Warriors clamoured, shouting in groups as they dragged large rock pillars across the sand, erecting it in various spots. Some were placed next to the rocks that already adorned the area while the others were scattered all over the place.

Preparations were being conducted in the area to the front of the Meka Clan. Warriors focused on their battle positions, setting up camp, erecting defensive structures, etc. It was bustling with activity.

A small tent was set up on a massive rock pillar that was fixed thirty paces from the Meka Clan's entrance. The rock pillar was the tallest in the region, spanning a height of 10 grown men. It was something the Meka Clan had been saving up for emergencies and had brought to use. Thanks to the loose soil that covered the desert, it was easy for them to drag the heavy rock pillars and erect them wherever necessary.

The tent was hoisted by a central pillar, the roof made from goatskin, hungover like an umbrella. It was open on all sides, presenting a clear view of the surroundings from the high vantage point. Laid around in a circle were five stones, acting as a stool.

Seated on them were five people of massive statures, each as imposing as the other. Seated among them, the one with the largest stature and possessing imposing might exceeding everyone, and wearing the skull of a goat on his head, with its horns aligning with his jawline was the Meka Clan Chief.

He looked at the other four seated before him, starting from his left, "The Mosali Clan Chief, the Raga Clan Chief, the Odatha Clan Chief, and the Kaki Clan Chief, thank you for coming at such short notice."

As everyone nodded, the Meka Clan Chief looked below, gazing at the figure of the Divya Vaidya standing on a rock platform, her hands in a position of prayer, having not moved an inch all night. Flickers of pale blue light flashed next to her from time to time while she seemed to have thinned considerably. The Shishya stood near the rock platform, gazing at the Divya Vaidya in concern.

Just when the Meka Clan Chief was thinking about his conversation with the Divya Vaidya, a leader from the Meka Clan arrived before the tent, making a prompt bow before relaying the news, "The Sand-Weaving Scorpions have been sighted approaching our land. A team of warriors on horseback are leading them through the planned route. Nothing unusual has happened for now."

"Good, proceed as planned." The Meka Clan Chief nodded, sending the leader away as he stood up, feeling a bit relieved. He was afraid the Sand-Weaving Scorpions would attack their clan through the rock pillar domain or through an area where their defences were the minimum. It would render all their preparations useless.

That was why he had dispatched a team of warriors that would lead the group of Sand-Weaving Scorpions towards their front, to the place where they had erected many means of defence. On hearing that they were successfully lured towards their battlefield, he felt half of his concerns were lifted.

Having an advantageous battlefield meant they had already won half the battle. The rest depended on their performance. The Meka Clan Chief looked at the other Chiefs, "Kaki Clan Chief, please stay here and target the Shield Beast when it appears."

The Kaki Clan Chief nodded, curling his index and thumb fingers, inserting them into his mouth before blowing hard, creating a whistling sound. Immediately, a couple of leaders from the Kaki Clan ran up the rock pillar, kneeling once they arrived before the tent.

"They are both leaders who could activate their tattoo four times. They would be supporting me here." The Kaki Clan Chief said. "As for the remaining warriors and leaders from my clan, I'll leave them in your hands, Meka Clan Chief."

"Thank you," The Meka Clan Chief said and began to descend, accompanied by the remaining three Chiefs. They spotted a massive dust storm approaching them from far away, the size greater than what the leader from the Meka Clan had witnessed the day before.

"There should be at least 40 of them inside," The Mosali Clan Chief cursed, his expression a scowl. He carried a massive hammer, the head of which was shaped into a spike, with its other side shaped into an axe. He slowly walked, each of his steps causing the sand around him to spill, "This will be a tough fight."

"Indeed," The Raga Clan Chief nodded, carrying a spear thrice his height, his footsteps light, hardly leaving any traces behind. He looked at the dust cloud that was drawing near, "I wonder how strong the Shield Beast would be."

"I'll face it head-on while the rest of you support me," The Meka Clan Chief said, resting the blunt edge of a scimitar on his shoulder, the blade of which spanned his height. It was as wide as his head, a hulking weapon of iron. The handle was made from bone, and coiled by leather straps, increasing his grip. Embedded at the centre of the handle was the miniature skull of their Clan's guardian beast—the Helical-Horned Goat.

"We have to disrupt their collective strength first," The Odatha Clan Chief said, carrying a sword in each hand, worn on his back was an array of swords, ranging from daggers to long swords.

Seeing the figures of the warriors on horseback—riding before the dust cloud—become clear, the Meka Clan Chief took in a deep breath, "All warriors, enter battle positions."

The clamour of activity behind them immediately died down, the warriors from the five clans took up positions. Each of them held a weapon of their own, while some teams were huddled behind the rock pillars they had erected around, holding nets weaved from beast tendons.

Each Clan had brought out all of their accumulations, going all-out in this battle. Barring the few left behind to defend their territories, all the remaining warriors and leaders from the four Clans had arrived at the Meka Clan.

The warriors held their breath, calming their thumping hearts as they peeked from behind the rock pillars, peering to watch the dust cloud approach them. They gulped at the scene, watching the dust cloud seem akin to a monster of sand that devoured everything in its path. At the front of their battle positions stood the four Chiefs, their valiant backs reassuring the warriors.

Each Chief was able to activate his tattoo five times, while the Meka Clan Chief had pinnacle battle strength and could activate his tattoo six times. Moreover, his tattoo had a spirituality of its own, further increasing his strength.

The Meka Clan Chief whistled; the sound travelled everywhere, reaching the ears of the warriors on horsebacks. Immediately, the group of horses split in two directions, allowing a clear line of sight of the dust cloud behind.

The horses made a wide arc before turning towards their encampment, intending to return after the dust cloud. The dust cloud passed through in the middle, speeding up towards the Meka Clan now that it was in sight. It was like a horizontal tornado, the winds circulating from bottom to top as they sped forward.

It generated a lot of momentum, the beasts that were the cause unable to be determined from the intensity of the generated dust cloud. The sand underneath the warriors faintly trembled, displaying the power of the approaching sand storm.

When they entered the Meka Clan's area, moving past the rocks scattered on the sand, the Meka Clan Chief pointed his scimitar towards the front, gazing at the dust cloud, "Leaders from the Kaki Clan and the Meka Clan, unleash the first wave."

Among the warriors hidden, the leaders jumped out on their respective rock pillars, activating their tattoos. A sharp screech resounded from the Kaki Clan leaders as black radiance shone on their backs, travelling through their blades before manifesting in front of them.

It was shaped like a crow, its wingspan four times a human height, its body alone equivalent to a grown man. Hardened scale-like feathers adorned its jet-black body as it took flight, its wings sharp like blades, unleashing gales along its wake as it flapped its wings.

A total of 28 winged beasts were unleashed by the leaders of the Kaki Clan that flew towards the dust cloud, flapping their wings while generating gales that moved counter to the wind within it. The dust cloud's momentum was slightly hindered as the winged beasts entered it, breaking its flow while wrecking chaos within.

The leaders from the Kaki Clan controlled the actions of their respective winged beasts, unleashing many gales, trying their best to disrupt the dust cloud. But, the moment they disrupted a part, the dust cloud would move to reinforce the area, negating their efforts.

Just in time, the leaders from the Meka Clan shouted upon landing on their respective rock pillars, activating their tattoos. The radiance coursed through their blades before morphing into the galloping figure of a hooved beast, numbering 41, displaying the power the Meka Clan had amassed.

The hooved beasts neighed, running on the sand with imposing momentum, crouching their heads to point their horns forward, accelerating as they closed in on the dust cloud. The dust cloud wasn't affected much as all the hooved beasts entered it, the effect non-existent as it continued to move forward.

"Get that, beasts." Meka Clan Chief smirked, seeing the dust cloud collapse, the gales within disappearing, causing the sand to lose their support and fall to the ground. It was followed by shrill screeches, revealing the figures of the Sand-Weaving Scorpions that bled blood, fighting with the hooved beasts.

The winged beasts flapped their wings, pushing away the remainder of the dust cloud, fully revealing their enemies. The moment they witnessed the sight, the faces of all the Chiefs turned sombre, gripping their weapons tighter.

"Just as the Divya Vaidya said…" The Meka Clan Chief sighed, firming himself as he lifted his scimitar, bellowing, "Leaders from the Raga Clan and the Mosali Clan, unleash the second wave."