Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 613

Although both were slums, Sinchon and Guro presented vastly different atmospheres.

Sinchon, boasting the Goblin Market and a portal, thrummed with the energy of rapid development. Guro, however, lacked any such catalyst for growth.

It was the most underdeveloped district among the slums, which explained its sky-high crime rate and the overall bleakness of the place.

Consequently, the inhabitants of Guro were known to be rough and exceedingly cruel.

This harsh reputation made even residents of other slums hesitant to venture into Guro.

If adults avoided it, it went without saying for children.

Children from Sinchon never set foot in Guro unless there was a compelling reason. Yet, today, a throng of Sinchon children was amassed at Guro's entrance.

Their countenances were alight with combative fervor.

At their forefront stood Levin.

A menacing aura seemed to emanate from Levin’s face, so chilling that even the children accompanying him swallowed hard.

After a brief survey of Guro, Levin broke the silence.

“Where is it? The location where our children are being held.”

“We will guide you,” Aaron and Dominic responded promptly, stepping forward.

They proceeded into Guro without the slightest hesitation.

The sudden appearance of a substantial group of unfamiliar children triggered an uproar within Guro.

“Who the heck are these brats?”

“What are people from another district doing here?”

The children from Guro, particularly those of similar age to the Sinchon children, became agitated.

Under normal circumstances, the Sinchon children would have regarded the Guro kids with caution. However, at this moment, their focus was absolute.

They marched forward, their gaze fixed solely on the backs of Aaron and Dominic, who led the way.

“Hey, you little brutes! What do you think you are?”

“You’ve got some nerve crawling in here!”

Apparently provoked by their presence, several burly adults intervened. These were thugs who had established themselves in Guro, each imposing and intimidating enough that onlookers flinched at their mere shadows.

Naturally, the thugs expected the children to react with fear.

Crackle!

At that precise moment, sparks erupted from Levin’s hand.

The sight of brilliant white lightning flickering erratically compelled them to adopt a respectful stance instinctively.

Then, Levin uttered a single, cutting sentence.

“Would you kindly get lost?”

“Yes, sir!”

Without delay, they bowed their heads and fled, casting aside any notion of pride or dignity. Their lives were of paramount importance.

Thus, after several adults approached only to depart in haste, the pattern continued.

Levin and the children proceeded directly down Guro’s main thoroughfare.

Overwhelmed by their determined advance, onlookers parted, clearing their path.

After traversing the main road, they reached the most dilapidated structure in the vicinity.

It appeared on the verge of collapse due to neglect—this unstable edifice, known as Beggar’s Den, was their destination.

Aaron gestured towards the entrance.

“Here!”

“So Harbin and Kaden are inside?”

“Absolutely!”

“I see.”

A chilling aura enveloped Levin’s gaze, laced with palpable killing intent.

Flash!

In that instant, lightning surged from his body.

A solitary bolt disintegrated the entrance of Beggar’s Den into fragments.

“What the hell?”

“Fuck! Who are these bastards?”

Inhabitants of the den rushed out, their stench indicating a prolonged absence of hygiene. The name Beggar’s Den was evidently well-earned.

Approaching the shattered entrance, Levin commanded,

“Wipe them out!”

“Waaah!”

“Let’s go!”

The children erupted in shouts and charged into the building.

“Aaargh! You sons of—!”

“These bastards are from Sinchon!”

“Fuck! Stop them!”

The residents of Beggar’s Den attempted to resist, but their efforts were futile. The Sinchon children had shed all restraint.

They pressed forward relentlessly, bulldozing their way through the Guro children.

As they penetrated deeper into the den, adults began to emerge.

“Hah! What are these little brats?”

“Still wet behind the ears and you dare charge in here? You’re all dead today.”

They advanced menacingly toward the Sinchon children, but before they could even land a blow, Aaron and Dominic subdued them. Lacking the abilities of awakened individuals like Aaron and Dominic, their imposing size proved insufficient.

Aaron and Dominic fought with unrelenting ferocity, clearing the path by incapacitating the adults at the forefront.

“Aaagh!”

“Ugh!”

The cries of the defeated adults reverberated through the den. No quarter was given; their rage mirrored Levin's.

It was as they finally reached the innermost part of Beggar’s Den that a confrontation ensued.

“That’s far enough, brats!”

“You’ve crossed the line too much.”

A group emerged from the shadows, projecting an aura and killing intent on an entirely different level than those previously encountered.

Levin observed,

“Awakened ones, I presume? What could possibly be in a place like Beggar’s Den to draw so many of you?”

“You’re Levin from Sinchon, aren’t you?”

Among them, an individual of clearly superior strength recognized Levin.

“And you are?”

“No need for you to know my name. Turn back now, and I’ll let you leave.”

“Are you the boss?”

“What?”

“I asked if you’re the boss of Beggar’s Den.”

“Do you truly believe the boss would deign to meet the likes of you? The boss is inside.”

“Then you’re merely a subordinate.”

“You little—!”

“Then step aside.”

Flash!

Levin unleashed his Purple Lightning.

“Damn it!”

The awakened individual hastily erected a substantial shield, effectively intercepting the incoming assault.

Boom!

A resounding explosion followed, with lightning erupting outwards upon collision with the barrier.

Fortunately, the awakened from Beggar’s Den remained unharmed.

“Levin of Sinchon! This shield was painstakingly crafted just for you. Your attacks are useless against it.”

His words held undeniable truth.

The shield, a masterpiece forged by a skilled artisan in Guro, possessed unparalleled resistance to lightning.

Levin’s lips twisted into a subtle smirk.

“So, you placed your faith in that frail shield and proceeded to distribute drugs throughout Sinchon?”

“Tch.”

The man holding the shield let out a dismissive click of his tongue.

His name was Larson, and he held the position of second-in-command within Beggar’s Den.

A martial-type awakened of B-rank, his abilities were formidable.

Typically, someone of his caliber could have easily established themselves in Neo Seoul, yet he chose to remain in Beggar’s Den.

This loyalty was reserved for his elder brother, Teddy, the undisputed leader.

Teddy harbored grand aspirations of uniting the slums and seizing control. However, his ambitions were tragically cut short before they could fully materialize.

The reason for this downfall was none other than Zeon.

Once Zeon made his full presence known in Sinchon, all of Teddy’s carefully laid plans crumbled into dust.

Zeon’s power was so overwhelming that opposing him directly was unthinkable, leading Teddy to avoid Sinchon for an extended period.

Recently, however, circumstances had shifted.

Teddy had managed to procure a supply of potent drugs from an unknown source and began their widespread distribution within Sinchon.

Naturally, Larson attempted to dissuade his brother. But Teddy, refusing to yield, became incensed.

He argued that if they didn’t seize this opportunity now, the chance to conquer Sinchon would never arise again.

Larson found himself unable to intervene further, respecting his brother’s unwavering resolve.

And this current confrontation was the direct consequence.

They had operated under the illusion of secrecy, yet Levin had uncovered their scheme and launched a swift retaliation.

In a way, this outcome was almost inevitable.

Levin was no simpleton; it was inconceivable that he wouldn’t discern Guro’s involvement.

Thus, they had prepared themselves to the best of their ability.

And the tangible result of their efforts was the shield currently in Larson’s grasp.

Raising it once more, Larson addressed Levin commandingly.

“As long as I stand here, you will not advance even a single step further.”

Having witnessed the shield’s efficacy firsthand, his confidence surged.

Levin responded with a derisive sneer.

“Empty words.”

“What did you say?”

In that instant, Levin phased into an intangible state, blurring past Larson’s formation and positioning himself amidst the group.

Like a phantom, he bypassed the shield, an action Larson was powerless to prevent.

The repercussions were immediate and severe.

Flash!

Levin unleashed a devastating blast of Purple Lightning directly into the heart of their formation.

“Aaaagh!”

“Ugh!”

Larson’s subordinates cried out in agony as they succumbed to the onslaught.

Being low-level awakened, they lacked the fortitude to withstand or defend against Levin’s potent lightning.

Larson himself was not spared from the destructive force.

Levin had detonated the Purple Lightning behind him, an area beyond the shield’s protective coverage.

His back was left horrifically charred, wisps of smoke curling from the scorched flesh.

The sole reason he remained standing was attributed to his considerable B-rank strength.

“Ghk!”

His strength rapidly depleted, Larson could no longer maintain his grip on the shield.

Observing his weakened state, Levin delivered a chilling ultimatum.

“Pray that Harbin and Kaden are still alive. If they are dead, I vow to ensure you meet the same fate.”

“W-wait…”

Larson attempted to interject, but Levin showed no inclination to listen.

Bang!

With immense force, his fist connected with Larson’s jaw.

The jaw fractured like delicate glass, rendering Larson unconscious instantly.

However, the chaos was not confined to Larson’s immediate vicinity; other awakened individuals began emerging from every direction.

Levin advanced down the corridor, issuing instructions.

“I will proceed ahead. Deal with the remnants here and follow shortly.”

“Understood.”

“We’ll be right behind you.”

The voices of Aaron and Dominic echoed from behind.

Levin placed his trust in them implicitly.

He and Zeon had rigorously trained them.

This advanced training enabled him to move with unrestrained freedom, venturing alone into the deepest recesses of Beggar’s Den.

“Damn it.”

As he penetrated further, a noxious stench assaulted his senses.

It was a scent chillingly familiar, one he recognized instantly.

‘Drugs!’

Having already experienced their effects inadvertently once, he was acutely aware of their perilous nature.

Levin promptly donned the mask he had prepared in anticipation.

The interior of the den was a far cry from the squalor of its entrance.

The environment was so utterly putrid and degraded it defied belief that sentient beings resided within.

Casting a swift glance around, Levin’s eyes widened in shock.

He spotted two individuals confined within a minuscule cage, scarcely large enough to house a creature as small as a dog.

Huddled together within its confines were Harbin and Kaden.

“Guys!”

Levin sprinted towards the cage.

Despite sensing his presence, Harbin and Kaden remained unresponsive.

Their pupils were vacant, their gazes unfocused.

They were victims of severe drug addiction, their minds completely lost.

“Fuck!”

Consumed by rage at the barbarity of their drugged state and subsequent confinement like mere animals, Levin erupted in curses.

There existed boundaries, even for the most depraved individuals.

Yet, these perpetrators had transgressed far beyond such limits.

Levin moved to unlock the cage, intending to free them.

It was precisely at that moment when the situation took a drastic turn.

Whoooom!

A magic circle materialized beneath his feet, its activation sudden and profound.

Accompanied by a blinding flash, immense pressure bore down upon Levin.

He struggled desperately but found himself utterly trapped within the confines of the magic circle.

“Heh… trapped you.”

At that critical juncture, a concealed doorway silently opened, revealing the figures of two individuals.

One was clad in a loose robe that obscured his entire form, while the other sported a thick, bushy beard.

Their gazes fixed upon Levin, ensnared within the magic circle, they exchanged sinister smiles.

Levin addressed them, his voice laced with suspicion.

“You orchestrated this trap and lay in wait?”

“That’s correct. We anticipated your arrival, so we collaborated with the leader of the Blue Scorpions to prepare a binding magic circle.”

The bearded man declared with an air of triumph.

He was Teddy, the formidable boss of Beggar’s Den.

Levin’s eyes then moved to the robed individual standing beside him.

“The Blue Scorpions… a band of outcasts notorious for their activities in the desert.”

“Oh? You’re familiar with us?”

“How could I not be? Wasn’t it your group that instigated the golem uprising in the East District?”

“You still recall that? Such a keen memory.”

The leader of the Blue Scorpions expressed genuine admiration.

“So, Beggar’s Den partnered with the Blue Scorpions and distributed those drugs throughout Sinchon.”

“Essentially, yes.”

“And you believe you can simply walk away from this?”

“You should be more concerned about your own survival.”

Teddy scoffed.

Suddenly, the oppressive force bearing down on Levin intensified dramatically.

The magic circle was now in full effect.

Levin strained to break free, but his efforts were in vain.

The magic circle had completely nullified his power.

The Blue Scorpion leader then spoke.

“This is known as the Abyss Prison. We acquired it as a rare, single-use treasure after successfully clearing a perilous dungeon. They say escape is impossible once trapped, and it appears to be true.”

Whoooom!

With each passing moment, the binding energy grew stronger.

It felt as though not just his physical body, but his very mind, was being compressed.

It was as if his consciousness was being inexorably pulled into a bottomless void.

Levin attempted to phase out, but the Abyss Prison effectively suppressed his unique ability.

‘I acted too rashly. I should have exercised greater caution.’

He had placed too much confidence in himself.

After enduring a similar ordeal at the slaughterhouse, he had unfortunately repeated the same mistake.

‘Curse this!’

His thoughts were becoming increasingly clouded and indistinct.

Just as despair began to set in—

He spotted Harbin and Kaden, confined within the cage like captured beasts.

He couldn't possibly perish here without rescuing them.

Thump!

At that precise instant, his heart pounded with an extraordinary force.

Crackle!

Flashes of sparks erupted from his heart.

As these sparks scattered, the protective shell encasing his heart began to fracture.