Dice Eyes
The sandworm's colossal body charges straight at the golem.
The golem, clad in its steel frame, charges right back at the sandworm.
These two behemoths, which had no business showing up in a beginner dungeon, commit to battle—and their very first move is as straightforward and brutal as it gets: a full-tilt head-on collision.
-Kwaaaang!!
An earth-shattering boom echoes out as the golem's massive frame shudders violently.
He can feel Noel and Mina gripping their chairs tight, too stunned to even scream.
Even through the tremendous shock, the external view holds steady enough to assess the damage.
'As expected—a beast that size is no joke.'
The golem, built heavy with its metal frame and armor plating, has been shoved back.
Worse, chunks of the armor are scraped raw and dented inward.
The alloy plating, forged from multiple metals, resists the sandworm's teeth without shredding outright—but it doesn't hold perfectly either. And at a slight weight disadvantage to boot.
One thing's clear: betting everything on defense will get him wrecked fast. But in that realization comes the key insight.
'A straight fight means the worm won't walk away intact either.'
The sandworm's teeth and carapace are smashed in places.
Its body was built tough for tunneling through earth, but apparently not on par with alloy-grade durability.
The worm might've edged out the clash thanks to its extra mass, but the impact was like taking a full swing from a colossal mace regardless.
No stable firepower left that's easier to deploy than another charge. If this doesn't land, it'll be an uphill slog.
"But if I can smash through... we've got the upper hand!"
No hesitation—he guns the caterpillar tracks for a sharp pivot-turn in place.
The sandworm can't match the maneuverability. He barrels in again, unleashing another thunderous roar on impact.
Carapace shatters anew. The worm barely wheels around, lunging with its teeth to grind him down.
He activates the right arm's armament and hoists it high.
-Kadududuk...!
The drill—meant for burrowing the golem smoothly into dungeons—clashes head-on with the sandworm's fangs.
Internally spinning teeth meet counter-rotating drill in a hellish screech.
The worm rears back with a silent scream of agony.
Its bulk slams into the golem, but he's braced his stance perfectly—no flying off this time.
"Fight rotation with rotation, you bastard!"
"Worth every pricey coin."
Mina flashes a sly grin at the drill mounted on the right arm and elsewhere.
"But it's no finisher. Even that blunt spear-thing got chipped!"
"Just commission a new one."
Mina shoots back at Noel without a shred of shame.
Then she pipes up again.
"Sandworm carapace makes for prime armor, small teeth are natural blades—but the big fangs? Rare market finds, Aizen."
Out of left field, but the meaning clicks fast.
"Meaning... the rock-grinding teeth are one-of-a-kind!"
It looks like it chews through stone at first glance, but precisely? Only those specific chompers do; the rest are standard issue.
Target locked.
"Roots of the big mouth fangs."
Wreck or rip those out, and its bite weakens massively.
Perfect—the drill's still in play.
"Best tooth-puller around!"
Output cranked. Full-throttle lunge.
The sheer momentum of the golem's bulk sends tremors through every inch.
The worm thrusts fangs forward to meet him—but he closes first.
"Attacks aren't max power right out the gate!"
Like a fighter's punch: peak force hits when the arm fully extends. Midway? Not so much.
The worm's charge threatens the caterpillar golem plenty, but at the launch? Barely a threat.
"This steel hull can tank it!"
A deafening crash—but fleeting.
Heavy mass and boosted power grind the worm's rush to a halt.
Left arm pries the snapping jaws wide. Right arm's drill plunges deep.
Tip vanishes into flesh for a heartbeat.
Then—rotors whine, carving guts.
-Udruduk, Kagagagak!
"Sounds like it's chewing us while we chew it!"
"Spinning its innards' teeth!"
He'd struck quick—or so he thought. But instinct has the worm countering.
Internal grinders clash with the industrial earth-borer.
Through the barely parted jaws: drill kissing thick fang-root. Worm spins inner maw in desperate resistance.
"Us smashing a fang—or it shredding the drill. That's the fight!"
Steel lump of a drill, and it can grind that? Incredible chompers.
Vibrations rack the whole golem.
With a monstrous shriek, the frame bounces backward.
"Crazy bastard—what's its structure even?!"
Inner teeth snap the drill at last, shoving the golem away.
Get pushed now, and that slim window slams shut.
Twist hard. Slam left arm down.
Scoop the lodged drill upward with brute force.
-Kadududuk!
Something snags. Tears free.
Golem hurtles back.
From the worm's maw tumbles a massive white shard.
A huge canine—battered, edges dulled.
One inner monster-fang, smashed at last.
-"Kieeeek?!"
Drill still jammed, a lifelong tooth yanked free—the worm's bulk thrashes wild.
Backpedal the golem fast. Incoming strike—left arm up.
Too massive: crunch. Arm shreds off.
Half the viewport blacks out.
"Aizen—the outer-linked crystal orbs are busted!"
Mina's shout. He squints.
Noel's warning holds: shock-vulnerable orbs shatter, severing most feeds.
'Perfect storm.'
Arm gone. Vision crippled.
No safe plays left.
Decision made. Mouth opens.
"Pop the hatch."
"Aizen."
"Blind-fighting? That's real death."
Live eyes remain, but coverage? Spotty.
Spots for upgrades are great—but survival first.
Hatch hisses open. Outside floods in.
Rampaging worm in view.
'What's left in the arsenal.'
Inventory check: unfired cannon, rock shell chambered.
Right arm intact.
Drill—wedged in its teeth.
Last gambit: all-or-nothing.
Shell to the body—not the armored guts.
"Gotta freeze that bulk once."
How?
Brainstorm max problem. Glances at Noel.
One path sparks.
"Lady Noel."
"Lord Aizen?"
Puzzled eyes in crisis—why me? He asks softly.
"Nexia magic's lightning, right."
"It is, but... hitting a sandworm to stop it? No way..."
Strength unknown, but doubt screams impossibility.
Without prep.
"Charging."
"Lord Aizen, odds..."
"Still got 'em. With your help."
Tiny window—but real.
Hand up. Points worm's mouth-edge.
"Max output. Focus there."
Finger aims: vibrating drill, half-loose in flesh.
Noel peers close.
Worried glance.
"Metal conducts, but that spear..."
"Drill. It'll do."
Efficacy? Question mark.
"Fail anyway? Friendly group trip downstairs."
Sit and die? Nah—final rush, last card.
Noel steels, eyes shut.
Mana swells—lightning lady of Nexia.
Mina chimes.
"In the name of Saintess Mina Christa. Blessing of Concentration."
Golden holy glow wraps him fleetingly.
"That's my limit."
Mind sharpens. Mina again.
"On the house, Aizen. Smash 'em."
Focus buff for that extra edge.
"Here we go!!"
Mind echoes. Full throttle.
Open cockpit: gale-force wind, bone-rattling shakes.
Worm halts frenzy. Locks eyes dead-on.
Its charge launches—he can't preempt.
Hard swerve. Dodge. Fire port cannon.
"Can't nail both anyway!!"
Monumental boulder smashes worm-flesh.
It crumples, howling.
Tough shell? Cannonfire begs to differ.
Recharge head-on. Right fist swings.
Massive heft twists skull.
Mild concussion, minimum.
Point-blank: snapped drill-tip gleams....
"Gather, by Nexia's thunder! Pierce the foe...!"
Scalp tingles. Bolt streaks to drill.
Monster-fryer lightning hurtles.
Tiny vs. worm-scale—but ferocious.
Strike. Conduction.
-Pajijijijik!!
Foul crackle—arcs race the metal.
Impurities bleed most; flow volume unknown.
Paralysis odds? Slimmer.
Last breath thought.
"In the name of Saintess Mina Christa. Luck for the road ahead."
Prayer whispers.
Worm locks rigid.
Lightning claims it.
Grinders lag. Halt.
Charged drill gums it still. Giant frame? Seconds at best.
Plenty.
-Kwaang!
Final shell cannons mouth-deep.
"Hell of a foe."
End sensed.
Trigger pull. Grin.
"Final dice eye's mine, sandworm."
Cataclysmic blast.
Insides balloon faint.
-Puhwaaak!!
Shell erupts through. Gore and brains erupt wide.