Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 571
Previously on Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert...
Chapter 571
Kwang! Kwaaaang!
Pillar-thick bolts of lightning cascaded from above like a furious downpour, smashing into the mana particle cannons.
Those mana particle cannons, built with vast sums from City Hall’s treasury, exploded apart as if they were mere playthings.
Obviously, the operators manning them couldn’t escape unharmed.
In a flash, their bodies turned into charred husks.
Accompanied by the stench of scorched flesh, plumes of white smoke billowed from their forms.
Not a single scream escaped their lips.
They perished instantly, denied even a moment to register the agony.
City Hall’s years of funding and manpower vanished in the blink of an eye, but no one present considered it a needless loss.
The sheer, horrifying power wiped their thoughts clean.
They clenched their jaws tight merely to cling to their slipping awareness.
“Damn it!”
Seong Hoyeon swore under his breath and sprang into action.
Most Awakened stood paralyzed by terror, rooted in place. Someone needed to take the lead to snap them out of it.
Once Seong Hoyeon charged forward, the Numbers trailed right behind, followed by the district strike captains like Mac Krieger.
Seong Hoyeon bellowed,
“Spot its weak point first. There’s got to be some vulnerable area on it.”
“Okay!”
“Got it!”
The Numbers answered while activating their abilities.
Grain, master of gravity magic, unleashed Gravity Increase to weigh down Behemoth, as the twin sisters tried to scramble its thoughts via telepathy.
Old Man Go erected a barrier to lock Behemoth in position, while other Awakened fired off their strongest skills.
Mac Krieger’s SRT Team closed in on Behemoth for a direct assault.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
A torrent of strikes pummeled Behemoth’s colossal frame. Regrettably, none of the blows left any mark.
Already immensely powerful from the start, Behemoth had grown into pure disaster after consuming countless S-rank magical beasts.
Hwa-ha-hak!
All of a sudden, dark ink erupted from Behemoth’s form, showering down like a deluge.
“Aaagh!”
“S-save me!”
Awakened cried out as they tumbled to the ground.
Wherever the ink splattered their flesh, it corroded straight through, leaving gaping holes.
Awakened shielded by thick armor or protective skills endured, but the rest faced horrific deaths.
“You bastard!”
Roaring in rage, Seong Hoyeon summoned a gigantic greatsword from his subspace.
This was Dragon Slayer, a blade forged specifically for felling mighty magical beasts.
True to its name, it served as the ultimate tool for slaying dragons.
Seong Hoyeon swung Dragon Slayer hard, smashing it into Behemoth’s head.
Kkaang!
Yet Dragon Slayer bounced back upon clashing with Behemoth’s force field.
Behemoth’s eyes locked onto Seong Hoyeon.
In that split second, a scarlet beam of annihilation lanced toward him.
Flash!
In his dire moment, Seong Hoyeon desperately blocked with Dragon Slayer.
Kwaang!
“Ugh!”
A deafening blast shattered Dragon Slayer to fragments, hurling Seong Hoyeon’s body away.
His form slammed into the earth and tumbled ignobly.
“Captain!”
“Are you okay?”
The Numbers cried out to him.
Luckily, Seong Hoyeon staggered back up swiftly. Still, his expression betrayed deep shock.
He’d barely clung to life, but the wounds were severe.
His gut twisted violently, threatening to heave.
Forcing down the bile, Seong Hoyeon declared,
“I’m fine! Everyone, stay sharp.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Understood.”
The Numbers acknowledged and pressed their offensive.
District Awakened synced their efforts, unleashing relentless barrages.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Scores of skills rained down, battering Behemoth relentlessly. Yet it strode onward casually, unscathed.
Kwachik!
An Awakened too slow to evade got pulverized beneath Behemoth’s foot, bursting open.
“Crazy!”
“You’re telling us to stop that?”
Terror etched across the Awakened’s faces.
Its gigantic bulk rendered any real harm nearly impossible.
Only district leaders and Numbers could land telling hits; others’ efforts proved futile.
Kwang! Kwaaaang!
Every step Behemoth took crushed numerous Awakened, claiming lives.
“Damn it! How do we even fight this thing?”
“No way to beat it in sight.”
Despair crept over the Awakened’s features.
Despite full preparation, they couldn’t halt its advance. Frustration boiled within.
While others sank into hopelessness, some pushed forward to spark hope.
The Numbers and district captains pressed on.
Elite skills and unbreakable resolve armed them.
“Check the horn. Its hue shifts post-lightning. Looks like a mana core for charging.”
“Shatter that horn, and we neutralize its lightning at least.”
Amid the chaos, they pinpointed a path ahead.
Mac Krieger yelled,
“We’ll take out that horn. Guard our backs.”
Ignoring Seong Hoyeon’s response, he rallied the SRT Team to advance.
Kwaang!
A teammate’s magical weapon unleashed a colossal fireball that detonated on Behemoth’s skull.
The blast’s force rocked Behemoth’s head momentarily.
Seizing the moment, Mac Krieger vaulted skyward.
Seven iron orbs whirled around him.
Far from ordinary, these were Chaos Balls, embodying Eastern District tech mastery.
The silly name belied their devastating might.
Chaos Balls stored and boosted skills.
Mac Krieger had loaded them with Explosive Flame Sphere.
A skill vastly surpassing regular fireballs—its blast could obliterate a huge golem instantly.
Each held ten layered Explosive Flame Spheres.
His ace, saved for vengeance against Seong Hoyeon. Desperation demanded their use now.
“Captain! Hit it!”
An SRT member bellowed, jamming a huge blade into Behemoth’s head force field and wrenching it.
A breach opened in the field.
Paseuseu!
The field lashed out wildly, incinerating the SRT member to dust.
Gulping his sorrow, Mac Krieger flung all seven Chaos Balls through the opening.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Explosion shocks slammed Behemoth’s enormous head down. The horn vanished.
Annihilated by the detonation.
“It’s done.”
As Mac Krieger whooped in victory—
Behemoth’s foreleg whipped out, smashing him.
Kwaang!
“Keugh!”
The blow launched Mac Krieger’s body afar.
He plunged unconscious into the sand face-first.
His survival uncertain.
Yet all sensed the golden chance.
The dreaded lightning ceased abruptly, and the impenetrable force field faded.
Mac Krieger and SRT Team’s sacrifice had forged this opening.
No wasting it.
Seong Hoyeon roared,
“Now! Full assault!”
“Yes!”
“Uwoooo!”
Recoiling Awakened bellowed and surged at Behemoth.
Numbers shone brightest among them.
“Gravity Collapse!”
Grain slammed his ultimate skill on the now-shieldless Behemoth.
Gravity imploded, squashing its huge body flat.
Against the immobilized Behemoth, Numbers unloaded killing blows.
Kwang! Kwaang!
Blast after blast rocked Behemoth’s frame.
Seong Hoyeon yelled,
“Almost there. Victory’s near.”
“Aaaah!”
“Die, you damn hippo bastard!”
Awakened howled, draining their final reserves.
Behemoth’s scales cracked and shed under the onslaught.
Blood soaked Behemoth thoroughly.
Triumph loomed.
Then Behemoth’s voice boomed.
—How troublesome.
Bang!
As its words ended, a shockwave burst forth.
The blast hurled ant-like Awakened from its body.
“Aaagh!”
“Guh!”
Ferocious attackers scattered like autumn leaves.
Next, eye-fired destruction beams targeted the Numbers.
“Keuhp!”
“Ugh!”
Numbers flew apart like struck pins.
They survived, barely, but Old Man Go and twins collapsed, defenseless on knees.
“Damn it!”
“How the hell do we beat this…?”
Despair gripped attack-dodging Awakened.
Casualties mounted heavily.
Despite life-costly strikes, Behemoth stood firm.
Crushing impotence froze their limbs.
Just as defeat loomed.
“Sand Gehenna!”
A voice cut through the battlefield.
Deep-toned, it rang crystal-clear in ears.
Bubble! Bubble!
Words barely faded when sand under Behemoth liquefied and bubbled fiercely.
Seong Hoyeon knew the speaker instantly.
“It’s Zeon.”
His call made all gaze upward.
High in the sky, Zeon rode a sandstorm down.
Skills erupted from him nonstop.
“Fire Rain! Summon Sand Soldiers.”
Instantly, fiery deluge assailed Behemoth, sand soldiers emerging.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Fire rain pounded Behemoth’s bulk.
Sand Soldiers scaled it, striking relentlessly.
Zeon commanded Seong Hoyeon’s group,
“Sand Soldiers handle tanking. Pull back, stick to ranged fire.”
“Understood.”
Seong Hoyeon withdrew without protest.
Awakened required regrouping time.
Ranged attacks now, stamina and mana recovery. Melee later.
Seong Hoyeon ordered the Awakened,
“All pull back. Mages, bombard away. Fighters, restore stamina.”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
Awakened complied, retreating from Behemoth.
Meanwhile, Behemoth struggled to flee Sand Gehenna.
Its vast size should’ve allowed easy escape. Zeon prevented it.
“Arghh!”
Zeon churned deep sand under Behemoth into quicksand.
Paseuseuseu!
Sand drained earthward, hauling Behemoth down.
Swiftly, half its colossal body sank.
—Do not obstruct me, Sand Mage!
Furious, Behemoth beamed destruction at Zeon. Sand Soldiers intercepted, shielding him.
This bought Zeon time for his next move.
“Diamond Spear!”
Shuuuu!
A massive diamond spear erupted from below, impaling Behemoth’s belly.
—Kraaaah!
Behemoth’s roar quaked the desert.