Chapter 30 Sandworm Knight

Gao Fei was also startled by the sudden abnormality on the sand.

He calmed down and observed carefully, and found that a strange insect as thick as a giant python broke out of the ground. The body that was exposed on the surface of the sand was no less than five meters long!

The body of this monster was flat, and its back was covered with a lobster-like chitin armor. The color was earthy yellow, almost blending with the sand, forming a natural protective color.

The head of the strange insect was hideous and terrifying, with a pair of vise-like large jaws, and the edges were as sharp as knives. When its tail rose from the sand, it was clearly visible that a hook-like organ was connected to the end, as if it was a scorpion tail needle magnified thousands of times. Being stung by it might be fatal!

What made Gao Fei even more incredible was that there was a knight wearing chain mail on the back of the giant insect, with a white scarf on his head, his left hand tightly grasping the reins that strangled the giant insect's neck, and his right hand holding a shining scimitar, looking at Su Mo with ill intentions.

Just as the two sides were confronting each other, three more giant insects emerged from the sand, each with a fully armed knight on its back.

These four knights skillfully controlled the giant insects and surrounded Su Mo, their expressions and behaviors revealing obvious malice.

"Good evening, young friend!"

The leading giant insect knight sheathed his sword, waved to Su Mo with a hypocritical smile on his face.

"Would you mind telling me where you are from and where you are going?"

Jiang Feng hesitated for a moment, but finally told the truth.

"I'm from Wellland Town, and I plan to try my luck in Sevinia."

"Friend, Sevinia doesn't welcome poor people! You're traveling alone, and if you encounter robbers, it's no joke. Why don't you give me your wallet for safekeeping, and we'll escort you to Sevinia safely. What do you think of this idea?"

"Sorry, my wallet and I don't like dealing with strangers!"

"Hehe~ little bastard! Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame us for being rude!"

The giant insect knight put away his smile, and his face became gloomy and hideous.

Jiang Feng controlled the monk to take two steps back, distanced himself from him, and asked angrily: "Are you robbers?"

"We used to be, but now we have washed our hands and become law-abiding citizens of Sevinia, providing sources of goods for the slave auction house in the city. We are self-made contractors."

"Bah! It sounds good, but it's just a slave trader!"

Jiang Feng cursed and ran away.

The giant insect knight's face darkened, he drew out his scimitar and swung it forward, leading three companions to ride on giant insects and crawl along the sand quickly, chasing the young monk who was running on foot.

The giant insects were covered with smoke and dust, dragging out four long and narrow tracks.

Gao Fei saw this scene, and he was anxious but could not help, so he had to open the star disk "Monster Atlas" to look up the data of giant insects and slave hunters to see how strong they were.

...

·Sandworm

Neutral, Large magical beast

Challenge rating: 2 (450 XP)

Hit points: 31 (3d10+15/Fit)

Speed: Crawl/burrow/climb 30 feet

Defense: 15 (-1 size, Dex +1, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 14

Attacks: Bite +7 melee (2d6+7), sting +7 melee (1d6+5 plus poison/paralysis DC 15)

Attributes: Str 21, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6

Skills: Athletics +6, Perception +6

Senses: Tremorsense 60 feet, passive Perception 16

Special Abilities: Burrow, Climb (sandworms secrete mucus that allows them to cling to cliffs to climb), Toughness, Uncanny Dodge (avoid flanking/critical hits; reaction reduces damage by half), Reflex Dodge (reflex avoids damage, otherwise only takes half damage)

Special Attacks: Improved Grab (after biting, grab and constrict), Constrict (deals 2d6+7 damage per round), Poison (infected wounds; disadvantage on attack and ability checks, additional paralysis; one saving throw per round, Fortitude DC 15 to disarm)

…

·Sandworm Rider (Slave Hunter Mercenary)

Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)

Lawful evil, Medium humanoid

Hit points: 67 (9d8+27)

Speed: 30 ft.; burrow/climb 30 ft. (riding a sandworm)

Armor: 16 (mail +5, Dex +1), touch 11, flat-footed (15)

Melee: mwc scimitar +6 (1d6+3 slashing/piercing)

Ranged: 30-ft. snare +5 (escape DC 15)

Attributes: Str 16, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 10, Perception 13, Charisma 10

Skills: Athletics +5, Taming +3, Perception +3, Survival +5

Senses: Passive Perception 13

Special Abilities: Special Mount (Sandworm), Survivalist (Tolerance of Environment; Perception Checks for Wilderness Survival and Tracking Prey Count Double Proficiency Bonus), Sand Rider (Stealth in Sand; Breath Holding Time = Constitution Attribute × 1 Minute)

Special Attacks: Slash, Giant Worm Counterattack (When a Sandworm Rider is attacked, a reaction action can be used to command the Sandworm to sting and counterattack)

…

The results of the query made Gao Fei feel disappointed.

Four sandworms plus four riders are much more powerful than the gnoll gang encountered in the oasis yesterday.

Su Mo is only a level 3 monk, and he is definitely not their opponent alone, even with the blessing of Jiang Feng, a martial arts master!

Faced with such a powerful enemy, it is reasonable to conduct a negotiation check to avoid conflict, or invite allies to help repel the enemy. However, there are no more reasonable options. If the game designer is not deliberately disgusting the players, there is only one possibility...

"How could this happen!" Jiang Feng suddenly exclaimed, and shouted angrily: "How could there be a piece of quicksand under my feet? This is too deceptive!"

Her monk had already left the pursuer behind for a distance, and saw the hope of escape, but the seemingly flat and solid sand in front suddenly sank, making it impossible for her to run and sink deeper and deeper.

A gloating laugh came from behind, and four sandworm riders caught up. The leader took out the noose from the saddle bag and threw it over from ten meters away.

Jiang Feng's monk was deeply trapped in the quicksand and could not dodge at all. He could only watch the noose fall on his head and entangle himself tightly.

The rider blew a whistle, and the giant worm under his crotch retreated in response, dragging the young monk out of the quicksand.

Jiang Feng was unwilling to give up and tried to break free from the noose. The sandworm roared like thunder, swung its tail, and pierced the monk's thigh with its sharp stinger, causing blood to ooze out.

Compared to the pain, what was more terrifying was the toxin injected into the wound by the stinger. Jiang Feng didn't even receive a prompt to make a Fortitude immunity check against the toxin, and his body became paralyzed and unable to move.

The other three members of the slave hunting team turned over and jumped off their mounts, walked up and kicked Su Mo to the ground, tied his hands and feet tightly, dragged him to the back of the sandworm, turned around and rode north, and disappeared in the depths of the endless yellow sand in a blink of an eye.

Thanks to the book friend: tce, who gave 100 starting coins this week