In the scorching desert.
A caravan braved the heat, trying to reach the nearest city.
The caravan used beetles with red shells for transportation.
These beetles were called Anti-Inflammation Bugs. Their shells could absorb heat and convert it into ice elements.
They were practically indispensable for any caravan traveling through the desert.
Solar-powered little air conditioners for desert travel. Just thinking about them felt wonderful.
Of course, these cooling measures were not something the humans got to enjoy.
The Anti-Inflammation Bugs in the caravan carried expensive goods.
Most of those goods did indeed need cooling to prevent them from reacting badly to the heat and spoiling.
Aside from the caravan's managers, everyone had to walk. Even getting close enough to enjoy the cooling ice elements was a luxury beyond their reach.
"Hang in there, everyone. If night falls... these goods belong to the lord."
"If we haven't delivered them by nightfall, the lord will feed us to the bugs!"
The caravan's leader, an old man with a bushy beard, issued a stern warning.
A pink-haired girl with twin ponytails, a silver half-mask covering her pretty face, led an Anti-Inflammation Bug over to him, looking worried.
"Chairman Kaia, I've heard that void-infected Sandcrawler Bugs have been spotted around here."
"With our caravan's strength, getting through this area could be extremely dangerous."
Chairman Kaia sighed helplessly. "We have no choice. Procuring the goods took longer than expected."
"If we don't reach Endless Day City by nightfall, the lord will feed us to the bugs anyway."
"We might as well take our chances."
Then he glanced back at a group of haughty-looking people riding Anti-Inflammation Bugs.
"Besides, these Bug Masters are all the lord's guards."
"Every one of them is a Gold Bug Master. Most Sandcrawler Bugs only have a silver-tier danger rating."