Chapter 39: It

"Lower your center of gravity!" Asa roared as the sand wave surged toward them.

To adjust their stance easily, Aolang and Sai'er, who had remained standing, were forced to crouch, bending low and pressing their centers of gravity downward while gripping the gunwales tightly with both hands.

This would minimize the risk of being thrown off.

Although they each had safety ropes tied at their waists, being flung off in this situation would not only likely capsize the small sand ship, but also make it pure fantasy to climb back aboard safely amid this tidal wave of sand.

As the giant sand wave drew near, the small sand ship they rode flipped sideways, its hull gradually tilting.

This imminent capsizing sensation triggered an instinctive urge to stop and flee, but as an excellent Sand Ship Pilot, Asa knew he must not slow down—not at all; he had to find every possible way to maximize the sand ship's speed.

Only then could the sand ship stay glued to the sand wave, moving forward with it, rather than being overturned and swallowed into the sand below.

Aolang realized his limbs were trembling—this was the first time in his heart he felt an utter powerlessness, a sense he could never defeat it.

Even as a child, when he had witnessed firsthand the monster with azure claws that destroyed his home, it had never given him this feeling.

He had always believed that if he kept moving forward, one day he would find that monster and hunt it down.

But this creature was different.

What was happening now made him feel a new kind of insecurity he had never known before; he couldn't help recalling Marydan's words—They are mobile calamities.

Just one roll, and it stirs up massive waves in the Sand Sea—is this the legendary Ancient Dragon?

Is this the kind of opponent one must face on the Hunter's path?

"Press right!" Asa's roar came from beside him.

Too stunned to think, Aolang's body reacted on its own—he released his grip on the left gunwale and threw his entire weight to the right.

After another bout of shaking and violent tremors, the small sand ship finally stabilized—they had broken through that terrifying sand wave!

The sand wave stirred by the Fengshan Dragon's fall into the Sand Sea was not a true tsunami; its danger lasted only the first wave—they were temporarily safe.

"Woo-hoo!" Asa cheered, pulling the sail rope and rudder to adjust course, continuing at full speed toward the Fengshan Maru.

Sai'er stood up, but found Aolang still crouching; he opened his mouth, then closed it without saying a word.

He had heard Aolang say he was brought into the fleet by an elder to "broaden his horizons"; he had understood then what Aolang's elder intended.

Facing an Ancient Dragon is an extremely valuable experience for any Hunter.

Once you cross that threshold and step out from the shadow in your heart, few monsters will ever make you fear them from within.

But if you cannot cross it, what just happened might become a mountain on his soul, robbing him of drive, even making him too afraid to continue as a Hunter.

After a long while, Aolang finally stood up again.

Sai'er spoke then, "Are you alright? If you're not up to it, don't force yourself—it's not mandatory for you. We can drop you off somewhere safe first."

Asa, focused on piloting the sand ship, glanced over at them.

Last year, when he first saw the Fengshan Dragon, he had fared even worse than Aolang; his father had said something similar to him.

He had wanted to flee then, but out of pride, he had gritted his teeth and stayed—though he knew the pressure faced by a pilot and a Hunter were utterly different.

As a Sand Ship Pilot, he needed only to maneuver the vessel close to the Fengshan Dragon; Hunters, however, had to climb onto its back via ropes and attack such a being with their own hands.

Aolang turned his gaze and met Sai'er's eyes. "Are you trying to comfort me—or provoke me?"

Hearing this, Sai'er couldn't help smiling. "You can think of it as half and half?"

No matter how you see it, you need to decide quickly— that big thing is chasing us from behind; you can't keep crouching there staring blankly."

"I was a bit frightened just now. Sorry." Aolang's expression had returned to its usual calm. "But thinking back—so what if it's a mobile calamity? Isn't it pushed back once every year?"

Hearing this, Sai'er's smile widened; Asa, still steering, clamped his oar under his arm and gave Aolang a thumbs-up.

Taking two steps toward the bow to help adjust the ship's center of gravity, Aolang suddenly fixed his gaze on Sai'er and asked softly, "Have you ever encountered them before, Senior Sai'er? I mean, the Ancient Dragon Species."

"Uh—" Sai'er seemed taken aback by the term coming from Aolang's mouth; after a few seconds of silence, he replied vaguely, "Sort of. I've had a few odd experiences before."

"I'm not trying to pry into your past." Aolang whispered, "I just want to know—how did you overcome this... sense of powerlessness?"

Only then did Sai'er notice Aolang's hands were clenched tightly—he seemed to be tensing his muscles to suppress his limbs' involuntary trembling.

So he was just putting on a brave face...

Sai'er smiled faintly, suddenly remembering that this young Hunter who seemed so mature was, in truth, still an underage boy.

"There's no such thing as 'overcoming' it. Your feeling is correct. You've just become a two-star Hunter—you're not supposed to feel strong and confident facing an Ancient Dragon Species, are you?"

Aolang was momentarily speechless. "But..."

Sai'er cut him off. "Even the legendary Hunters couldn't shatter that sand wave with their weapons.

Nor could any single person defeat a supermassive creature like the Fengshan Dragon.

You stood up again through your own will, chose to continue fighting, and began thinking about how to overcome this 'powerlessness' so it won't affect your future combat.

That means you've calmed down. Don't think about changing anything all at once or proving anything— you've already taken the hardest step.

Honestly, your elder's goal in having you join this Great Desert Banquet has already been achieved.

What comes next is just a slightly different battle—you can withdraw now without any consequence."

"That won't do."

Aolang unclenched his fists; his previously stiff palms no longer trembled. "I heard the Fengshan Dragon's back holds excellent materials—I came here for that. I can't quit now."

Under the signal flare's call, the scattered small sand ships gradually returned to surround the flagship Fengshan Maru; the fleet of dozens of fishing boats also reassembled.

Everyone was on full alert, watching intently the direction from which the signal flare had been fired.

"Eleven o'clock! They're coming! And a huge Sand Fish School!" The lookout atop the mast lowered his telescope and bellowed.

The Ship Group Leader swung his arms forcefully, issuing orders in rapid succession: "Horn Blower, give the command! All Sand Ship Fleet, prepare for battle!

Load the Heavy Crossbows and Cannons! Steam-fill the Dragon-Striking Spears! Coil the ropes for the Binding Bombs!

Notify the Fish Boat Team! Block the Sand Fish School—don't let them interfere with our battle! This year's Feast is about to begin!"