Hunting the Stars

Sand Beast

A turtle-like creature lay stretched out on a patch of sandy ground not far from Elian Hawk, basking in the warmth of the day with its eyes closed in sheer contentment. This particular star system, much like the solar system, was centered around a massive, self-burning star, with over twenty planets revolving around it to form a small galaxy. The turtle-like creature was known as a "sand beast," a unique species endemic to this star system. Apart from the planet Elian Hawk currently occupied, sand beasts could be found on almost every other planet in the system. Their tough, spiky shells were covered in sharp protrusions, and their long, thin tails housed venom sacs connected to their internal systems. If threatened, the sand beast could whip its tail at incredible speed, injecting deadly venom into its attacker—a venom said to be lethal enough to kill even a young star dragon.

(Star Dragon: The largest creature within the Empire, characterized by its massive size, long tusks, sturdy neck, thick limbs, and carnivorous diet...)

Elian Hawk lay flat on a sand dune, wrapping his head with a tattered piece of cloth so only his eyes were visible, giving him the look of a desert bandit. “So, that’s a sand beast? I didn’t expect Karon’s audio journal to be so accurate. That guy even included 3D sketches. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have realized that turtle-looking thing is actually a sand beast,” Elian muttered to himself.

Karon’s audio journal contained a wealth of information about sand beasts, complete with hand-drawn 3D diagrams, which was why Elian was so well-informed. Karon, the ill-fated squad leader who had been split in two by a swarm of insects, had harbored dreams of becoming an interstellar traveler, documenting various species and cultures across different star systems. Unfortunately, those dreams were shattered when the Divine Empire and the Free Federation plunged into war, leaving Karon to perish on this barren, nameless planet.

Still, Karon’s audio journal had proven invaluable to Elian. “The sand beast’s shell is incredibly tough, but it’s highly susceptible to cold. If the temperature drops low enough, the shell will crack, and the beast will enter a state of hibernation. At that point, it’s completely harmless,” Elian recalled, licking his parched lips. “And according to the journal, its meat is supposed to be delicious, and it stores several dozen kilograms of water inside its body. That’s exactly what I need right now.”

A gust of wind swept across the sand, kicking up a haze of yellow dust. Thankfully, Elian’s headwrap shielded his face, though he still had to squint to keep the sand out of his eyes. He hadn’t had a drop of water in three days, nor a bite of food in two. The supplies from the military outpost had been consumed down to the last crumb two days ago, leaving Elian no choice but to venture outside.

“I have to catch that thing. Its meat and water sac are my lifeline,” Elian murmured to himself, though his face betrayed a hint of despair. “But it’s so warm right now, there’s no way I can take it down easily.”

He considered waiting until nightfall, when the temperature would drop and the beast would become vulnerable. However, the night also brought with it the planet’s infamous sandstorms. “If I wait until night, the storm will likely kill me before I even get the chance to catch it,” he thought grimly, recalling the planet’s harsh climate over the past two months.

Elian pulled out his laser gun and aimed it at the lounging sand beast. His finger hovered over the trigger, hesitating. Logically, he could just shoot the creature, strip off its shell, and harvest its meat and water sac. But he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger so easily.

Karon’s journal had warned him: Despite its sluggish appearance, the sand beast was incredibly fast in the desert. If attacked, it would immediately counter with lightning speed, using its venomous tail to strike its attacker. Within a 150-meter radius, escape was virtually impossible.

Recalling this, Elian felt a wave of apprehension. “It looks like a big turtle, but can it really be as dangerous as Karon said?” he wondered. Still, he decided it was better to err on the side of caution. “Better safe than sorry. No point in dying stupidly,” he muttered, lowering the gun and estimating the distance between himself and the beast.

“About 50 or 60 meters... According to Karon’s notes, it would take only three seconds for it to reach me and strike with its venomous tail if it noticed an attack,” Elian calculated. Watching the beast lazily basking, he couldn’t help but grimace.

Time was running out. The daily sandstorm would soon sweep through, and Elian had to return to the outpost before it hit. “If I don’t make it back in time, I’m as good as dead,” he thought, his pale face betraying his anxiety.

He retreated behind the sand dune and rummaged through his black military uniform until he pulled out a slender metal tube. “Thankfully, Karon’s journal mentioned a way to deal with these things. Otherwise, I’d be completely out of options,” he said with a grin, holding up the tube.

The tube contained a “high-efficiency tranquilizer,” as described in Karon’s journal. When injected into a laser gun and combined with a low-energy beam, the tranquilizer could be vaporized and delivered into the target’s body, inducing sleep.

“Perfect,” Elian said, loading the tranquilizer into his laser gun. He adjusted the gun’s power settings, took a deep breath, and aimed at the sand beast once more.

Sensing danger, the sand beast opened its eyes and scanned its surroundings. Its tail shot upright, quivering and emitting a sharp “swish” sound, like a rattlesnake preparing to strike.

With a nearly invisible blue beam, Elian fired. The sand beast left a blur in its wake as it charged toward him, its massive frame moving effortlessly across the sand.

Elian barely had time to react before the creature was upon him. Its venomous tail lashed out, aiming directly for his face. Frozen with fear, Elian could only watch as the deadly stinger came within a centimeter of his forehead... and then stopped.

The sand beast’s tail wavered, then drooped limply to the ground.

“The tranquilizer worked!” Elian exhaled in relief, his body finally releasing the tension of the close call.