Vortex Origins
Chapter 55: We’re out of Maxveil

Chapter 55: We’re out of Maxveil

The sun bled into the horizon, gold dripping into the dunes. Their makeshift camp flickered in its dying light, the air thick with the scent of dry rations and sweat.

Max sat with Ash and Mark, voices low, conversation slow. Nearby, Kael stretched, rolling his shoulders.

"Good, You’re back. Looks like you’ll be getting your post again. Managing starving people isn’t exactly my thing."

Ash exhaled a quiet chuckle, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Kael crouched beside them, gaze flicking to the crate.

"Now that we’re free, mind telling me where you ended up after the valley?"

Ash’s expression shifted. Not fear. Not relief. Something distant.

"The place after this looks safer. But... there are still creatures."

Max’s stare sharpened.

"You said you found a settlement. What was it called?"

"Ironhold."

Kael’s head tilted.

"And?"

Ash’s fingers twitched. A face flashed in his mind.

’That woman’

He shook it off.

"The people there... they were fine. But something was wrong. They looked like they had just seen something. Like they were waiting for it to come back."

Max ran a hand through his hair.

"creature wave?"

Ash’s throat worked. His grip tightened.

"Maybe. But I didn’t see any signs of one. That place is heavily secured to be at peace."

Max’s fingers curled into a fist. His jaw tightened.

"We’ll find out what’s wrong when we get there."

Ash shifted, his tone lighter.

"Oh yeah, I spoke to Rowan earlier."

Max’s gaze snapped to him.

"You did? Anything new?"

Ash shook his head.

"Just gave him our location update. And He mentioned you’ve been in touch."

Max exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

"Yeah. The old communicator’s still running. I also called the base. Our fourth member is bringing our ride back to Vortex Base. I should also update it on our location too."

Kael smirked, stretching his arms.

"Good. Speaking of which, we should get moving. If we leave now, we—"

The ground shuddered.

A low, guttural vibration crawled up their spines.

The air stiffened.

Then—

The world roared.

The sound split through the camp like a jagged blade, rattling bones.

Max whipped around. The stone bindings holding the Tier 6 Sandworm groaned, the stone cart beneath it trembling. A shiver ran through the creature’s massive, segmented body.

Then it moved.

The air grew thick. Too thick.

Every breath felt heavy as the Creature’s mew peeled open, revealing pits of black nothingness.

People froze.

The silence stretched—too long, too fragile.

Then—

Chaos.

The sandworm’s body thrashed, the bindings snapping apart like twigs. Jaws unhinged, serrated teeth glinting under the dim light.

Max didn’t hesitate.

His hand shot into his bag, fingers curling around a small glass vial.

He moved.

The Creature reared, its gaping maw descending toward them.

Max’s arm snapped forward—

CRACK.

The vial shattered inside its throat.

A hiss followed. Then—

SCREECH.

The worm convulsed, its body writhing as the liquid seared through its insides. Its shriek shook the ground.

Then—

THUD.

The creature’s massive head collapsed onto the cart, sand kicking up in thick clouds.

Silence.

The world stilled.

Max exhaled, the tension in his shoulders finally loosening.

"And back to sleep you go."

The cart groaned under the Creature’s weight but held firm. Around them, people stood rigid, wide-eyed, breaths uneven.

Kael let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

"Well... that was a fun wake-up call."

Max turned to the group, his voice cutting through the haze.

"Pack up. We’re moving. Now."

The sands whispered of unseen horrors.

No one spoke. The only sounds were the rustling of bags, the scrape of Stone against stone, and the shallow, uneven breaths of the weary.

They moved fast. Too fast.

Earth users carved a temporary path beneath their feet, sand shifting unnaturally to clear the way. The cart groaned under its burden, wheels sinking slightly before being pulled forward.

Women held their children close, murmuring reassurances they didn’t believe. The little ones clung to whatever comfort they could find—tiny hands gripping fabric, desperate eyes darting between the adults.

Max adjusted the strap of his bag, fingers brushing against the last vial of Maxveil.

One left.

His jaw tightened. His strides lengthened.

The caravan followed.

————

Hours passed under the weight of the sun. A merciless, suffocating presence. Sweat darkened fabric. Footsteps dragged. The early rush of energy from their last meal had faded, leaving only exhaustion in its wake.

At the rear, Ash’s gaze locked onto a little girl struggling to keep up. Her small frame swayed, sand swallowing her steps.

His fingers twitched.

"[Activating Skill: Phantom’s Stride]"

The air warped—

Then he was gone.

Max barely flicked his gaze backward as Ash reappeared beside him.

A sudden gust.

Max stiffened.

"Damn it, don’t do that, And stop using that ability."

Ash’s usual smirk was absent. His voice cut through the heat.

"Something wrong? You’re pushing too hard."

Max didn’t slow. Ash matched his pace.

"We need to keep moving."

"You do realize there are kids here? If you break them before we reach safety, we’re as good as dead."

Max exhaled through gritted teeth. His grip tightened on his strap.

"We only have one vial left."

Ash’s eyes flickered with understanding.

"That’s—"

Max gave a single nod.

"If that thing wakes up again and we’re not ready, it’s over."

Silence.

Ash turned away, gaze sweeping the dunes ahead.

’The fastest way was also the safest—wasn’t it?’

His stomach churned.

Faster wasn’t just the option. It was the only option.

"[Activating Skill: Phantom’s Stride]"

Ash blurred out of existence.

A heartbeat later, he reappeared at the rear of the caravan, boots pressing into shifting sand. His breath was steady, but his pulse hammered.

Eyes sharp. Scanning and Searching the surrounding area.

Then—

A ripple.

Beneath the dunes, the sand moved—slithering unnaturally, parting in silent waves.

His stomach twisted.

Just like before. They were not alone.

Then—

A screech. Not from the dunes. Not from the approaching threat.

The worm.

A piercing, mind-numbing shriek shattered the air.

The cart lurched. Stone groaned.

Max was already moving.

He grab the last vial from his bag. Glass caught the light, flashing as he hurled it toward the thrashing Creature.

Shatter.

A chemical burn. A sizzle.

The creature convulsed.

A monstrous body of writhing muscle seized before crashing against the cart, sending tremors through the ground. A final, guttural groan rumbled from its throat before—

Stillness.

Not dead. Not yet.

But sleeping.

For now.

Max turned, eyes cold as steel. His voice cut through the rising panic.

"We’re out of Maxveil."

A ripple of horror spread through the group.

Whispers. A sharp inhale. Someone cursed under their breath.

"We’re dead."

A woman clutched her child, her fingers white-knuckled.

"There... there has to be another way—"

Max silenced them with a look.

"Listen."

The word hit like a command. The murmurs died.

His voice was raw, edged with something dangerous.

"I know you’re exhausted. I know you think we won’t make it. But I refuse to die here. And neither will you."

His gaze swept over them. Faces streaked with sweat, eyes shadowed with fear. But deep beneath the exhaustion—

A flicker. A spark.

Survival.

"We move. Now."

For a moment—silence.

Then—

A nod.

Another.

The shuffling of feet. Packs being slung over shoulders.

Ash watched them push forward. Watched their last shred of strength carry them forward.

His fingers curled into fists.

’We’re so close.’

His gaze flicked back toward the dunes, where the shadows writhed beneath the surface.

’But close isn’t safe.’

His pulse thrummed.

’Can we make it before the worm wakes up?’