Walking in the Akapen Desert during the day causes the Heatstroke debuff. Your maximum stamina will decrease every minute. Travel at night or consume "Chilled Cactus Juice". Additionally, watch out for patches of darker, shifting sand—these are quicksand pits that will instantly drown Kliff.
1. Crossing the Sea of Dust
Your journey begins at the Southern Pass. The goal is to reach the Nomad Capital, but the path is obscured by constant sandstorms.
Tactical Tip: Best Companion for the Desert
Bring Oongka with you. Being a native of the southern tribes, his passive ability "Desert Born" halves the rate at which Kliff's stamina drains during the day. He also has unique dialogue options with the Nomad merchants.
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The Camel Merchant
Standard horses will struggle in the deep sand. Locate the merchant Zaid at the entrance of the desert. He will trade a Camel for 2,000 Gold. Camels don't lose stamina in sand and have an innate resistance to heat.
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Navigate by the Stars
During a sandstorm, your minimap will glitch. Look up at the sky; the Abyss Constellation (three bright purple stars) always points exactly North toward the Sunken Temple.
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The Night Traders
While crossing, you may spot a blue campfire. These belong to the Silent Nomads, who only trade at night. Stop here to buy "Nomad's Silk", a crafting material you will need later to upgrade your heat-resistant armor.
📜 Lore Context: The Silent Nomads
The Silent Nomads cut out their own tongues as a rite of passage, communicating entirely through hand signs and glowing dust. They are neutral to the Demeniss war and hold the ancient secrets of navigating the shifting sands without disturbing the burrowers.
If your controller starts vibrating softly while riding, a Dune Scorpion is tracking you underground. Do not dismount. Sprint in a zig-zag pattern until the vibration stops. If you fight them, use heavy blunt weapons to crack their carapace.
💰 Pro-Tip: The Dune Scorpion Gold Farm
Need gold for the legendary Nomad Armor? Ride your camel in circles around the Southern Pass to intentionally trigger Dune Scorpion ambushes. Use blunt weapons to harvest their Intact Carapaces, which sell for 400 Gold each to the Night Traders. You can easily make 5,000 Gold in 15 minutes.
2. The Nomad Encampment & Side Quests
Before reaching the temple, you will discover the hidden Oasis Encampment. This acts as your primary hub for Chapter 4.
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Upgrade your Waterskin
Speak to the camp Elder. He will upgrade your standard flask into a Nomad's Waterskin, which holds 5 charges instead of 3 and prevents water from evaporating in the heat.
Do not skip this quest! Talk to the crying merchant near the tents. He asks you to find his lost caravan to the East.
- The Location: Follow the trail of broken barrels to a canyon. You will find the caravan surrounded by Desert Bandits.
- The Choice: After defeating the bandits, you can return the goods (Gain +500 Nomad Reputation) or keep them (Gain 4,000 Gold). Choose the Reputation. High reputation unlocks the legendary Nomad Armor set at the vendor.
3. The Sunken Temple & The Oasis Rift
To advance the story, you must enter the Sunken Temple of Akapen. This area features the most complex light-based puzzles in the game.
The entrance to the Sunken Temple is half-buried under centuries of shifting sand.
In the main hall, you must redirect sunlight to hit the central pedestal. However, some mirrors are "Mirages" (illusions).
- The Trick: Use your Abyss Vision to identify which mirrors are real. Real mirrors will have a faint purple glow around the edges.
- Solution: Rotate the first real mirror 45 degrees East. Use your Axiom Force to pull the second mirror closer to the window. The light will bounce and reveal the hidden staircase.
Before proceeding down the temple stairs, exit through the broken eastern wall. You will find a small pool of water.
- Unlocking the Rift: Wait until precisely midnight (in-game time). The moon's reflection on the water will turn purple, opening the portal to the Drowning Void.
- The Challenge: Inside, you must defeat 3 waves of Elite Sand-Stalkers without using healing potions. The reward is the Akapen Abyss Fragment (+10% Movement Speed in combat).
4. Chapter Boss: Colossal Sand-Burrower
This massive centipede-like creature attacks from beneath the sand. It is a battle of patience and timing.
The Colossal Sand-Burrower guards the lower depths of the Sunken Temple.
| Phase | Boss Attack | How to Win |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (Submerged) |
Sand Ripples | The boss stays underground. Watch the sand ripples. When it lunges, Perfect Parry its head to force it onto the surface. |
| Phase 2 (Exposed) |
Acid Spit | It will spit acid in a cone. Use your Axiom Force Grapple to launch Kliff into the air and perform a Plunging Heavy Attack on the boss's soft back. |
| Final Phase (Enraged) |
Whirlpool | The boss creates a sand vortex that pulls you in. Equip your Bow and hit the three glowing segments on its tail to break the vortex and trigger the execution finisher. |
Defeating the Sand-Burrower grants the "Fragment of the Sands". This unlocks the Sand-Dash ability, allowing Kliff to move rapidly across any surface (including water) for a short duration.
6. Chapter 4 Completion
✅ Before Leaving Akapen...
The path to the coast in Chapter 5 will require the skills and items you earned here. Verify you have:
Achievement Unlocked
Dune Rider: Conquer the Akapen Desert and unearth the Sunken Temple. (30G / Silver)
💬 Community Strategies & Discussion
Did you find a hidden chest? Struggling with a boss? Share your tips and questions with other Pywel mercenaries below!