Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 575
Previously on Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert...
“Welcome back!”
Zeon was greeted by Urtian.
Having just reached the Iron Fortress, Zeon gazed at the injury-covered Urtian with deep concern.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m good! Scratches like these mend just by spitting on them.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“And you? Everything alright?”
“My wounds are the sort that recover with a bit of spit too.”
“Good news. So, what of Behemoth?”
“Handled it.”
“Haa! You’ve done well.”
Only then did Urtian exhale in relief.
With the biggest danger to the Iron Fortress’s existence now gone, the ache from his injuries surged up.
Behemoth’s power had terrified him that much.
“You defeated Behemoth?”
Right then, two women drew near Zeon.
Liala and Hera were they.
“Lady Hera, you’re here too.”
“Had to see for myself.”
“More than that, it looks like you fought alongside us. Correct?”
“First, I apologize to you and the humans. Repo and Lamore did something unforgivable. I just assisted because of it.”
“Thank you.”
“No matter my dislike for humans, that went beyond bounds. Their deeds were utterly excessive.”
Hera averted her eyes from Zeon.
True shame filled her.
“What’s your next move?”
“What else is there?”
“Think Lord Del Roa will overlook this?”
“Hoo…”
Rather than reply, Hera sighed.
She’d wrestled with that question the whole day.
Ultimately, one decision emerged.
“Punish me alone, and it’ll suffice. No matter Lord Del Roa’s fury, he won’t harm our whole race.”
“Will it really go that way?”
“What are you saying?”
“Met him once, but Lord Del Roa didn’t strike me as rational. Heard he commanded finding a new World Tree, killing all inhabitants if needed. Does that sound like reason?”
“……”
Hera fell silent.
Humans weren’t her favorites.
Kurayan memories fueled that.
There, elves retreated before human advances, hiding deep in woods.
Not just elves.
Beastmen, Zella Tribe, dwarves—all suffered under human oppression.
In Kurayan, humans dominated.
Unlike divided other races, humans banded into mighty kingdoms and empires.
Dozens of human realms existed there.
No race save dragons challenged humans.
Myriad other races became their slaves.
Humans ruthlessly drained them, memories burning bright still.
Hera had seen such horrors as an elf.
Friends dragged away right before her.
Those scars kept her from liking humans, yet she didn’t crave their ruin.
In this desert world, races needed alliance to endure.
But Del Roa lacked Hera’s reason.
Since fusing with the World Tree, his views turned black-and-white.
Ally or foe.
Followers were righteous; rejecters, wicked.
Old Del Roa hadn’t been so rigid.
He’d held vast compassion and leadership, drawing many races.
World Tree merger hardened his nature bit by bit.
With such traits, he’d never pardon Liala—or Hera.
Both defied his wishes.
“Hoo…”
Hera sighed deeply unwittingly.
Future paths eluded her.
While Hera pondered deeply, Zeon addressed Liala.
“How bad was the damage?”
“Many perished. Still, they stay calm.”
Liala stared grimly at Iron Fortress dwellers.
Numerous lost kin or comrades.
Despite vast sorrow, they held back tears, collecting corpses.
The scene stirred Liala and her followers profoundly.
“Tough folk.”
“Yeah, agreed.”
“Changed your mind?”
“On what? Bringing El Harun people here?”
“Exactly.”
“More convinced now.”
Liala wasn’t alone in this.
Uslan and her group, battling beside Iron Fortress residents, forged deeper ties.
They yearned to settle here even more.
“Something private to discuss. Come with me.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”
Puzzled yet compliant, Liala trailed Zeon.
Zeon assembled not just Liala, but Urtian and Iron Fortress leaders too.
Battle-weary from heterogenous foes, they patiently awaited Zeon’s words.
Zeon scanned their faces before speaking.
“You all fought valiantly in this epic clash. Sorry to summon you without rest.”
“You bore the heaviest load, Zeon. Why gather us?”
“Lord Urtian.”
“Yes?”
“Shifted your view?”
“On what?”
“Linking with Neo Seoul.”
“This fight solidified it. Ties with Neo Seoul are vital for our desert survival.”
“What if easy travel to Neo Seoul existed?”
“Why question? We’d seize it.”
“Others?”
Zeon eyed the group.
Deborah, Urtian’s spouse, spoke first.
“If real, we’d embrace it.”
“Indeed?”
“Life’s good here, but Neo Seoul’s culture and tech are essential. Self-achieving that takes centuries.”
Human desires boundless, Iron Fortress folk mirrored it.
Initially seeking mere safety.
Fortress secured, they craved finer goods.
Local alchemists made necessities, but paled against Neo Seoul’s advances—like medieval times.
Not just Deborah; all shared the sentiment.
This crisis made Neo Seoul exchange imperative.
Zeon, gauging their determination, revealed the Teleport Gem.
“What’s that?”
“Teleport Gem.”
“Teleport Gem?”
“Holds Behemoth’s power. Rumor says it opens portals for spatial travel.”
“For real?”
“That works?”
Whispers rippled through.
“One in Neo Seoul, one here—travel opens up.”
“My goodness!”
Deborah’s eyes bulged at Zeon’s words.
Hard to fathom such effortless access to coveted Neo Seoul.
Zeon continued steadily.
“Think it over. Portal lets Neo Seoul folk come too. Conflicts may brew. Still want it?”
“Hold on. Let’s deliberate first.”
Urtian replied solemnly.
He’d craved Neo Seoul links desperately; now reachable, dread rose.
“Naturally.”
Zeon nodded, empathetic.
Urtian, Liala, leaders huddled for intense talks.
Decision swift.
“We’ll set up the portal.”
“Got it. Pick a spot, I’ll place it.”
“Neo Seoul one too?”
“Yes.”
“Hoo… Exciting.”
“Must go there myself to install, so usage delayed.”
“We’ll endure the wait.”
“Understood.”
Confirming Urtian and leaders’ commitment, Zeon assented.
“Plaza here for installation.”
“Fine.”
Answering, Zeon glanced at Tesserina.
She nodded, weaving magic over the plaza.
To shield the portal’s secret, she etched a concealing, sense-dampening circle.
Shhhhhh!
Vast mana erupted from Tesserina, tracing myriad lines aloft.
Medium-free manifestation.
Tesserina told Zeon,
“Portal open now, plaza outsiders won’t detect it.”
“Thanks.”
“Hehe.”
Zeon set the Teleport Gem plaza-center, channeling mana. It blazed, birthing a grand portal.
Big enough for sizable vehicles.
Tesserina noted,
“Not complete yet. Neo Seoul side activates it fully.”
“Hoo! Can’t wait.”
Urtian’s thrill overflowed.
Inspecting the portal, Liala remarked,
“Portal in El Harun would ease moving everyone.”
“You know that’s impossible.”
El Harun portal would draw humans and heterogenous hordes.
Newly stable Iron Fortress risked fresh war.
“Aware. Just regretful.”
“When fetching the rest?”
“Planned to leave soon for that.”
“Immediately?”
“Beating Giant Dwarves or Zella Tribe there boosts safe human extraction odds.”
“True.”
Zeon agreed.
Del Roa learning Liala’s scheme first meant chaos.
Best to evacuate humans pre-discovery.
Luckily, their speed outpaced dwarves and Zella.
Late start still ensured first arrival.
Zeon probed gently,
“Elves’ next step?”
“Hera decides fully. Elves heed their leader utmost. Relocating tough though. Human-fit here, not elven paradise.”
“World Tree needed?”
“Elves depend wholly on it, unlike humans.”
“Another World Tree means no El Harun tie, right?”
“Know such a spot?”
“……”
“Understood.”
Zeon stayed neutral, but his look confirmed to Liala.
“Portal there too?”
“……”
“Then I’ll convince Hera.”
Liala’s tone rang with certainty of success.