Chapter 15: The Desert of Despair

The sun was relentless as Karma settled into the merchant's carriage, feeling the heat of the desert beating down on the roof. The journey to the city for the **Grand Tournament's** first selection round was long, and Karma needed to be in top form. He was excited for the tournament but couldn't shake the lingering thoughts of the red-eyed ogres and the upcoming confrontation with the Duke.

As the carriage creaked down the dusty road, Karma glanced out the window. The desert stretched for miles in every direction, barren and unforgiving. The only sign of life was the occasional hawk soaring through the sky, searching for prey. He was deep in thought when he heard the voice of the merchant driving the cart.

"Ah, it's a long way to the city, friend. I hope you're not in a rush." The merchant, a middle-aged man named **Yuno**, gave a friendly chuckle. He wore a wide-brimmed hat to shield himself from the sun, and his skin was weathered from years of traveling the desert.

Karma turned to face him, a small smile on his lips. "I'm not in a rush, but it's always good to get to my destination faster. How far are we from the city?"

Yuno scratched his stubbled chin, casting a glance toward the horizon. "Well, we're about a day away from the city. We'll be passing through **the Desert of Despair**. You've probably heard of it—dangerous territory, but a good path if you don't stray off course."

Karma raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "The Desert of Despair? Sounds ominous. What makes it so dangerous?"

Yuno smirked, clearly amused by Karma's interest. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. You see, it's not just the heat that makes this desert deadly. It's the creatures. There are **giant ants** here, the size of a dog. They're not your average insects either. These beasts paralyze their prey and then feast on them right there in the sand."

Karma leaned forward, intrigued. "Giant ants, huh? Sounds like something out of a nightmare."

Yuno nodded, his expression turning serious. "That's not even the worst part. These ants are smart. They can call their companions, and when they do, the whole swarm comes. A single group can overwhelm even the strongest adventurers, so don't get too close to them."

Karma's eyes narrowed. He knew Yuno was right to be cautious. He had faced many dangerous monsters in the past, but creatures that could paralyze and call reinforcements—these were new to him. He was grateful for the warning.

"Got it," Karma said. "I won't let my guard down."

Yuno's eyes twinkled with amusement, but his tone became more serious. "Good. The people who travel through here often disappear. Many adventurers have become the food of those ants. If you ever spot one, just keep your distance. You don't want to be its next meal."

Karma nodded and leaned back in his seat, thinking over Yuno's words. The desert had always been a treacherous place, but something about the Desert of Despair felt different. It wasn't just a matter of heat and distance—it was a place that seemed to hold its own set of deadly secrets.

The carriage rumbled on, and after a few more miles, Karma started to notice something in the distance—dust clouds forming on the horizon, swirling and thick. He squinted, trying to make sense of it, when Yuno suddenly spoke up again, his voice laced with panic.

"Shu—Shh! We're getting too close!" Yuno quickly slapped the reins and urged the horse to move faster. The carriage jolted forward, and Karma sat up straighter, alert.

"What is it?" Karma asked, his instincts kicking in. His hand hovered near his sword as he looked out toward the dust cloud now approaching at a rapid pace.

Yuno swallowed, his eyes wide with fear. "We're in the **Desert of Despair** now. And those clouds aren't just dust—they're the **Tyrants**. Giant ants. They've sensed us."

Karma's eyes narrowed as the dust grew thicker. He could now make out the shapes of large creatures moving swiftly across the desert floor. The Tyrants weren't just ants. They were C-ranked monsters, feared for their paralyzing bites and their ability to call their entire swarm.

He could feel the air tense as Yuno urged the horse to move faster, but Karma could see the ants closing in fast. The distance between them was shrinking quickly. He had no choice. He needed to act now if he wanted to avoid getting overwhelmed by a swarm.

Karma's mind raced. **Taming**. That was the only way to deal with them.

"Yuno!" Karma called out over the rumbling of the carriage. "Stop the cart! I need to tame them."

Yuno gave him a nervous glance but didn't question him. He pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a halt. The dust cloud was now only a hundred feet away. Karma could see the first few ants—massive, dog-sized creatures with red mandibles and hard, black exoskeletons. They were moving fast, their sharp legs churning the sand beneath them.

Karma focused, drawing on his mana. He had trained for moments like this—situations where he needed to tame a dangerous monster in a split second. His heart raced as he cast his **Taming Spell**, pouring nearly three-quarters of his mana into it.

The spell crackled through the air, a wave of energy that struck the closest Tyrants. The ants' eyes glowed with a momentary flash of blue, as if they were assessing him, then the spell took hold. The two largest ants in the swarm froze, and Karma felt their wills bend to his.

**Tyrants Tamed!**

The spell worked.

Karma grinned, the excitement of the victory coursing through him. He commanded the two Tyrants, using his bond with them.

"Tell your companions to retreat," Karma ordered. "You don't need to fight us."

The two Tyrants hissed in agreement, their antennae twitching. Without hesitation, they turned toward the approaching swarm, sending out loud, vibrating signals that echoed across the desert. Karma could only hope the message would reach the others in time.

As the ants began to retreat, Karma relaxed his grip on his sword. His connection with the Tyrants was solid, and they had followed his command. He didn't need to worry about being swarmed now. The carriage had been spared for the moment.

Yuno let out a sigh of relief. "That was—*incredible*. You actually tamed them… I didn't think you'd pull it off."

Karma shrugged, his confidence returning. "I've dealt with worse. Now let's make sure they don't come back."

The Tyrants, now bound to Karma's will, stood by the carriage, their large bodies casting shadows over the sand. Karma could feel the power of their strength and their loyalty to him.

"We can stay here for a bit," Karma said, patting one of the Tyrants on its hard exoskeleton. "We'll wait for the rest of the swarm to scatter."

Yuno watched the Tyrants warily, still shocked by the display of power. "You… you really tamed them?"

Karma nodded. "Yeah. But I've learned that taming monsters can be unpredictable. We'll have to be careful with these guys. If they call more ants, we'll have to deal with it."

Yuno stared at him, still processing what had just happened. "I've heard of tamers before, but I've never seen someone pull off something like that. You're something else, Karma."

Karma gave a half-smile, "Thanks. But we've got work to do. Let's get moving. I don't want to stay in the desert any longer than I have to."

With his new companions by his side, Karma commanded the two Tyrants to keep a lookout while they resumed their journey. The ants, now under his control, were more than capable of handling any threats that came their way.

As they continued down the road, Karma felt a sense of accomplishment. He had faced the **Tyrants** head-on, and with his newfound abilities, he had turned the tables.

They had a long way to go before reaching the city for the Grand Tournament, but for now, Karma had gained two powerful new allies. The desert had tried to swallow him whole, but Karma had come out victorious, proving once again that he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

---

**To be continued…**