A sandworm is a creature usually found in the deepest and most dangerous parts of the desert. They are very territorial creatures; they only hunt and live within what they consider their territory. The only time they migrate is when they are young and looking for a place to settle.

  They are solitary, so a herd of sandworms is quite unlikely. They can feed on anything, from plants and animals to minerals and metals, making them a threat to any civilization. Not to mention their gigantic bodies, which, when grown, can reach an impressive 90 to 100 meters in length. Most annoying of all, their skin is so tough that bullets and cannons cannot easily penetrate it, making them immune to normal weapons.

  A single one of these beasts could easily destroy the city if not dealt with in advance. That's why a sandworm pup settling so close to the city is worrisome. That's why today we're going to deal with that problem before it's too late.

  "A good start to my legend," Lucius murmured to himself.

  At that moment, he was on one of the speeders heading toward the place where the sandworm's lair was believed to be. Although the captain had given him several orders and recommendations, he didn't pay much attention, thinking about the creature they were about to hunt.

  "What are you saying?"

  Lucius wasn't alone on the speeder; there were three other people with him, all fellow guards. In total, they had decided to deploy five teams of four people each on speeders and a sergeant to lead the mission. The captain was an extra support who had come along in case things got complicated.

  On his speeder were Kael, who was currently steering the ship. Sitting next to him was Ren with a map and compass to help steer in case Kael strayed too far off course. Finally, Elian, who wasn't doing anything special, was sitting next to Lucius, while the latter leaned back on the speeder.

  Lucius thought for a moment about his answer. "I was thinking about how small speeders are. I can't even lie down properly!"

  Speeders are designed like sailing ships, being small and light vessels with a centerboard instead of a fixed keel, and often with a single sail, but they were modified to be able to carry the necessary equipment for the various journeys through the desert.

  They also have a clear difference from a simple sailing ship: they have the ability to use magic, making them closer to being a magical weapon than a simple means of transport. Runes are drawn all over the vessel, allowing the vessel to move through the desert without the need for real wind to push it forward. All that's needed is a constant flow of energy from the person at the helm, in this case, Kael.

  "That's because they're designed for people to sit, not lie down," was the cold response he received from Ren.

  "I thought you weren't going to show up! Especially because of the spectacle yesterday!" Elias said with a small laugh.

  "Shut up! That wasn't my fault, it was those jerks from the bar who came looking for a fight. You just want to relax, but guys like that always come along who just want to fight," Lucius responded indignantly, since in his own words, it was them who were looking for a fight, though he clearly omitted important details, like the fact that he spilled drinks on them. "Besides, how do you know about that? You weren't even there."

  "You're the rookie who wants to leave after a few years of service! You're the second most talked-about thing in the barracks, from what I heard this morning." Elias paused for a moment to settle in and look as terrifying as possible. "...And the killer's number one."

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  "Don't talk about that bastard like he's something interesting!" Kael, who had remained silent, spoke up to show his indignation. "He's just lucky, but he'll be behind bars before he knows it!"

  "Come on, aren't you even a little curious? For example, why does he commit these murders?" Elias asked. "Maybe he's a magician who wants to perform a ritual in the city, or perhaps a vengeful spirit born from the murdered people." He finished in a mysterious tone, as if he wanted to scare the others.

  "A cowardly spirit, more accurately, to kill from behind and unprotected people!" "That answer, Kael almost shouted, making the hoverboard shake slightly to distract himself from answering.

  "I don't think he's a magician, much less someone preparing anything. There were no runes or anything like that anywhere at the crime scene, and all the bodies were in very different states," Lucius replied with his eyes closed.

  He was likely the person who knew the most about magic out of the four there, due to his father's different clients and his experiences. Furthermore, there was nothing in the reports or on the bodies that pointed to them as anything more than simple murders. Some were missing organs that were found near the crime scene; others were not found at all, and some had their limbs severed, with no specific pattern, not to mention the fact that it was likely done with a strange sword.

  Tired of lying in the sun, Lucius sat down to stare at Elias. "Besides, spirits are just children's things, or do you believe in childish things like that?" He spoke to Elias with a clear mockery at the end.

  "Of course I don't believe in that stuff!" He replied a little excitedly, not really convincing anyone. "But I think it could be something more dangerous."

  "Tell us what you think it is! Oh, great detective Elias!" Kael responded to Elias's words with a clear mockery.

  Unaffected by the words, Elias replied, "Since you don't know, I'll say it. The creature that committed those murders is none other than... a vampire! Just think about it. A vermin of that caliber would be so brutal, and it would also explain the fact that some of them are missing parts, since that vampire eats them."

  For a while, no one said anything, leaving the speeder in complete silence.

  The first to break the silence was Kael. "Pfff, hahahaha!" You're so childish. If vampires really existed, I think the desert would be the last place they'd come. This time you've really made it."

  "Wow, I never imagined you'd believe those childish stories," Lucius responded, laughing, incredulous that Elias would blame an imaginary creature for the murders.

  "How childish." Even Ren, who had been silent until now, spoke up to mock Elias and let out a few laughs.

  Without intending to continue mocking poor Elias, Lucius leaned back against the wood of the speeder to rest a little longer before reaching the place.

  The plan to hunt the baby sandworm is quite simple. The first step would be to lure it out of its burrow; the second step would be to keep it out long enough to kill it and, if possible, prevent it from escaping; and the third and final step, and the most important, would be to kill it.

  "Ha! As if it were that easy!" Lucius criticized the way he had summarized the plan.

  The actual first step was carried out by the sergeant, who, with the help of a device that amplifies sound waves, would attract the worm's attention and lure it out of its burrow. Once outside, the sergeant would act as a running bait to attract the worm's attention and make it abandon its burrow and reveal itself.

  When a good portion of the worm is in sight, a team of guards will launch bottles at the creature's body, which contain a substance that makes sand much more solid, preventing it from escaping easily. Another team of soldiers will be tasked with launching harpoons at the beast's body. Although these won't cause serious injuries, they will prevent it from retreating.

  When the beast is "secured," the remaining team springs into action to inflict as many wounds as possible and, if the opportunity arises, kill it.

  "That sounds better." Proud of having summarized the plan better, Lucius nodded to himself.

  "Stop talking to yourself and pay attention," Ren, tired of listening to his babble, scolded him.

  While Lucius was pondering the plan, the captain was giving a motivational speech to all the soldiers who had come to fight, but because he was distracted, he only heard the end.

  "Fight with courage, and have no fear in the face of a mere nameless beast. Those things have nothing, but we have the sun and war!" With a raised fist, the captain concluded his speech.

  "For the sun and war!" Everyone responded with a raised fist.

  "To your positions!"