Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 616

Neo Seoul was a melting pot of numerous races.

While East Asians, including Koreans, formed the majority, a significant presence of Caucasians and Black individuals was also observed.

Furthermore, the North District was home to a multitude of demi-human species.

For over a century, these diverse races coexisted in close proximity, leading to intermingling and the birth of many mixed-blood offspring.

Half-humans emerged from unions between humans and elves, humans and dwarves, and even rarer pairings like dwarves and elves. Children born from beastfolk and humans, or elves, were also present.

Choi Sung-ho himself was the product of an elf mother and a human father. However, his paternal lineage traced back further, with a beastfolk grandfather and a human grandmother.

This complex ancestry granted him a unique inheritance, encompassing traits from elves, humans, and beastfolk.

He boasted the robust physique typical of beastfolk, complemented by the refined beauty of an elf.

His lustrous blue hair, cascading like gentle waves, further enhanced his striking appearance.

Choi Sung-ho strode across the sandy terrain, his blue locks dancing in the breeze.

His gaze was fixed on the fleeing figure ahead, a man tumbling and scrambling in a desperate escape.

This man was none other than Adam Brine, the curse sorcerer orchestrating the current drug epidemic.

“A member of a North District dungeon raid squad turning out to be a curse sorcerer… what a peculiar turn of events.”

Adam’s true identity as a curse sorcerer remained a secret until Seo Tae-ran brought it to light.

Even his captain and fellow members of the dungeon raid squad, who fought alongside him daily, were unaware.

So adept was Adam at concealing his true nature, maintaining a facade of normalcy.

Without Seo Tae-ran’s intervention, his sinister profession would likely have remained undiscovered.

Adam’s meticulous efforts in hiding while distributing drugs were certainly noteworthy, yet Seo Tae-ran’s ability to instantly discern his identity was even more astounding.

“It’s no wonder they call her the ‘Red Witch’ amongst themselves.”

It became clear why even the Numbers couldn't escape her complete subjugation.

Yet, Choi Sung-ho found no displeasure in this fact.

Seo Tae-ran possessed more than sufficient qualifications and prowess to command such influence.

Just then—

Shuuuu!

A malevolent energy surged towards him without warning.

Adam, in his desperate flight, had unleashed a curse.

Curses, by their nature, were invisible.

They manifested as concentrated ill will, adversely affecting the human body.

However, this invisibility was only for ordinary individuals.

To Choi Sung-ho’s enhanced perception, the curse’s true form was vividly apparent.

This clarity was a gift from his unique heritage, a blend of beastfolk and elven blood.

The terrifying aspect of curses lay in their unseen nature and lack of physical substance.

But for Choi Sung-ho, they were as clear as day.

There was no reason to fear something that could be seen.

Above all, Choi Sung-ho wielded a special power.

With a casual flick of his wrist, a torrent of water shot forth like an arrow, intercepting the incoming curse.

Chwaaa!

Upon contact with the water, the curse dissolved into nothingness.

“Tch!”

Adam’s features contorted in a grimace of frustration.

Choi Sung-ho was an awakened individual of the water element.

Water-element awakened were exceedingly rare.

Due to the harsh environment and scarcity of water, their powers were often limited.

Regardless of the potency of a water skill, its full potential was difficult to unleash without a sufficient water source.

Perhaps influenced by these environmental constraints, water-element awakened were exceptionally uncommon in Neo Seoul.

Among this rare group, Choi Sung-ho displayed an unparalleled level of mastery.

He possessed the ability to draw microscopic moisture from the very air, capable of conjuring massive waterfalls.

It was this foundation of overwhelming power that propelled him to become one of the Numbers.

Water, in its essence, carries the property of purification.

The water wielded by Choi Sung-ho held an even more extraordinary power.

It could instantly cleanse curses, such as those Adam was casting.

Choi Sung-ho stood as the ultimate natural adversary for curse sorcerers.

“Die! Just die already!”

Adam bellowed, launching curses relentlessly.

Yet, each and every curse was neutralized, washed away by the water Choi Sung-ho commanded.

With an air of profound boredom, Choi Sung-ho remarked,

“Let’s put an end to this now. This is becoming tedious.”

Puk!

The instant his words fell, a water arrow unerringly struck Adam’s ankle.

“Kyaaaah!”

A piercing scream of agony erupted from Adam.

Choi Sung-ho regarded him with a smirk.

“You’re in pain from just that? You’re far more delicate than I anticipated.”

“Fuck! What do you know?”

“Do I need to know anything? If I eliminate you, all these issues will be resolved.”

“You believe I will simply perish like this?”

A predatory gleam entered Adam’s eyes.

He understood that his demise was inevitable.

The realization had dawned that escape from Choi Sung-ho’s grasp was impossible, no matter his efforts.

If death was unavoidable, he was determined not to meet it in a pathetic manner.

He proclaimed,

“O power of curses coursing through my veins. Let all my knowledge be transferred to my enemy’s enemy. In exchange, I offer my soul and flesh. Abrozoa mo hahmme……”

The incantation he uttered was the very curse formula inscribed on the final page of the Book of Curses.

It was a unique curse, designed for moments when facing an insurmountable foe, by sacrificing one’s soul and body to bequeath all acquired knowledge upon the adversary’s opponent.

“What a pointless endeavor……”

Choi Sung-ho directed a look of disdain at Adam.

To him, it appeared as mere futile thrashing before inevitable doom.

“Water Screw.”

Even before his utterance concluded, a powerful torrent of water spiraled violently, launching itself toward Adam.

Puhk!

The watery blast carved a tremendous void through Adam’s torso.

Adam’s eyes widened in disbelief as he gazed upon the hole marring his chest.

Crimson fluid spewed from the horrific gash, resembling a cascading waterfall.

“Damn it! At least my final curse……”

Thud!

Adam crumpled to the ground.

Thus concluded the existence of Adam, the figurehead of the illicit organization known as Illusion.

Casting his gaze down upon the fallen form, Choi Sung-ho remarked,

“There is no benefit in leaving behind the remains of a curse wielder.”

He retrieved a spherical object, roughly the size of a child’s fist, from his pocket and cast it upon Adam’s form.

Puhk!

The orb detonated, unleashing ferocious white flames.

It was white phosphorus, concocted for the purpose of obliterating evidence or incinerating fiendish beasts.

The phosphorus consumed Adam entirely, leaving not even a trace of bone dust.

“Ugh! What a stench.”

Choi Sung-ho winced at the sharp odor, wafting his hand dismissively.

Adam was deceased, and his physical form utterly eradicated.

It appeared Adam had attempted to cast some sort of curse before his demise, but as he was dispatched prior to its completion, there was likely no cause for concern.

The evidence was that he himself felt no ill effects.

“I wonder if there is any remaining business? I’d much prefer not to engage in overtime after this.”

Muttering to himself, Choi Sung-ho departed the vicinity.

---

Seo Tae-ran occupied her office seat, her gaze fixed upon the cityscape outside the window.

She shared the same floor as Jin Geum-ho.

Consequently, she too could leisurely appreciate the comprehensive panorama of Neo Seoul from her executive office.

“While I was fixated on external matters, I was utterly oblivious to the insidious growth within.”

Seo Tae-ran clenched her lip with considerable force.

This was undeniably her oversight.

In Jin Geum-ho’s stead, the responsibility for overseeing all of Neo Seoul’s operations fell upon her shoulders.

Under normal circumstances, she would never permit a criminal syndicate dealing in narcotics to establish a foothold within Neo Seoul.

Because she understood that once illicit substances permeated the societal fabric, their eradication became exceedingly difficult.

All maladies required prompt treatment before they escalated.

Even if it necessitated the amputation of a limb.

The reason Seo Tae-ran failed to apprehend the emergence of the narco-organization was due to the sheer volume of critical events unfolding recently.

She was tasked with managing the subterranean city and maintaining vigilance over the precious stone mine.

More significantly, with the sudden appearance of dimensional rifts, her attention was also drawn to the formidable Steel Fortress and the ancient Primordial Forest.

She possessed only a single physical form, yet the demands on her time were staggeringly excessive.

At the current pace, structural collapse was a distinct possibility.

The sole factor enabling her endurance was her status as an Awakened individual.

Were she an ordinary person, hospitalization would have been a necessity long ago.

Such was the crushing intensity of her responsibilities.

“Perhaps it is time I cultivated a successor.”

For the very first time, Seo Tae-ran recognized the urgent need to train a replacement.

“Hoo……”

A profound exhalation escaped her as she surveyed the expanse of Neo Seoul.

Beyond the towering fortifications in the distance, the impoverished settlements were visible.

Among them, one particular thoroughfare teemed with a multitude of individuals.

It was Sinchon, the very location where the dimensional rift had materialized.

Thanks to the presence of the rift, Sinchon experienced vibrant activity on a daily basis.

Countless souls formed queues, embarking on journeys toward the Steel Fortress and the resource-rich mine.

When the opportune moment arrived, a portion of the Primordial Forest would likewise be accessible.

Within this desolate wasteland, individuals would possess the ability to traverse instantaneously to a verdant, flourishing woodland.

Upon the opening of the Primordial Forest, it was anticipated that people would flock to it with unbridled fervor.

To the inhabitants of this era, forests were akin to mythical realms spoken of only in ancient legends.

While forests did exist within Neo Seoul’s confines, access was strictly forbidden.

Even the denizens of Neo Seoul were permitted only to observe them from afar, with no right of entry.

For those dwelling in the impoverished sectors, the opportunity to even witness a forest was nonexistent.

Seo Tae-ran herself could not begin to fathom the extent of astonishment they would experience when the forest was finally unveiled to them.

Presently, the management of the Primordial Forest was undertaken through the collaborative endeavors of the indigenous dark elves, Serian hailing from the Northern District, and Hera associated with Elharun.

Once all preparations were finalized, a decision was reached to subsequently permit access to the Primordial Forest.

“If I had my preference, I would delegate all these burdensome duties to my successor and reside within the Primordial Forest.”

A faint, almost melancholic chuckle escaped Seo Tae-ran.

For she was acutely aware that such a fantasy was utterly unattainable.

In the current landscape, no individual within Neo Seoul possessed the requisite capabilities to succeed her.

Even should such a person exist, a considerable duration would transpire before they attained her current level of proficiency.

“Nevertheless, if expending my very being can reassert the dominion of humanity over Earth, it is a worthwhile sacrifice.”

Precisely as Seo Tae-ran stood, her expression resolute—

“There is a matter requiring your attention.”

Members of the Secretariat, individuals handpicked by Seo Tae-ran for their exceptional talents, entered the chamber.

“All dissident elements within the Southern District have been neutralized.”

“Every collaborator in the Northern District has been eliminated.”

“The West District’s primary stronghold has been comprehensively demolished.”

“All purveyors of illicit substances in the Eastern District have faced execution.”

"All those associated with Illusion have been apprehended and dealt with. That concludes the report."

Extreme weariness was etched onto the faces of the reporting personnel.

These extensive actions had all unfolded within a single night.

In order to achieve such results, their efforts had been nothing short of frantic.

Seo Tae-ran had overseen the operation, but it was they who executed the difficult tasks.

It felt as if even their very souls had been pulverized.

Under different circumstances, they might have indulged in some boasting.

However, the current situation precluded any such displays.

This was no trivial affair—it concerned a novel variety of illicit substance.

Although the drug syndicate had been dismantled, a considerable number of addicts persisted.

The unpredictable actions of drug-dependent individuals in their quest for more were a serious concern.

Seo Tae-ran inquired of them,

"What were our casualties?"

"A total of one hundred and seven individuals were either deceased or sustained injuries."

"Despite the deployment of the Numbers, the casualty count remains high."

"We offer our apologies. The losses occurred in areas where the Numbers were not deployed."

"And the Numbers unit?"

"All members are accounted for without any harm."

"As anticipated from the Numbers. Understood. Your hard work is appreciated."

"It was our duty."

"That does not grant you permission to be complacent. You understand this, correct? Those worthless addicts will undoubtedly resurface, searching for their fix. Re-evaluate all supply routes and establish stringent blockades. Mark informants as targets forbidden for elimination."

"All necessary measures have already been implemented."

"Excellent work. You are dismissed to return home and recuperate for today."

"Thank you, ma'am."

The secretariat staff responded in unison and departed from their duties.

However, Seo Tae-ran could not yet leave.

A substantial amount of work still awaited her attention.

"Hah! When I finally retire, my destination will be the Primordial Forest."

Making this uncertain personal vow, she resolutely returned to her demanding workload.

Thanks to her profound dedication, Neo Seoul continued its operations without disruption.

Yet, the knowledge of this truth was held by only a select few individuals.