The scorching desert wind howled across the massive shipyard.
Countless sand ships rested beside the giant wooden docks, their enormous sailcloth fluttering beneath the blazing orange sky. Unlike ordinary ocean vessels, these ships possessed reinforced hulls coated with black iron plating beneath their frames. Massive rotating turbines sat beneath them, allowing the vessels to glide across the endless sea of sand.
The entire harbor felt alive.
NPC workers carried cargo crates.
Players shouted while organizing parties.
Merchants sold water, food, and equipment to travelers preparing for the dangerous journey across Floor Two.
Ryota stared at the sight in complete amazement.
"…This place is huge."
Rio walked beside him casually while adjusting the strap on her sword.
"Welcome to the Sand Shipyard."
Sayanaki stretched her arms lazily as she looked around.
"Not bad."
Ryota turned toward Rio.
"So this is the place that takes us to Floor Three?"
Rio shook her head.
"No."
She pointed toward the massive desert stretching beyond the docks.
"This ship takes us to the City of Versoza first."
"The second-largest city on Floor Two."
Ryota blinked.
"…Second largest?"
Rio nodded.
"After that, we'll take another ship toward the City of Nendu."
"The largest city in Floor Two."
"That's where the teleporter gate to Floor Three should be located."
Ryota slowly processed the information.
"…Should?"
Rio shrugged.
"The update literally just came out."
"Some things may have changed."
Sayanaki smirked.
"That's your way of saying you already know where everything is."
Rio laughed awkwardly.
"…Maybe."
They approached the ticket station near the docks.
An elderly NPC wearing desert traveler robes greeted them warmly.
"Three passengers?"
Rio nodded.
The NPC tapped a crystal device.
"Destination: Versoza."
"Departure in ten minutes."
"Five copper coins per ticket."
Ryota nearly choked.
"Five?!"
Rio sighed.
"Long-distance travel isn't cheap."
Sayanaki casually tossed the coins onto the counter.
"Relax, white hair."
"We're not starving yet."
The NPC handed them three metallic boarding passes engraved with glowing desert symbols.
[Sand Vessel Ticket — Route: Safar → Versoza]
Ryota examined the ticket closely.
"This actually looks expensive."
Rio smiled faintly.
"Floor Two's economy is much harsher than Floor One."
"Travel itself becomes part of survival."
Ryota looked out toward the endless orange dunes again.
The desert truly stretched infinitely.
There were no mountains in the distance.
No forests.
No rivers.
Just endless waves of burning sand.
Even the sky looked different.
The sunlight felt harsher.
The air heavier.
The atmosphere itself made Ryota feel small.
"…So this entire thing is filled with Dune Stalkers?"
Rio nodded immediately.
"Yep."
"And worse things."
Ryota swallowed nervously.
"…Great."
Sayanaki suddenly vanished.
Ryota blinked.
"…Huh?"
He turned around rapidly.
"She disappeared again."
Rio didn't even react.
"She does that."
Then—
"OVER HERE, WHITE HAIR DUMBASS."
Ryota looked right.
Sayanaki was standing beside a food stall holding multiple bags of food.
A mountain of food.
Ryota stared blankly.
"…Why are you buying so much?"
Sayanaki looked at him like he was stupid.
"Did you not read the travel time?"
Ryota froze.
"…Travel time?"
Rio casually answered for her.
"Six hours."
Ryota's jaw dropped.
"SIX HOURS?!"
Sayanaki nodded while continuing to buy food.
"Even with sand ships, crossing the desert takes forever."
Rio crossed her arms.
"We could've taken the rocky canyon route."
Ryota looked hopeful.
"Oh?"
Rio smiled.
"That would only take five days."
Ryota immediately looked dead inside.
"…Never mind."
Sayanaki laughed loudly.
"You really are clueless."
She handed Ryota one of the food bags.
"Hold this."
Ryota looked inside.
"…There's enough food in here for an army."
"Exactly."
Rio grabbed a bottled desert drink from another stall.
"Hydration matters here."
"Heat exhaustion is an actual debuff mechanic on Floor Two."
Ryota stared at her.
"…This game is terrifying."
"It gets worse."
Ryota immediately decided he did not want elaboration.
The loud sound of a horn suddenly echoed across the shipyard.
BWOOOOOOOM—
All players nearby turned toward the docks.
A massive sand ship slowly activated its turbines beneath the hull.
Golden particles burst outward beneath the vessel as the sand beneath it shifted violently.
The ship announcer raised a speaker crystal.
"Attention passengers for the Versoza Route!"
"Boarding will begin now!"
"Departure in ten minutes!"
The entire dock immediately became crowded.
Players rushed forward while NPC workers guided everyone toward the boarding ramps.
Ryota stared upward at the vessel.
The sand ship was enormous.
It resembled a fusion between a pirate ship and a military fortress.
Large reinforced sails stretched high into the air.
Massive crystal engines glowed beneath the vessel.
Rotating turbines slowly spun under the hull.
And mounted along the sides—
were giant harpoon cannons.
Ryota pointed immediately.
"…Why does a transportation ship need weapons?"
Rio answered calmly.
"Because Dune Stalkers attack ships."
Ryota froze.
"…What?"
Sayanaki grinned.
"Oh, this'll be fun."
Rio walked toward the boarding ramp first.
"Come on."
The three of them approached the entrance.
Two armored NPC guards stood beside the boarding gate inspecting passengers.
One of the guards scanned Rio first.
The moment his eyes landed on her—
his expression subtly stiffened.
He could sense it.
The pressure around her.
The dangerous aura hidden beneath her calm appearance.
He immediately stepped aside respectfully.
"Y-You may proceed."
Ryota blinked.
"…What was that about?"
Rio sighed quietly.
"…My stats are probably too high for this area now."
Then the second guard looked toward Sayanaki.
His face instantly turned pale.
"…M-Miss…"
Sayanaki tilted her head.
"What?"
The guard visibly trembled.
Ryota looked confused.
"…Why is everyone scared of you two?"
The first guard then looked toward Ryota.
"…And him?"
The second guard frowned.
"…I don't know."
"He looks harmless."
Ryota's eye twitched.
"HEY."
Sayanaki burst into laughter.
Rio covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
The guards awkwardly stepped aside.
"P-Please enjoy your journey."
The three finally walked onto the ship.
The deck was massive.
Players and NPC travelers moved around everywhere.
Cargo crates were tied down near the sides.
Large sails fluttered overhead.
The desert wind roared endlessly around them.
Ryota slowly walked toward the railing and stared at the endless dunes.
"…This really feels like another world."
Rio stood beside him quietly.
"That's because it is."
"For a lot of people…"
"…Evermount became more real than reality."
Ryota looked at her.
For a brief moment—
Rio's eyes looked distant.
Like she remembered something painful.
But then she smiled normally again.
"Well."
She stretched her arms.
"Six-hour trip."
"Try not to fall off."
Ryota looked over the railing at the endless desert below.
"…That was absolutely not comforting."
Sayanaki casually climbed onto a cargo crate nearby and sat down lazily.
"If you fall…"
"…the Dune Stalkers will eat you before you even scream."
Ryota slowly turned toward Rio.
"…Can I go back to Floor One?"
Rio and Sayanaki both laughed.
Then—
BWOOOOOOOM—
The giant engines beneath the ship activated fully.
The entire vessel trembled.
Sand exploded beneath the hull as the ship slowly lifted slightly above the dunes.
The sails expanded violently.
And then—
the massive sand ship surged forward across the endless desert sea.
Their journey toward Floor Three had officially begun.
The roaring desert wind battered against the massive sand ship as it surged across the endless dunes.
The deck trembled beneath the power of the turbines.
Large crystal engines beneath the vessel emitted deep mechanical hums while waves of orange sand scattered behind the ship like ocean spray.
Sayanaki casually sat atop one of the cargo crates near the railing, lazily eating dried meat she bought from the docks earlier.
Ryota leaned against the railing while staring at the endless sea of sand below.
Even after several minutes—
he still couldn't get used to the sight.
There was no water.
No mountains.
No forests.
Just an endless desert stretching beyond the horizon.
Then suddenly—
Rio grabbed Sayanaki by the hood.
"Get off the crate."
Sayanaki blinked.
"…Why?"
Rio pointed toward the ship entrance.
"Because if another passenger wants to sit there and you accidentally kill them for annoying you, I don't want to deal with the paperwork."
Sayanaki stared at her.
"…That happened one time."
Rio gave her a flat look.
"It happened yesterday."
Ryota slowly looked away.
"…You know, when you say it casually like that, it somehow becomes more terrifying."
Sayanaki grinned.
"Thanks."
Rio sighed.
"Come on."
"We should head inside."
"The private cabins are quieter."
Ryota nodded.
"Honestly yeah."
"The wind out here feels like it's trying to skin me alive."
The three of them walked toward the interior section of the ship.
The inside resembled a mixture between a luxury train and a military transport vessel.
Warm lanterns illuminated the narrow hallways.
NPC workers moved around carrying supplies and food trays.
Players chatted quietly inside some of the open rooms.
Others slept.
Some were already preparing weapons.
Floor Two clearly carried a completely different atmosphere compared to Floor One.
It felt harsher.
More dangerous.
More serious.
Rio stopped in front of a wooden door.
[Cabin 41A]
She opened it.
The room was surprisingly small.
Two cushioned seats faced each other parallel to the walls with a small table between them. A narrow window sat along the side of the cabin, revealing the endless orange dunes outside.
There were also overhead storage compartments and a small lantern hanging from the ceiling.
Sayanaki immediately pointed.
"Right side is mine."
Without waiting for approval—
she threw herself onto the seat and crossed her arms.
"…Wake me up if we get attacked."
Ryota stared.
"You can sleep that easily?"
Sayanaki closed her eyes.
"I grew up sleeping in worse places."
"…Like hanging from trees."
Ryota decided not to ask questions anymore.
Rio sat down on the opposite side beside the window.
Ryota naturally sat beside her.
The cabin gently shook as the ship continued moving across the dunes.
Rio opened her inventory window.
Multiple holographic menus appeared before her.
Weapons.
Monster materials.
Trade resources.
Rare drops.
Quest items.
Ryota watched her rapidly sort everything into categories.
"Keep."
"Sell."
"Trade."
"Storage."
She moved through the menus at terrifying speed.
Ryota blinked.
"…You really became a full-time manager."
Rio sighed tiredly.
"You have no idea how much inventory management matters later in the game."
"People in the future literally hired players just to organize guild inventories."
Ryota looked horrified.
"That sounds awful."
"It is."
Sayanaki raised her hand lazily without opening her eyes.
"That's why I rob people instead."
Rio ignored her.
Ryota sat quietly for a moment while staring out the window.
The sand ship glided smoothly across the desert.
The sunset outside painted the dunes orange and crimson.
It almost looked peaceful.
Then Ryota looked back toward Rio.
"Hey."
Rio glanced at him.
"What?"
Ryota leaned back slightly.
"There's something I wanted to ask."
Rio nodded.
"Go ahead."
Ryota crossed his arms.
"It's about us traveling."
"You said we're heading to Versoza first before going to Nendu."
"You obviously do everything for a reason…"
"So why are we going there first?"
Rio's hands paused slightly above her inventory screen.
For a brief moment—
her expression changed.
Sayanaki opened one eye slightly.
Even she noticed it.
Rio slowly closed her inventory.
Then leaned back against the seat.
"…Floor Two introduced a lot of new mechanics."
"One of them…"
"…is Sand Raids."
Ryota frowned.
"Sand raids?"
Rio nodded.
"They're large-scale raid events."
"A system warning appears."
"And then NPC pirate fleets begin attacking cities, caravans, villages, or ships."
Ryota blinked.
"…Wait."
"Pirates?"
"On sand?"
Rio pointed outside.
"The desert is the ocean here."
"Sand ships are basically naval vessels."
Ryota slowly nodded.
"…Okay that actually makes sense."
Rio continued calmly.
"During Sand Raids…"
"Entire pirate fleets appear."
"They pillage resources."
"Destroy structures."
"Kidnap NPCs."
"Attack players."
"And if the raid escalates enough…"
"…cities can temporarily collapse."
Ryota stared at her.
"…That's insane."
Rio looked toward the window quietly.
"In my previous life…"
"…Versoza triggered one."
Ryota blinked.
"One raid?"
Rio slowly shook her head.
"…No."
Her voice became quieter.
"Something happened in that city."
"Nobody understood why."
"But the raid system triggered."
Sayanaki fully opened her eyes now.
Even she looked interested.
Rio's gaze remained fixed on the desert outside.
"A total of…"
"…forty-six nonstop Sand Raids hit Versoza."
Silence filled the cabin.
Ryota's eyes widened.
"…Forty-six?"
Rio nodded slowly.
"One after another."
"No breaks."
"No recovery time."
"The city burned continuously for days."
Ryota couldn't even imagine it.
Rio continued softly.
"Thousands of players got involved."
"Most of them died."
"Entire guilds were wiped out trying to defend the city."
"Resources disappeared."
"Buildings collapsed."
"NPCs died permanently."
Ryota froze.
"…Wait."
"Permanently?"
Rio nodded.
"Floor Two introduced advanced NPC systems."
"Certain important NPC deaths become permanent world events."
"Versoza lost almost half its population."
The room became quiet again.
Even Sayanaki stopped joking around.
Rio lowered her eyes slightly.
"The worst part…"
"…was that nobody understood why it happened."
Ryota slowly asked—
"So you're going there because…"
Rio looked directly at him.
"Because this time…"
"…I'm going to find out what happened."
The cabin fell silent.
The only sound left—
was the deep roaring hum of the sand ship engines carrying them toward the city that once burned forty-six times.