The next step in the itinerary was a desert area.

There we encountered one of my old acquaintances, sand elementals. Thankfully nobody disturbed them. As it happens they can be rather peaceful creatures if kept at a safe distance. And not pissed upon.

「Vallachio: Hah! Those are sand elementals. You better not throw any liquid at them or else not even I, Vallachio Restgart, might be able to save your hide! As you can see there are no sources of water in the proximity to fight them off, hahaha.」

He laughed with that damn carefree smile of his.

I kept an impassive face while I recalled the previous encounter. I reminded myself to never cross the desert with Yusdrolir.

No need to say, but everyone gave the sand elementals the widest possible berth.

We were walking under the scorching heat. I was drenched in sweat.

Okay, I think I'm glad now I didn't have to wear chainmail here.

I couldn't keep using all my mana for staying fresh, continuously breathing and using mana and would make me mana dizzy and unable to cast anything at all. Not a good idea.

After a while, Vallachio stopped, looked around himself, nodded and stomped the ground with great force.

He smiled at us.

「Vallachio: My dear recruits! It's time for today's lesson! Can you feel the excitement in the air?」

I could only feel the coming dread. I turned left and right, no monsters.

Can I dare to hope for a relatively normal lesson?

A guy on my left raised his hand.

「Recruit: Huh... sir, what's the lesson about?」

He asked timidly.

「Vallachio: Force field practice. For those who haven't yet learned this spell, it consists of molding a barrier of mana and make it vibrate at high frequencies.」

I had the upper hand in this since I had studied this stuff during Vallachio's classes. A force field was like the intermediate level of protection between Deflection and a mana shield. It would defend against solids but let air and liquids seep through. A mana shield provided a complete physical defense like an actual shield, but it was way beyond my current skills.

Vallachio clapped his hands.

「Vallachio: And of course... there's a second part to this lesson.」

He said with an even more pronounced smile.

Is it just me, or am I sensing a low rumble coming from somewhere? I looked around once more, but there was nothing to see.

My alarm bells started to go off.

「Recruit: A... second part?」

It's definitely a rumble. I was sweating cold, under the scorching sun.

Vallachio spread his arms wide and with a great smile told us.

「Vallachio: SANDWORMS!」

The sand exploded with giant worms sprouting up from underneath.

WHAT THE FUCK!

「Vallachio: These pleasant fellas love to spit sand at their enemies before attacking! Be sure to put up your force fields to stop the sand so you can fight effectively!」

Vallachio grabbed one of the sandworms who jumped at him and put it on a chokehold.

I didn't have time to admire the show because one of the blasted creatures launched itself at me. I barely dodged in time.

We were rolling in the sand, half-blind due to the sand attacks and barely avoiding the fanged mouths of those blasted worms!

GOD DAMN IT!

I jumped on the side just in time to avoid another worm's maws. My eyes were stinging thanks to the sand.

I tried to make a field of vibrating energy.

FWOOSH

No good, another blast of sand got to me, I coughed. I heard a rustling ahead of me and jumped on my right to avoid the sandworm.

Fuck this, I'm using my shitty radar. I put my left hand on the silver cube and activated the spell.

We were all over the place, I regretted not making a function to distinguish between friend and foe. The sandworms were moving fast and one was about to get out from my left side.

I swung my mace on the spot just while it was about to sprout from the ground.

「Allen: FUCK YOU SAND MAGGOT!」

The impact made a gross sound as I tore away a good chunk of its meat.

YEAH! Try biting me now without only half your mouth, motherfucker!

Unfortunately, as I was busy insulting it and his relatives, I didn't pay attention to the radar and one of its friends got me, biting my left leg.

「Allen: GaAAAaFFFUCK-SHIT-CRAP!」

I screamed incoherently, desperately hardening my skin and muscles.

The pain made me lose concentration and my poor excuse of a magic force field fizzed out, making me get a full dose of sand coming from another cursed worm.

I gritted my teeth. DIE DIEDIEDIE!

Blind and coughing, I shot my left hand to grab the one that was biting my leg. I put all my good fucking love in it and pulled hard on one of the maw's side, relenting the hold and freeing my hurting leg.

I got my right hand on another side of its mouth and pulled it fucking apart with mana infused strength.

The beast screeched in pain.

「Allen: FUCKING SAND SHITTERS!」

Still blind and in a rage I held the wormly spasming corpse by the tail and started swinging it around. I wasn't thinking very clearly then.

I think I connected with something, but I couldn't see shit to figure if it was a friend or a foe.

I heard Vallachio laughing. That only aggravated me further.

My vision began clearing, this time I cast the force field just around my head.

Where the fuck is my mace?

Another shitty worm jumped at me.

I gave it an uppercut, I didn't do much but then I grabbed it and froze a section of its body. I gave it my best crushing embrace.

* CRACKLE! *

The worm spasmed, broken into two pieces.

「Allen: Eat shit, dirt eater!」

I growled still under the effect of rage.

Where the fuck was everyone?

I turned around.

A sandworm slammed against me sending me down on my back, its maw an inch from my face. The fetid smell filling my nostrils. I almost puked right there.

「Allen: Fuuuck!」

I was fully pumped with adrenaline. My right hand found something... a mace? I started swinging at the monster, desperately keeping it away from my face with my left hand.

Shit, I'm starting to feel weak. I was running out of mana!

After the twelfth hit, I think I dealt enough damage because the worm started convulsing and I managed to get it off me.

My legs were weak, my muscles shaking.

I saw where the others were and I started limping toward them.

At that moment two worms sprouted from my sides, my left leg buckled down.

Oh shit!

「Allen: HELP!」

I pleaded in a tired voice.

In a moment the blasted worms were on me.

I tried to fend them off the best that I could, but I was just delaying the inevitable.

Is this how my tale ends? I thought hopelessly as my arms lost their strength.

Then as one of the worms was about to take a good bite off my face, the worm flew away.

Huh?

Vallachio had grabbed it by the tail and was performing a choke hold on the creature.

「Vallachio: Up close and personal... I like it! Ahahahahah.」

I kicked away the other worm as I rolled toward my insane teacher.

「Allen: T-thank you... sir.」

I said with gratitude.

Vallachio loosened the hold on the dead worm, smiled and grabbed my arm. I take back all the bad things I thought abo─ Then he threw me towards the group of recruits.

「Allen: Gaaaaah!」

I shouted as I flew. Then I hit the sand and rolled a couple of times ending up face down.

I spit sand and sat up.

「Recruit: Huh... what's that in your hand?」

I looked at my right hand, I was holding a giant fucking bone.

「Allen: Huh... this... doesn't look like my mace...」

I said confused. One of the recruits dragged me behind them.

They covered for me until I regained my strengths. Then I stood up and rejoined the fight.

「Recruit: I saw you ripping one of them apart! Did the instructor teach you that?」

I glanced at the man. He was covered in sand, especially his hair and beard.

「Allen: No... just... mana infused streng-」

I was cut short as another worm jumped at us, we dodged and speared it.

As a unit, we were arrayed in a loose circle, with smaller groups of threes to watch out for attacks from all directions.

「Vallachio: Very good! Very good!」

More unhelpful encouragements from Vallachio.

It took a while but the numbers of sandworms coming out from the sandworks finally began to dwindle and we managed to catch our breath.

I was covered in sand and sweat. Sand was inside my armor. Sand was inside my shoes. The sand was inside every damn orifice!

I felt miserable. This suffering had never been told in my favorite fantasy novels. I felt deceived.

The bite on my leg wasn't as bad as I feared, one of the two recruits who knew about Healing helped me getting back in shape. Only a bruise remained to be seen. I thanked him.

A clap attracted our attention. Vallachio stood calmly before us, unfazed by the sun and sand.

「Vallachio: Excellent! You've all done well.」

He turned to his left gazing at the distance.

「Vallachio: Now we'll march toward a village two Reposes from here to have our meal. Sadly these sandworms can't be easily eaten for sustenance.」

Sadly? Thank god, you mean. I looked at the sandworm corpses with disgust.

A Repose was like an hour. I still hadn't get used to the local way of measuring time. These people tracked time with breaths. Breaths!

A Respite supposedly matched how long you could hold down your breath.

Each day was twenty-five Reposes. But I could never remember the exact numbers of Breaths to Respite and Respites to Repose.

The imposing figure of Vallachio appeared next to me, shaking me from my thoughts. He was looking at me.

「Vallachio: Ah, Allen, my dear student...」

I stood straight, quickly restoring my corporate serious face and responded.

「Allen: Yes, sir?」

He put a hand on my right shoulder. A hand that could turn my bones into fine dust. I didn't let my uneasiness show.

「Vallachio: I have to ask, what does pain make you feel?」

The question came out of the blue. His face was serious.

「Allen: It makes me feel... very *very* angry, sir.」

I replied, putting my sensations into words. Vallachio raised his chin, a knowing smile spread under his red mustache.

「Vallachio: I thought so... you're a battle rager, just like me. You must be very careful, the rage may give you strength but if you get yourself cornered, it will only lead to an untimely demise. Do you understand?」

There was a hardness in his eyes.

Battle rager? So that must be the term for berserker in this world. It's probably just the pent-up corporate stress, though.

「Allen: Yes, sir!」

I said, nodding in reply.

Just like me... I hope he doesn't intend to turn me into another Vallachio. The thought terrified me.

He smiled and gave me a pat on the back. Just enough not to break bones.

「Allen: Kahh!」

I fell on my knees. He hits even harder than Namrick!

「Vallachio: Bring it forth, I have great hopes! OHOHOH!」

I stood back up, shaking the sand away.

I regret my career decisions.