They traveled strictly according to the journey plan, advancing through the desert without any surprises or dangers along the way.
But starting from the third day, everyone could feel that solidified geological areas like the Gobi and rocky beaches were becoming increasingly rare, and the originally coarse sand grains were gradually turning finer.
By the sixth day.
Altaïr jumped off the woolly camel, grabbed a handful of fine sand, and squeezed it tightly in his palm.
The fine yellow sand, devoid of any moisture, flowed through his fingers like liquid, leaving not a single grain behind.
"We've now entered the Sand Sea region," Altaïr stood up and said to his companions: "Professor, Erik, from now on, unless I directly tell you it's safe, absolutely do not get off the woolly camels.
They're accustomed to living in the desert and know how to avoid dangers, but you don't."
Seeing how serious Altaïr was, the Professor nodded earnestly, "Understood."
"Okay," Erik remained in his usual listless state. He always looked this unmotivated until encountering creatures that interested him.
Altaïr somewhat regretted not bringing Sajji along. That kid was even more familiar with the Sand Sea than he was. With him around, there would be no need to worry about ambushes by sand-burrowing monsters like Cephalos.
However, according to what Naziya said, Sajji's studies were at their most critical stage. After this period passed, Sajji wouldn't need to stay with her for extended study sessions anymore.
You can't master machinery just by burying your head in books. After grasping the basic knowledge and theories, you need to think more and practice more to gradually develop your own style.
Altaïr didn't want to disrupt Sajji's foundation-building, so he didn't bring him along.
Fortunately, he wasn't incompetent either.
Taking out many Sonic Bombs from the packs on the woolly camel's sides, he loaded several onto his Slinger for immediate use and hung the rest around his waist for easy access. He didn't forget to give some to Isis, and even the Professor and Erik received a few each.
These small tools usually aren't very useful, but when dealing with monsters lurking beneath the Sand Sea, they could be considered truly effective weapons.
"Stay alert and keep watching your surroundings, let's continue forward." Altaïr climbed back onto his woolly camel, gently shook the reins, and the large, woolly creature began moving slowly.
Isis controlled her woolly camel, closely following behind Altaïr's group. After several hours of tense vigilance, her eyes were sore from staring, and her mind was growing tired, yet they hadn't encountered any danger.
Noticing this, the Professor took the reins from her hands, "Relax a bit. Being alert doesn't mean complete mental focus. You won't last long like this.
Learn from that kid up front. He looks like he's about to doze off, but he always keeps his eyes half-closed, reserving some attention to stay aware of his surroundings. That's all you need."
"Oh, okay," Isis attempted to imitate.
"Also, although we only have two camels in front and behind, we still form a line. He's in the front position, needing to watch the sides and ahead. You're in the rear position, so focus more on the sides and behind. Overlapping alert areas just wastes energy." Isis nodded repeatedly, trying hard to memorize the Professor's words.
Seeing that the two woolly camels were separated by over ten meters and with the interference of wind and sand ensuring Altaïr ahead couldn't hear their conversation, the Professor turned around and whispered:
"You lack neither combat skills nor practical experience, but when it comes to various miscellaneous minor skills, neither the Hunter Training Camp nor that old man who taught you swordsmanship would specifically teach them.
Because such skills are endless... you must pick those useful to you and gradually absorb them, whether from that boy or others."
Isis blinked in surprise. "Professor, you know..."
"I know all your elders," the Professor interrupted her. "When I saw you use the Iai Slash to sever the Vespoid's insect wing the other day, I guessed your Long Sword technique was taught by 'Swift Sword.' Your mother later developed her own style... their approaches differ.
Enough of those old stories. I mention this to remind you: to become a good hunter, you need to master more than just combat skills. Many seemingly unimportant things must also be learned.
Of course, some things aren't worth learning. Studying too many unusable skills is purely a waste of time."
Isis grew more confused by the Professor's words and humbly asked, "Professor, what kind of things should be learned, and what kind are unnecessary?"
The Professor grunted and pointed at Altaïr ahead. "Take what this boy has demonstrated these past few days: how to move freely in the desert, distinguish paths, find oases, how to maintain vigilance with minimal effort, using memos to plan daily tasks, constant self-reflection... all are worth learning.
As for the so-called unnecessary things, like how to identify whether a woolly camel is healthy, how to sit steadily on a camel's back while playing chess, or desert nomad dialects.
It's not that these skills are useless. For example, the nomad dialects are quite useful to me... they share continuity with ancient desert civilization scripts. I specifically studied them over a hundred years ago when I came here for archaeology and can even speak more accurately than him. But for you, it would be purely a waste of time."
Isis nodded gently. "I understand what you mean. Thank you, Professor."
"Wheee..." A sharp whistle came from ahead.
Isis and the Professor immediately stopped talking and looked forward.
The warning naturally came from Altaïr. He halted his camel, drew alongside Isis and the Professor, and quietly pointed at a massive sandy hollow ahead spanning thousands of square meters. "Only when Cephalos herds gather and move around, loosening and collapsing nearby sand dunes, can such sand sinkholes form."
"This one's worth learning," the Professor suddenly told Isis.
"Mhmm!" Isis nodded rapidly, then stared expectantly at Altaïr, waiting for him to continue.
"?"
Altaïr looked puzzled, unsure what riddle these two were playing at. Before he could say more, Erik, who shared his camel, jolted upright as if electrified.
"Where? Where! Is that the Cephalos nest? I heard it has effects similar to an antlion's sand trap! I want to see!" Altaïr could no longer afford to worry about the Professor and the others. He hastily scrambled over the camel's hump and pinned down Erik, who was about to leap off the woolly camel.
"You know that's a Cephalos trap, yet you still run toward it? You'd be the 'prey,' understand?!"
"I just wanted to get a closer look! I won't fall in!" Erik, pinned against the saddle, squirmed and struggled. "Let me take a look! Or at least snap a few photos!"
A vein throbbed at Altaïr's temple. He turned to the Professor. "Can I tie this guy up?"
The Professor nodded naturally. "Of course. If you think it's necessary, you can gag him too."
"Good."
Minutes later, Erik was bound as tightly as a silkworm, rendered completely immobile and laid sideways across the camel's saddle. A cloth stuffed in his mouth allowed only muffled "mmph" sounds.
To any unknowing observer, he might have looked like a poor girl kidnapped by desert bandits.
"Good thing my skills haven't rusted." Altaïr tossed aside the tightened rope end and clapped his hands with a cold smirk, only to meet the strange gazes of Isis and the Professor.
After two seconds of silence, he explained, "I was with the Loc Lac Rangers. This is a technique we used to restrain prisoners."
"Should we learn things like that?" Isis whispered to the Professor.
"Selective learning."
"Moo..."
"Snort!"
The two woolly camels, calm just moments before, suddenly snorted and let out tense calls.
Hearing this, Altaïr sighed helplessly and looked toward the Cephalos Den. Sure enough, several dorsal fins protruding from the sand were rapidly approaching.
"Made too much noise, huh?" Altaïr landed a punch on Erik's still-restless head.
"Professor, take the reins of this camel and keep an eye on this kid. Make sure he doesn't fall off.
Isis, prepare for battle. If they all get close, we won't be able to defend. I'll intercept them head-on. You guard near the woolly camels and take out any that slip past."