Direction in the Gloom

Using the cover of the sandstorm sweeping through the air, Erigat began desperately thinking of a way to escape.

Yet even though his mind constructed several escape plans that might work in that brief instant, they were ultimately nothing more than futile measures to buy time.

Even if he managed to put a great distance between himself and Nuobolik, it would only be temporary. No matter what, Erigat, grievously wounded as he was, could not outrun an uninjured Nuobolik.

Not to mention that the barriers in every direction around the desert region led to different unknown areas, and Erigat had no way of knowing which way he should flee.

If the area he chose at random happened to contain other Clowns, then under the combined assault of several people, Erigat would instead be defeated and killed even sooner.

Looking up at the sand haze rapidly dispersing around him, Erigat knew there was scarcely any time left for him to think.

However, just as Erigat decided to cast aside his excess thoughts and stake all that followed on his instincts—

A faint rustling suddenly came from beside Erigat.

Erigat abruptly turned his head.

A tiny gray figure burrowed out of the sand, then appeared openly before Erigat, its pair of bright rat eyes wide open.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

The instant he heard that familiar cry, Erigat's face froze. Like a sailor spotting a lighthouse beyond raging wind and towering waves, a fresh gleam emerged in his once utterly dim eyes.

And in the instant his gaze met those rat eyes, Erigat's own eyes suddenly flashed with brilliant light.

At that moment, a scene existing somewhere far away connected directly to his pupils, causing an entirely new world to appear before Erigat's eyes and instantly illuminating a clear direction for his path