The Desert Rose outpost was very simple, appearing from the outside as a severely weathered stone house. However, within this stone house structure, there was a staircase leading underground, where the main Desert Rose base was located in a subterranean palace buried beneath the yellow sand.
Yang Tao and Eric's arrival was met with a warm welcome from the Desert Rose members, who brought out much food and water to entertain them.
Looking at the food and water laid out before him, Yang Tao asked in confusion, "You've been here all along?"
He reached out and picked up some of the local specialties on the table—some bread and various insects unique to the desert—which tasted quite good.
Hearing his question, Derry, the head of Desert Rose, smiled and said, "No, we rotate frequently. Roughly every month, personnel bring supplies for rotation…"
"This is also thanks to your help, Mr. Yang. If it weren't for the storage bags you provided, our supplies wouldn't be as abundant as they are now."
Yang Tao smiled and said, "We're just taking what we need; there's no need to be so polite."
Through the illumination of solar-powered lights, it was evident that this underground palace was very large. The palace contained many beds, tables, and chairs, and in the corners, some living supplies were piled up.
It could be said that it was filled with the atmosphere of daily life.
On the surrounding walls were some murals, which, due to the passage of time, had become mottled and faded, with only faint colors remaining, making it impossible to discern their original appearance.
Just as Yang Tao was about to ask them how to quickly enter this level, a Desert Rose member quickly ran down from above and said, "Captain, a sandstorm is coming."
Derry's expression turned serious upon hearing this. He put down his water cup and said, "Let's go, block all the entrances."
A group of people began to follow Derry towards the surface, and Yang Tao also stood up and followed them.
Through the doorway, Yang Tao also saw the sandstorm they spoke of; the sky-obscuring yellow sand swept in from the depths of the desert, giving a sense of impending apocalypse.
Even before the sandstorm approached, Yang Tao felt a lot of sand flying into his mouth.
The Desert Rose members moved quickly. They brought a pre-prepared iron door panel and propped it against the entrance, then moved many sandbags to block it behind the door panel.
After all this, the Desert Rose members did not relax. They uncovered a waterproof tarp in a corner of the ruins, revealing large buckets underneath.
Several members had already strapped on the Backrooms' special item, the 'Water Gun,' but they did not fill the buckets behind them with 'flammable oil'; instead, they poured clean water directly into them.
"Excuse me, Mr. Yang."
Derry, the head of Desert Rose, walked up to Yang Tao and said, "I really didn't expect to encounter a sandstorm today."
Yang Tao pointed at the guy with the Water Gun, looking ready for battle, and smiled, "Your stance doesn't seem to be just for preventing a sandstorm. Tell me, what's going on?"
Although sandstorms are dangerous.
However, there is no need to worry in such a sturdy, enclosed space.
It was Derry's turn to be stunned. He hadn't expected Yang Tao to step into this place without knowing anything about Level 46.
At this moment, Eric also came up the stairs from underground. Hearing Yang Tao's words, he explained, "Yang, in Level 46, the Arabian Desert, there is only one Entity. It's called the Sand Spirit, and it only appears with sandstorms."
"The Sand Spirit has strong hostility. It will attack all living things in its sight. Its only weakness is any liquid containing water."
"Sand Spirit? That's quite interesting. According to your records, the Sand Spirit cannot be communicated with, right?"
Upon hearing the name Sand Spirit, the first thing that popped into Yang Tao's mind was the 'Sand Elemental' from the game Terraria.
Derry shook his head and said, "We've tried before; they have no sentience whatsoever. Any creature that appears before them will be attacked."
"This might also be why Level 46 has no Entities."
Woosh woosh…
As they spoke, the sound of the sandstorm outside began, the mournful wind sounding like ghosts wailing.
Everyone turned their gaze to the blocked doorway.
Bang bang… bang bang…
The dense sound of small sand grains hitting the iron door. Through the wall, Yang Tao also saw the Sand Spirit's HP.
HP 216 / 216
HP 195 / 207
How to put it, for a Wanderer, the Sand Spirit's strength is not bad; in fact, it's quite strong.
And it's very likely that this thing, like the Sandman, is immune to ordinary physical attacks.
However, around 200 HP seemed really insufficient to Yang Tao now. He really wanted to go out and see what the Sand Spirit looked like, but then he remembered he was a guest at the 'Desert Rose' outpost, so he gave up the idea of going out.
Bang bang…
A noticeably more violent impact sound came from the iron door. A Sand Spirit stopped at the doorway, and everyone's hearts tightened. Those holding Water Guns were already ready to attack.
However, this Sand Spirit was clearly not very patient. After hitting twice and failing to break through, it simply left.
Time passed minute by minute.
Occasionally, a Sand Spirit would float past outside the ruins, and once or twice, one would come and hit the door a couple of times.
Overall, it was a close call but without danger.
As time passed, the wind outside gradually lessened, and the sound of sand hitting the iron door also slowly disappeared.
Derry showed a smile and said, "The sandstorm has passed."
"Are sandstorms frequent?"
"They come about once every seven or eight days, but the timing isn't fixed. Sometimes it's every other day, sometimes it's after half a month. This has greatly affected our exploration of the level, but thankfully, as long as there are ruins and enough water nearby, we can get through the sandstorm."
Yang Tao nodded slightly.
Although he didn't know why M.E.G. insisted on setting up an outpost in this godforsaken level, Yang Tao respected their decision.
Looking at the people who were covering the water buckets again, Yang Tao asked, "Do you all rely on outside deliveries for your water?"
"No, about five kilometers from here, there's an oasis with enough water sources, even an Almond water pool."
This miraculous operation truly puzzled Yang Tao.
"Since there's an oasis there, why don't you set up base there instead of running to this godforsaken place?"
Derry smiled and replied, "This is an entry point to Level 46. As far as we know, at least four levels have entrances leading to this area. We are stationed here to help Wanderers who enter Level 46."
Yang Tao listened with reverence. He might not do the same, but that didn't stop him from admiring such people.
Looking at the Desert Rose members, whose faces were etched with the marks of wind and frost, Yang Tao smiled and said, "Since we've met, it's fate. I'll help you improve the surrounding environment…"
Everyone exchanged glances, unsure what to say for a moment, but Derry, as the captain, quickly reacted and gratefully said, "Then thank you, Mr. Yang."