The Santora River flowed into the sea, cutting through St. Din Island like a sharp sword and splitting it in two.
The dream city of Rain Country faced the royal capital, Alubarna, across the river.
The few old men who refused to give up surveyed the area once more.
Then they finally gave up.
"Ah, I guess we'll have to put the Rain Country project on hold for now."
Hareda sighed, feeling utterly defeated. "Pack up. We're moving on to the next research site."
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Just as they were about to leave, the ground suddenly shook. Fine sand flowed like water, burying their feet.
"E-e-earthquake!?"
"There's a monster!"
The old men watched in terror as a massive creature slowly rose from the desert.
Sand cascaded down like a waterfall, revealing the enormous shape of a purple scorpion.
Its two fearsome pincers were dark and deep, and a deadly, poisonous stinger tipped its thick, long tail. Its round eyes glinted with a fierce crimson light.
"It's a Santora Giant Scorpion!"
"Help!!"
"I can't pull my feet out!"
Hareda and the others turned green with fright. They frantically clawed at the sand, trying to free their legs from its grip.
The Santora Giant Scorpion had no respect for the elderly. It raised its rear high, letting its thick, long tail hang down.
Its sharp stinger flashed with a cold gleam, then shot through the air like a cannonball fired from a gun.
"Lina, help!!" Hareda cried out to the heavens.
Whoosh!!
At that crucial moment, a tremendous pressure erupted, and a gale swept through.
It was as if even the air around them had been blown away, making it hard to breathe, as though they would suffocate.
The deadly poisonous stinger came to an abrupt stop right in front of