Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 598

A colossal shockwave violently assaulted the World Tree village's formidable barrier.

The immense shield buckled and swayed precariously, appearing on the verge of imminent collapse.

Despite Arisedon intercepting the devastating breath attack, the sheer force of the impact remained staggering.

“Ugh!”

“Ghk!”

The High Elves sheltered behind the protective shield were unable to withstand the reverberations, subsequently falling to their knees or collapsing entirely.

Blood trickled from their ears and mouths.

Even with the barrier's safeguarding, every single one of them endured severe repercussions from the concussive force.

The destructive potency was so overwhelming that even the colossal World Tree shuddered as if it might splinter.

Had Arisedon not bravely absorbed the attack in their stead, the magnificent barrier would undoubtedly have been annihilated.

The World Tree itself seemed to tremble with fear, its leaves quivering ceaselessly.

“This cannot be!”

“Oh my heavens…!”

Latricia and Brielle could not contain their astonishment as they gazed upon the still-vibrating shield.

Cold sweat beaded on their brows, a testament to their profound shock.

The World Tree and the forest, only recently restored to their former glory, had narrowly escaped obliteration from that single, terrifying assault.

“Where is Arisedon?”

Regaining her composure, Brielle frantically scanned the surroundings for him.

—Krrr…

At that very moment, beyond the confines of the barrier, Arisedon slowly began to raise his head from the sandy terrain.

Wisps of black smoke curled upwards from his entire form.

He had sustained grievous injuries from the raw destructive power contained within Reikas’s breath attack.

Had he not undergone his evolution into a dragon, it would have been an attack sufficiently potent to cause instant demise.

Zeon, who had been perched atop Arisedon’s head, had also been flung a considerable distance and was now lodged deeply within the earth.

He too had suffered significant harm.

Were it not for the protective robe fashioned from Balrog’s hide, he might have lost a limb, or worse.

Reikas, the very individual responsible for Arisedon and Zeon’s dire state, had already vanished from sight.

Having expended every iota of his mana for that singular, devastating strike, he had made his escape.

“Ugh…”

Just as Zeon emitted a pained groan—

Rustle!

The leaves of the World Tree stirred, and luminous particles began to ascend.

Carried by the gentle breeze, these glowing motes descended upon Arisedon and Zeon.

The instant the light enveloped them, they experienced a rapid abatement of their pain.

The World Tree had initiated its inherent healing abilities.

Their wounds commenced closing at an astonishing velocity.

Arisedon’s scales reacquired their brilliant golden luster, and Zeon’s injuries were completely mended.

Only then did both of them finally exhale the breaths they had been holding in tension.

“Hoo…”

Although their injuries were miraculously healed, they found themselves utterly drained, lacking even the strength to twitch a finger.

Zeon leaned his weary body against Arisedon’s immense form, sinking down with exhaustion.

Arisedon was in a similar state.

He lay stretched out upon the ground, concentrating solely on regaining his depleted reserves of strength. Fortunately, with the World Tree’s benevolent assistance, replenishing his power was a straightforward process.

Leaning back, Zeon addressed Arisedon, his voice tinged with weariness.

“Good work, old friend.”

—You as well, Zeon.

“How is your body faring?”

—I shall be recovered shortly.

“Hoo… He was indeed a formidable opponent.”

—He will undoubtedly return someday.

“Most likely. His intention is to claim the World Tree and establish his domain right here.”

—That, I shall not permit. I will become stronger.

“Yeah.”

Zeon offered a solemn nod.

Arisedon had only recently achieved his dragon evolution.

His rank and overall power had surged to unprecedented levels, yet he still required time to fully comprehend his newfound body and its capabilities.

Once he achieved mastery over these aspects, he would ascend to a power far exceeding his current state.

And with the World Tree’s divine blessing augmenting his strength, he would never trail behind Reikas.

—Are you feeling alright, Zeon?

—You performed admirably.

The ethereal spirits drew near, offering words of comfort to Arisedon.

They were minuscule, no larger than specks of dust in comparison to his colossal physique, yet their gentle voices provided him immense solace.

Shortly thereafter, the High Elves unsealed the grand barrier and emerged cautiously.

They showered Arisedon with profuse praise.

“You were truly magnificent, Lord Arisedon!”

“Congratulations on achieving your long-held dream of becoming a dragon!”

“We are eternally grateful for your protection of our village!”

Arisedon’s draconic face flushed, a rare sight.

He was unaccustomed to such overwhelming accolades.

—I must depart now.

His massive form effortlessly lifted into the air.

Before Zeon could utter a word, he ascended rapidly towards the heavens.

“Waaa!”

“It’s a dragon! A real dragon!”

The young High Elf children cheered ecstatically, observing Arisedon’s sinuous ascent into the vast sky.

“Truly impressive… a dragon of Earth.”

Tesserina softly murmured, her gaze fixed on his retreating form.

A complex tapestry of emotions flickered across her countenance.

Among them was a discernible pang of envy.

Unlike herself, who had been stripped of her original physical form, Arisedon had successfully transformed into the revered dragon he had yearned to become.

Having transcended his limitations and achieved his draconic state, his power would only continue to grow exponentially.

“Hoo…”

Releasing a gentle sigh, Tesserina approached Zeon.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“I require some rest.”

“You did exceptionally well.”

Tesserina extended her hand, offering Zeon assistance as he rose.

Levin and Brielle also drew closer, their faces etched with concern.

“Here, drink this!”

Brielle swiftly presented Zeon with a potent healing potion.

Despite her knowledge of the World Tree’s restorative capabilities, she felt compelled to offer him the potion.

Zeon did not decline, readily accepting and consuming it.

As the liquid flowed down, he could distinctly perceive his condition rapidly improving.

“Thank you kindly.”

“No, the gratitude is ours. Thank you for safeguarding the World Tree and our cherished village.”

“Indeed.”

“Go and get some rest. We will manage the aftermath and any remaining issues.”

“Understood.”

Zeon acknowledged this with a nod and then turned, walking away to seek his much-needed repose.

He entered the sanctuary, a haven prepared by the High Elves, and promptly succumbed to a profound slumber.

---

“What spectacle was that? I can hardly accept what I witnessed.”

Floa gazed upon the desert with utter disbelief.

The remnants of the intense conflict between Reikas, Arisedon, and Zeon were still apparent.

Even for someone who had endured countless harsh experiences like herself, the battle she had just observed was unprecedented and deeply unsettling.

For a fleeting moment, she genuinely believed the world was hurtling towards its demise.

It was a clash between a dragon and a true dragon.

The sight of two colossal beings, each two hundred meters in magnitude, battling in the heavens was nothing short of surreal.

What amplified the surreal nature of the event was the presence of a single human who had not only participated in this titanic struggle but had also demonstrably influenced its outcome.

Her awareness of Zeon’s formidable strength was already established, yet the fact that he could contend with a dragon left her utterly astonished.

After a period of stunned stillness, Floa swiftly regained her composure and approached Latricia.

“Are you unharmed?”

“As you can plainly see, I am intact. My only regret is that our encounter may have unduly startled our guest.”

“Not at all. Is there any assistance I can offer?”

“I shall inform you once the situation has been fully evaluated. Fortunately, due in large part to the efforts of Lord Arisedon and Lord Zeon, the damage sustained was minimal…”

Latricia’s gaze drifted upwards towards the sky.

Though he was no longer visible, Arisedon, now transformed into a dragon, was somewhere above.

She had personally borne witness to his awe-inspiring might.

While he had been temporarily repelled by Reikas in this instance, his future resilience would undoubtedly increase as he gained further strength.

Arisedon stood as an unwavering protector of the World Tree village.

Together, he and Zeon had safeguarded both the World Tree and the village; now, the responsibility fell to her.

Latricia proceeded to issue directives to the assembled High Elves.

“Elders, I require an immediate inspection of the grand barrier.”

“Understood, Lady Latricia!”

The elders acknowledged her command and swiftly departed to execute their tasks.

Distinct from the protective ward of the Primordial Forest, the grand barrier safeguarding the World Tree village derived its power directly from the World Tree itself.

Consequently, inspecting the barrier necessitated an assessment of the World Tree’s overall condition.

Latricia issued further instructions.

“You, survey the health of the surrounding flora and fauna in conjunction with the nature spirits. The remainder of you, ensure that the crops have not suffered any damage.”

“Affirmative, Lady Latricia!”

“We shall see to it!”

The High Elves dispersed, heading in various directions.

Finally, Latricia summoned Levin.

“I have a request for you.”

“Certainly, please state it.”

“I would like you to undertake a patrol of the adjacent territories.”

“You wish for me to ascertain the presence of any approaching hostile entities, is that correct?”

“Precisely. It is conceivable that this recent conflict has drawn unwanted attention to our village.”

“Rest assured. I shall conduct a swift reconnaissance and manage any threats.”

“My gratitude.”

“Oh, it is truly nothing! Hehe!”

Levin chuckled and immediately ascended into the air.

Latricia continued to implement additional precautionary measures she deemed vital for the village’s security.

Observing her decisive leadership and unwavering execution of her duties, Floa felt a profound sense of admiration.

This, she mused, was the very essence of true leadership.

Under Latricia’s competent direction, the World Tree village rapidly re-established its equilibrium.

After ascertaining that her presence was no longer critically required, Floa addressed Latricia.

“I shall now return to the Primordial Forest. Should any need arise, do not hesitate to seek my aid.”

“I shall keep that in mind, Lady Floa. Thank you for your thoughtful concern.”

“It was a minor matter. Farewell then…”

With her goodbyes offered, Floa stepped back through the shimmering portal, reappearing within the familiar environs of the Primordial Forest.

Upon her arrival, she promptly convened all the inhabitants.

Both Dark Elves and humans gathered within the designated clearing where the portal was situated.

Once the assembly was complete, Floa delivered startling news.

“I am unable to disclose my source, but information indicates that El Harun has met its end.”

The humans present, entirely unaware of El Harun’s existence, simply offered bewildered expressions.

However, the Dark Elves reacted with palpable shock.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“What do you mean, El Harun has fallen?”

“That is simply not possible.”

Their faces were etched with disbelief.

Despite having been estranged and unable to access El Harun, they possessed a clear understanding of its extraordinary nature.

If Neo Seoul represented humanity’s beacon of hope, then El Harun was the cherished ideal for all other races.

The notion of such a place being annihilated was exceedingly difficult to comprehend.

Disregarding their astonishment, Floa pressed on.

“What I convey is the absolute truth. Lord Zeon personally verified this information.”

“…!”

“That cannot be…”

The mention of Zeon’s name had the immediate effect of quieting the ensuing uproar.

While the Dark Elves typically harbored mistrust towards outsiders, Zeon was a notable exception.

If he had confirmed its downfall, then El Harun had indeed been destroyed.

Floa continued her somber report.

“Even though El Harun has been destroyed, it does not signify that every soul perished. Any survivors will undoubtedly be dispersed throughout the unforgiving desert.”

“…!”

Low murmurs of concern rippled through the assembled Dark Elves and humans.

Having endured prolonged periods of extreme hardship themselves, they immediately grasped the grave implications of her statement.

“They will be seeking new places to reside.”

“The Steel Fortress… and, by extension, our own forest could become potential targets.”

Their expressions hardened, replaced by a firm resolve.

They had painstakingly established the Primordial Forest through immense effort.

The thought of yielding it to any encroaching force was unthinkable.

Floa then issued a decisive command.

“Effective immediately, the Primordial Forest shall enter a state of heightened war readiness. Conduct a thorough inspection of the grand barrier and intensify all patrol activities.”