Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 597

Boom!

The air was ripped apart.

This shocking display was created as Arisedon shattered the sound barrier with his incredible speed.

Even as the sound barrier was broken, Zeon remained completely unaffected.

This was due to the protective authority Arisedon wielded.

Crackle!

His horns let loose a burst of sparks, and a brilliant white lightning bolt was unleashed, hurtling directly at Reikas.

Boom!

The lightning strike connected squarely with Reikas.

Like he had been struck by an immense club, Reikas was violently propelled backward for dozens of meters.

While the lightning itself didn't inflict severe damage, it was more than enough to ignite his fury and irritation.

“How dare you!”

In that precise moment, multiple beams of light descended from the sky once more.

He had initiated his signature spell—Shining Laser.

Countless beams rained down, effectively blocking off every potential escape route Arisedon might have taken.

Previously, Arisedon’s scales had been fractured by that very same Shining Laser attack.

However, the Arisedon facing him now was vastly different from his former self.

Having achieved a dragon evolution, Arisedon now possessed defense and authority far exceeding what he had as an Imugi.

Ting, ting, ting!

The Shining Lasers impacted Arisedon’s golden scales, scattering in all directions as they ricocheted.

A dragon’s scales alone possess strength and resilience surpassing any man-made armor.

Furthermore, Arisedon completely shielded Zeon, who was perched on his head, from the Shining Lasers using his overwhelming authority.

As a result, Zeon was free to concentrate entirely on offense, unburdened by any defensive concerns.

A deluge was pouring down relentlessly.

This was a direct consequence of Arisedon’s authority.

Under these conditions, Zeon's sand attacks would typically suffer a significant loss of power.

Controlling moving sand that had become saturated with water required considerably more effort.

The Zeon of the past would have wisely avoided employing sand-based assaults in such challenging circumstances.

But the current Zeon was no longer the same individual.

Just as Arisedon had transformed from an Imugi into a majestic dragon, Zeon too had shattered his own limitations and emerged stronger.

Kwoooaaah!

Within the midst of the downpour, a ferocious sandstorm began to brew.

The sand, now waterlogged, possessed several times its normal mass.

Consequently, its inherent destructive potential had also escalated dramatically.

This immense sandstorm slammed directly into Reikas.

“Keuk!”

Met with this vastly elevated level of power, a suppressed groan escaped Reikas’s lips.

His expression was unmistakably etched with shock.

Boom!

At that opportune moment, Arisedon’s head connected forcefully with Reikas’s body.

Reikas’s considerable form was again sent hurtling backward.

In that instant, Zeon swiftly summoned forth his Sand Soldiers.

Dozens of Sand Soldiers materialized atop Arisedon’s broad back.

Reinforced with rock, these Sand Soldiers managed to maintain their structural integrity even amidst the relentless rainfall.

Papap!

The Sand Soldiers launched themselves from Arisedon’s back, soaring toward Reikas.

A multitude of them latched onto Reikas, commencing their assault.

Boom! Boom!

With sickening thuds, Reikas’s body convulsed violently under the onslaught.

Zeon then unleashed another devastating skill upon him.

“Diamond Spear.”

Instantly, intense heat and immense pressure were applied to the rain-soaked sand.

The sand liquefied like molten lava before reforming into the distinct shape of spears.

These transformed into spears possessing the formidable hardness of diamonds.

Dozens of these diamond spears, each comparable in size to a human, were launched at Reikas.

And Arisedon’s formidable authority was infused into them.

The very essence of lightning crackled within the diamond spears.

“Damn it!”

Reikas perceived that something was gravely amiss.

He attempted to alter his trajectory mid-flight to avoid the incoming diamond spears. However, he found himself unable to do so, due to the Sand Soldiers persistently clinging to him like tenacious leeches.

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

With deafening explosions, the diamond spears struck Reikas one after another.

Simultaneously, the Sand Soldiers attached to him detonated.

The resulting sandy shrapnel grazed across Reikas’s body like the savage claws of a beast.

Once the storm of attacks subsided, Reikas found himself in a pitiable state.

The armor, meticulously crafted from the skull of a three-eyed blood leopard, lay shattered, and grievous wounds marred his body.

Pure fury blazed within Reikas’s eyes.

“How dare you!”

The physical wounds themselves were not the primary concern for Reikas.

The true blow was to his deeply wounded pride.

Even after transforming into a human form, he found it utterly unbelievable that he had sustained such injuries.

Flash!

At that critical juncture, lightning struck Reikas once more.

Arisedon had once again invoked his overwhelming authority.

Boom!

Struck by the powerful lightning, Reikas was sent hurtling toward the ground. A swarm of dozens of diamond spears pursued him relentlessly.

Boom boom boom!

The concentrated cluster of diamond spears impacted him directly.

Without even a moment to utter a scream, Reikas slammed viciously into the earth.

A chasm so profound that its depths were impossible to discern formed in the sand where he crashed. Zeon then addressed Arisedon.

“It’s not over yet.”

—I know.

With that resounding reply, Arisedon commenced his descent at a terrifying velocity.

Their objective was to deliver the final blow while they held the distinct advantage.

Shaaak!

The very air seemed to tear as the ground rushed up to meet them with alarming speed.

Arisedon’s Yeouiju began to glow ominously.

He was preparing to unleash his authority once more.

At that critical moment—

Kwoooaaah!

The desert floor erupted, and an immense entity burst forth, colliding head-on with the descending Arisedon.

—Kugh!

With a choked groan, Arisedon was violently flung backward.

The object that had erupted from the sand possessed an overwhelming size and mass—sufficient to send the colossal 200-meter-long Arisedon soaring through the air.

The being responsible for repelling Arisedon was a gigantic dragon.

A dragon of colossal proportions, rivaling Arisedon in sheer size—

It was Reikas.

“Did he… transform into his true form?”

Despite being the same size, a significant difference in mass caused Arisedon to be shoved back.

—I will never forgive you.

As Reikas roared, his maw opened wide, and a torrent of gray breath cascaded down.

It was a breath imbued with fire, corrosive elements, poison, and lightning.

Living up to its name as the Chaos Dragon, its very breath was pandemonium incarnate.

Boom!

Reikas’s breath sent Arisedon hurtling backward.

The old Arisedon would have sustained grievous injuries, but now, as a dragon, he managed to withstand the onslaught. Nevertheless, the sheer force left him reeling, and he shook his head.

Reikas surged forward at maximum velocity.

Once more, his intention was to employ his colossal mass in a devastating crushing attack.

However, Zeon intervened, preventing Arisedon from bearing the brunt of the assault.

Zeon extended his hand towards the heavens.

Instantly, a monumental pillar of sand erupted from the desert.

Towering over Arisedon, the colossal pillar plummeted from the sky, aimed directly at Reikas.

Its immense speed made evasion impossible for Reikas; he was struck squarely.

Boom!

With a deafening impact, Reikas stumbled.

This time, the sheer force of the blow stunned even him. Yet, true to a dragon’s formidable resilience, he escaped critical harm.

Much like Arisedon, a short period of recovery would suffice to restore him.

Zeon had harbored no illusions of this strike incapacitating Reikas.

He had a different strategy in mind.

“Diamond Spear!”

Fwoosh!

A colossal diamond spear burst forth from beneath Reikas’s feet.

It was of an entirely different magnitude compared to the smaller spears used previously.

Measuring ten meters in diameter and extending dozens of meters in length, the diamond spear impaled Reikas’s abdomen.

—Kugh!

Reikas let out a pained groan.

The diamond spear had breached his scales, renowned for their absolute defense, and burrowed deeply within.

Fortunately, it did not pierce through entirely, but its penetration was substantial.

Having never endured such a wound in his true form, the agony and shock were amplified.

Zeon was determined not to squander this golden opportunity.

He understood that if this moment passed, another chance might not readily present itself.

He had to achieve victory while he held the advantage.

“Sand Gehenna.”

Pouring all his might, he conjured a realm of superheated sand where Reikas had fallen.

What ensued was a Sand Mixer maneuver, amplified by Sand Gehenna.

Gaaaaang!

The incandescent ground swirled ferociously, akin to a mixer, abrading Reikas’s scales.

—Kraaaah!

Reikas shrieked in torment.

Molten earth surged like a tidal wave, engulfing the wound inflicted by the diamond spear.

Jjeoeong!

A massive beam of light descended upon Reikas’s form.

Arisedon, having recovered his senses, struck with his innate authority.

Under the relentless barrage from Zeon and Arisedon, Reikas swayed precariously.

Regardless of his inherent strength, even the mightiest dragon could falter when subjected to their concerted offensive.

Just as Zeon and Arisedon prepared their decisive blow—

—KRAAAAH!

With a furious roar, an immense surge of mana emanated from Reikas’s entire being.

A net of mana expanded, blanketing the sky.

This was no ordinary mana; it was the chaotic essence he commanded.

Chaos mana, capable of annihilating and dissolving all it touched, slammed into Zeon and Arisedon.

“Keuk!”

—Ugh!

Chaos mana was unlike any arcane energy they had ever encountered.

The very essence of the mana possessed inherent destructive power.

Boom, boom, boom!

Explosions erupted in rapid succession around Zeon and Arisedon.

In that critical instant, Reikas shattered the diamond spear embedded in his abdomen and ascended into the sky.

His eyes blazed with an eerie purple luminescence.

The moment Zeon perceived his gaze, a frown etched itself onto his face.

The most dire possibility flashed through his mind.

‘Could it be… Reikas has also assimilated a crystal containing Krasias’s will?’

A crystal imbued with Krasias’s will possessed the capability to elevate one beyond their species’ inherent limitations.

This was precisely how Nigel had transformed into a half-demonic dragon, transcending the confines of a dragon’s physical form.

For the present, Reikas displayed no overt signs of having surpassed these boundaries.

‘Has he not yet fully integrated it?’

If that were the case, this moment presented the ideal opportunity to eliminate him.

Should Reikas transcend his limitations, he would undoubtedly evolve into a far more formidable entity than he was currently.

As if sensing Zeon’s contemplation, Reikas beat his colossal wings and let out a roar.

—I shall withdraw for today. However, our next encounter will conclude differently.

“Fleeing?”

—Consider it a tactical withdrawal.

“Do you truly believe I will permit your escape?”

With a grit of his teeth, Zeon soared towards Reikas, accompanied by Arisedon.

Reikas responded with a condescending sneer.

—Heh. I shall leave you a parting gift before my departure.

“You—?”

A wave of premonition washed over Zeon, causing him to flinch.

At that precise moment, Reikas unleashed his breath weapon.

However, the intended target was neither Zeon nor Arisedon.

The chaotic breath was directed towards the World Tree and the assembled High Elves.

Even with the grand barrier safeguarding them, a direct hit from Reikas’s breath would undoubtedly inflict catastrophic damage.

The very World Tree itself risked complete destruction or incineration.

—No!

Arisedon reacted before Zeon could comprehend the situation.

The protective instincts of the World Tree’s guardian surged forth.

At maximum speed, Arisedon surged forward, positioning himself to intercept Reikas’s breath.

Boom!