tong Zhuang.
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”There are still Sandstorm Demon Locusts in the area still. Let's leave this place quickly,” Ge Ming told them.
”We'll have to use the device after another kilometer. Otherwise, we might accidentally stumble into a horde. There are three hordes in this area,” Wang Jiuming said.
”Are you kidding me? Using the device now is suicide! It's going to attract the demon creatures nearby. We can't possibly hold them off!” Tong Zhuang was the first to disagree.
”Going forward blindly or staying here is going to get us killed too! We have to take the risks and stand our ground for an hour and ten minutes, at least it will allow us to keep going!” Wang Jiuming snapped back.
”Captain, the whole team is worn out just making it out of the sand river. Setting up the device is suicide now!” Tong Zhuang said.
Ge Ming frowned. He was struggling to make up his mind.
It was extremely dangerous if a battle broke out now. Only a few people on the team had energy. If they ended up aggravating Commander-level creatures or a horde of demon creatures, they would be done for.
They heard a distant howling, and the wind suddenly grew stronger. Mo Fan glanced in the direction of the wind and saw the clear, blue sky was shrouded by a yellow cloud of dust. He thought the cloud of dust was still at first glance, but he eventually realized it was slowly moving toward them.
”A sandstorm?” Jiang Shaoxu felt uneasy after witnessing the cloud of dust. She subconsciously recalled the Sandstorm Vengeful Spirit that the team encountered before, the ghastly figure that stood imperiously at the top of the sandstorm!
”No, something worse!” Lingling shook her head.
Ge Ming's eyes widened. His face was gradually filled with fear.
”It's the Sandstorm Demon Locusts!”
”My Heavens, didn't we already leave their territory?”
”The Sandstorm Demon Locusts are highly invasive. They will occasionally invade the areas nearby. Even though they aren't heading right toward us, we're going to die if we stay here!” Mo Fan said.
The Sandstorm Demon Locusts were the scariest existence in the Taklamakan Desert that people were aware of. They would sweep across an area like a sandstorm, yet in comparison, a sandstorm would actually be considered a kind-hearted spirit. The photographs taken after a place was attacked by the Sandstorm Demon Locusts were utterly terrifying. The whole place would be barren, with skeletons scattered for five hundred kilometers!