I Only Tame Dragons

Horizon glanced back at the group as they trudged forward, the golden sands stretching endlessly beneath the setting sun.

The sky was painted in hues of orange and purple, signaling the approach of night, but even with the temperature dropping slightly, he could see the strain in their movements.

Seraphina, usually so poised and composed, was breathing heavily, her steps faltering as she struggled to maintain her pace.

He slowed his stride, falling back beside her. "You're exhausted," he noted, his voice low and matter-of-fact.

Seraphina looked at him, a faint smile on her lips despite the exhaustion etched across her face. "I'm fine," she said, but the way she took a deep breath between her words told him otherwise.

"You're catching your breath. That's not like you," Horizon pointed out. He could tell she was pushing herself beyond her limit, and he admired her resolve, but it was clear the desert was taking its toll on all of them.

Even Dawnfire, who usually had an endless reserve of energy, was lagging behind, her hand pressed against her side as she tried to steady her breathing.

Velvet marched ahead, her eyes set on the horizon while panting. She was the type who believed in pushing through no matter what. But even she couldn't ignore the state of the others for long. She turned back, noticing how the rest of the group was struggling to keep up.

"We can't stop now," Aria said between breathes. "We're racing against time here. If we rest, we might not reach the exit in time."

Horizon clenched his jaw, considering her words. She was right—they couldn't afford to lose time. But he also knew that pushing themselves to the brink of collapse would be even more dangerous.

He could feel the exhaustion settling into his own bones, a dull ache spreading through his muscles. This desert was different. It wasn't just the heat or the unforgiving terrain; it felt as if the very sands were sapping their strength, drawing out their energy with every step.

"It's not about speed right now," Horizon said, cutting into Aria's protest. He met her gaze steadily, his eyes glinting with seriousness. "We need to rest when night falls. The desert has drained us more than we realized, and if we push any further in this state, we'll be too weak to fend off an ambush. You've felt it too, haven't you?"

Aria's eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. She wanted to argue, he could tell, but she glanced at Dawnfire, who was still struggling to catch her breath, and then at Fiora, whose mana was completely drained.

The normally bright Fiora now looked pale and fatigued, leaning heavily on her staff for support. It was rare to see her so worn out; the desert had clearly taken its toll.

Seraphina, sensing the growing tension, stepped in before Aria could respond.

"He's right," she said quietly, her voice carrying a tone of calm authority. "I can feel it too. This desert is different—it's draining us faster than any normal environment should. We may be players, but even we aren't invincible against whatever is affecting us here."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Horizon nodded, appreciating her agreement. He knew the group's cohesion was fragile, held together more by necessity than trust. It was important to keep everyone in sync, especially in this harsh terrain.

"We need to be at our best," he continued. "If something ambushes us in our current state, we won't stand a chance. It's better to rest and regain our strength than to be caught off guard."

Dawnfire, who had been quietly listening, gave a tired chuckle. "A break sounds good to me," she admitted, running a hand through her sweat-dampened hair. "I feel like I'm about to melt into the sand if I keep going any longer."

Velvet let out a frustrated sigh, but she didn't argue further. She knew deep down that Horizon was right. It was a bitter pill to swallow, admitting they needed to rest when every minute counted, but the thought of being ambushed while they were exhausted was a far worse scenario.

"Fine," Velvet muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "But we move at first light. No delays."

Nyx sneered as she clawed and stretched over at Horizon's head. "Who died and made her boss?"

Horizon gave a curt nod. He looked around, scanning the area for a suitable spot to set up a temporary camp. The dunes provided little in terms of cover, but he spotted a rocky outcrop nearby that could shield them from the wind and offer a bit of shade as night fell.

"Over there," he said, gesturing toward the rocks. "We'll set up camp for the night. It's not much, but it'll do."

The group made their way to the outcrop, the relief evident on their faces as they dropped their packs and slumped down against the cool stones.

The temperature was finally starting to drop, the searing heat of the day giving way to the chill of the desert night.

Seraphina sank down with a sigh, leaning her head back against the stone. "Thank you," she said quietly, glancing up at Horizon. "I know we're in a hurry, but I think you made the right call. We need to be in top condition if we're going to make it to the monolith and survive whatever comes next."

Horizon looked at her for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "We're in this together," he said simply. "I gave my word, and I intend to keep it. That means making sure we're all ready for whatever lies ahead."

Nyx, who had been observing from a distance, flicked her tail dismissively. "You're too soft," she muttered, before she closed her eyes. She might not have agreed with the decision, but she respected it nonetheless.

Horizon glanced at Nyx, who was sprawled lazily across his shoulder, her tail flicking back and forth. He raised an eyebrow at her. "You've been hitching a ride on my head all day, so why are you acting like you're the one exhausted?"

Nyx let out a dramatic yawn, stretching her tiny limbs. "Because," she retorted with a smug look, "I was the one doing all the navigating. Leading you clueless humans around is harder than it looks, you know."

Horizon rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Because sunbathing on my head while I did all the walking is so exhausting." Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

Nyx smirked. "You'd be lost without me. Be grateful."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the desert transformed, the golden sands turning silver under the light of the rising moon.

The oppressive heat gave way to a bone-chilling cold, and the group huddled closer together in the bonfire, sharing warmth as they prepared for the long night ahead.

Horizon's undead minions spread out silently, taking up their positions around the camp as the sun dipped below the sky. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly in the dim light.

Despite their eerie presence, he assigned them to keep watch, so they could get some sleep.

Velvet, however, stepped forward, tightening her gloves. "I'll take the first watch as well," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Horizon smirked, noticing her cautious glances toward the undead. It was clear she didn't trust his minions—none of them did, really.

But that was fine by him; their wariness wasn't something he lost sleep over. If anything, he preferred it that way.

"Suit yourself," he shrugged. "Doesn't matter who's on watch as long as we're not caught off guard."

Velvet didn't reply, but the distrust between them lingered, hanging in the air like a silent pact neither of them would break. It was an unspoken understanding: they might be allies for now, but no one was letting their guard down.

Horizon glanced up at the stars, his mind already racing with plans for the next day. The monolith was still far away, but at least now they had a chance to approach it at full strength.

Horizon's thoughts drifted to Von and the others he had left behind in the forest. He wasn't worried; Von was a seasoned fighter, and with Frigid by his side, their defenses were nearly impenetrable.

The chilling power of Frigid's skills could turn any battlefield into a frozen fortress, making it impossible for enemies to break through without a fight.

Before leaving, Horizon had ensured their hideout was optimized for Frigid's abilities. The cave's natural bottleneck became a perfect choke point, enhanced by layers of walls and hidden traps.

If any player were foolish enough to find their hideout, they wouldn't stand a chance of breaching it easily.

Horizon felt a rare sense of relief, knowing that even in his absence, the hideout would hold strong against any intruders. It was a fortress designed to withstand the worst—and he trusted the others to guard it with their lives.

"Rest while you can," he said softly, more to himself than to the others. "Tomorrow we will try to reach the monolith."