Desert Raid: A LitRPG Harem (Level Up Harem Book 2) by George Saoulidis & Machine George

Author:George Saoulidis & Machine George [Saoulidis, George & George, Machine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mythography Studios
Published: 2025-09-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 36 — SANDSTORM EXIT

THE SKY HAD changed while they were inside the ruin. What had been clear blue with a few scattered clouds when they entered the foyer was now an ominous yellow-brown, the horizon blurring where sand met sky.

"That doesn't look good," Jace said, squinting against the increasing wind.

Nadiya's ears swiveled forward, then flattened against her head. "Sirocco rising. Big one." She sniffed the air, her nose wrinkling. "Smells like it's pulling from the Salt Flats. Gritty and mean."

Mira shaded her eyes, studying the approaching wall of sand. "How long do we have?"

"Twenty minutes, maybe less," Nadiya replied. "It's moving fast."

Elara was already pulling their sun-hoods from her pack. "We should shelter in the ruin until it passes."

"No," Nadiya said firmly. "These can last for days. And the Bright Lances are still inside—I'd rather not be trapped with them."

Jace nodded. "Agreed. We make for Starfall." He turned to Nadiya. "Can we outrun it?"

She shook her head. "Not a chance. But we can navigate through it if we're prepared."

"Then we prepare," Jace decided. "Everyone, gear up. Full storm protocol."

They moved with practiced efficiency, having drilled for this possibility during their desert training. Sun-hoods were replaced with tightly woven cloth masks that covered everything but their eyes. Goggles followed, sealed against the fine sand that could blind a person in minutes. The Dune-Cooled Cloaks were wrapped tightly around their bodies, secured with cord to prevent them from being torn away by the wind.

"Rope line," Jace ordered, pulling a coil from his pack.

They linked themselves together with short lengths of rope—just enough slack to walk comfortably, but tight enough to prevent separation in the blinding conditions ahead. Jace took point, followed by Elara, then Nadiya, with Mira as anchor.

"How's our heading?" Jace asked, pulling out the Desert Compass.

The artifact glowed faintly in his palm, its needle steady despite the increasing wind. Unlike ordinary compasses that pointed north, this one could be calibrated to any destination the user had previously visited. Elara had set it to Starfall before they left the grove.

"Northeast," Nadiya confirmed, her ears still able to detect subtle changes in the wind despite being mostly covered. "But we'll need to adjust for drift. The storm will push us east if we're not careful."

Jace nodded. "Compensate west by ten degrees." He adjusted his mental map accordingly. "Elara, can you give us some visibility?"

Elara nodded, her hands already working through a familiar pattern. "Shine won't cut through the whole storm, but I can create a bubble of clarity around us. It won't last long—I'll need to refresh it every few minutes."

"Save your strength," Jace advised. "Only use it when we need course correction or to check for hazards."

"Agreed," she said. "Ready when you are."

Mira finished securing the last of their exposed gear. "All tight. Nothing to catch the wind."

"Communication signals," Jace reminded them. "One tug: stop. Two tugs: hazard. Three tugs: change direction. Four rapid tugs: emergency."

Everyone nodded their understanding. In a sandstorm, voices were worse than useless—they couldn't be heard over the howling wind, and opening your mouth was an invitation for sand to fill your lungs.

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