Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 623

“Kgh!”

Clenching his teeth, Osolo managed to stand back up.

Had his form not been conjured from shadows, that solitary strike of lightning would have reduced him to mere ash.

Fortunately, a shadowy physique possesses a degree of resilience against such magical assaults. Moreover, the robe he donned proved to be an invaluable asset.

That robe, procured from Kurayan, was interwoven with innumerable protective enchantments. When faced with a critical juncture, the defensive magic within it activated, significantly diminishing the lightning's potency.

Because of this, he had managed to survive, albeit sustaining substantial injuries.

Yet, it was far too soon to harbor any sense of relief.

He found himself in Neo Seoul, an arena teeming with adversaries.

A multitude of Neo Seoul's awakened individuals observed him with unwavering attention.

Excuses were utterly out of the question.

Every soul present had borne witness to his attempt to obliterate the portal.

“Damn it all!”

He fixed Levin with a look seething with animosity.

Had it not been for Levin's intervention, his objective might well have been realized by now.

With a whistle, Levin addressed him.

“It’s a good thing I heeded hyung’s advice and kept watch here. I had a strange premonition, and indeed, you attempted to destroy the portal.”

For days on end, he had virtually dwelled by the portal, eating and sleeping in its vicinity.

When Osolo infiltrated, he had been concealed, masquerading as Lee Yeolsan, thus escaping Levin’s initial notice. However, there was no possibility of overlooking someone overtly attempting to sabotage the portal.

“You dare to impede my grand design.”

Roaring with unchecked fury, Osolo launched an assault on Levin.

The accumulated frustration and bitter resentment over his failed mission were all vented upon Levin.

Levin remarked, a look of disbelief on his face.

“What an absurd old man. You are the one who committed the transgression……”

Flash!

Another colossal bolt of lightning plummeted from the heavens, striking Osolo with devastating force.

The sheer kinetic energy of the impact sent Osolo reeling backward.

Having gained a brief reprieve, Levin glanced towards Zeon.

He sought guidance on their next course of action.

Zeon conveyed his decision to Levin.

“Hand him over to me after this.”

“And you, hyung?”

“I am proceeding to the Steel Fortress.”

“Understood.”

Levin gave a solemn nod.

Levin had, without question, ascended to the S-rank.

Though Osolo possessed formidable power, Levin was more than adequately equipped to contend with him.

Above all else, this was Neo Seoul—specifically, within the desolate slums.

Numerous individuals capable of rendering assistance were within close proximity, ready to aid Levin.

Should Levin find himself in peril, they would undoubtedly intervene.

Consequently, there was no cause for apprehension regarding his safety.

“A mere mortal presumes to look down upon me? I shall annihilate every last one of you!”

Overhearing their exchange, Osolo erupted in a tempest of rage.

Among the diverse array of demi-human races inhabiting El Harun, the Shadow Tribe stood amongst the top five in terms of sheer power.

And within that formidable tribe, Osolo's prowess was undeniably exceptional.

Though the current circumstances compelled him to infiltrate Neo Seoul akin to a skulking rat, he was by no means an entity deserving of such dismissive treatment.

Witnessing Zeon and Levin converse as if his defeat was a foregone conclusion ignited the inferno of his fury.

Shhhhaaa!

Osolo’s corporeal form underwent a dramatic expansion.

His now-enlarged silhouette took on the appearance of an immense, unfurling black curtain.

This body, transformed into a sweeping shroud, possessed edges sharper than any blade.

Shiaaaak!

Rotating his transformed body like a tempestuous vortex, Osolo hurtled towards Levin.

The awakened individuals positioned between him and Levin were ruthlessly eviscerated by Osolo’s blade-like physical manifestation.

Shushushuk!

“Kgh!”

“Keugh!”

There was insufficient time to either block or evade the onslaught.

Anything unfortunate enough to be grazed by the shadow blades was instantly rent asunder.

Bodies honed through rigorous training and robust armor proved utterly futile against this assault.

The shadow blades, forged from Osolo’s very essence, exhibited a destructive capability and keenness that surpassed even the renowned Aura Blades.

Shadow Blade.

This was the supreme ability, reserved exclusively for the Chieftain of the Shadow Tribe.

In the fleeting moments it took for Osolo to close the distance to Levin, a significant number of awakened individuals met a grim fate, either killed or grievously injured.

Sparks erupted in Levin’s eyes.

“You absolute scoundrel!”

Crack!

The need for contemplation or hesitation had vanished entirely.

Levin instantly initiated his transformation into the Lightning God Form.

Accompanied by a thunderous clap, Levin’s physical being transmuted into pure lightning.

“Whoa!”

“Holy shit!”

The awakened individuals, witnessing Levin’s Lightning God Form for the very first time, stared in utter astonishment.

Crackle!

A torrent of electrical energy rained down in the vicinity of the portal.

It was as if a true God of Thunder had descended upon the mortal realm.

Levin meticulously regulated the discharge of lightning, ensuring it did not strike the portal itself or the civilians nearby.

Boom!

The King of Shadows and the Thunder God violently collided high above the earth.

These two entities, having transcended the very limitations of human potential, waged a ferocious battle as they ascended towards the heavens.

“Reinforce the portal’s security perimeter!”

“Dispatch an urgent request for reinforcements from Neo Seoul!”

The awakened, who had only just regained their faculties, hastily mobilized to form a protective cordon around the portal.

However, by this juncture, Zeon had already traversed the portal and made his way to the Steel Fortress.

“Huh? Zeon?”

“Oh! The Sand Mage has arrived.”

Urthian and Seong Hoyeon, members of Numbers who happened to be at the entryway, regarded Zeon with looks of bewilderment.

Urthian tilted his head inquisitively.

“Your arrival is unexpected. Has something transpired?”

“A state of utter chaos currently grips Neo Seoul.”

“Chaos?”

“An assault has been initiated by one of El Harun’s demi-human factions.”

Zeon proceeded to furnish a concise account of the unfolding events.

Upon absorbing the narrative, Urthian and Seong Hoyeon’s countenances shifted, adopting grave expressions.

“They attempted to brainwash the Queen of the North District and betray us.”

“And when their scheme failed, they sought to obliterate the portal? Those lunatics truly crave war?”

Seong Hoyeon, the leader of Numbers, made haste to return to Neo Seoul via the portal.

Zeon, however, intervened.

“There is no need for you to concern yourself with that matter. Levin is attending to it, and a multitude of awakened individuals are already converging there.”

“Hmm!”

Only then did Seong Hoyeon manage to regain his composure.

No matter how formidable the leader of the Shadow Tribe might be, they could not possibly contend against the entirety of Neo Seoul’s awakened. If their existence had remained unknown, the circumstances would differ, but now that they had been identified and accounted for, securing the portal was an unlikely point of failure. The true crisis lay elsewhere. “The attempt to destroy the portal signifies…”

“It is clear proof that an attack is imminent. Dispatch scouting parties throughout the entire region.”

Seong Hoyeon immediately grasped the gravity of Zeon’s pronouncement. “For the present, assemble all forces and hold them in readiness.”

“And what of the reconnaissance?”

“That, I shall undertake.”

“Understood. I shall proceed to gather the troops at once.”

Seong Hoyeon and Urthian swiftly departed towards the inner sanctums of the Steel City.

Left alone, Zeon ascended into the heavens, propelled by a sandstorm.

After a brief aerial survey of the surrounding terrain, Zeon detected immense plumes of dust billowing from the northern horizon. The dust was so distant that it was only discernible due to his elevation of two to three kilometers above the ground. Without hesitation, Zeon directed his course towards the rising dust cloud.

Upon traversing dozens of kilometers, the true nature of the dust cloud became apparent. At least hundreds of thousands of demi-humans were in motion. Just as Zeon had surmised, the demi-humans of El Harun were advancing upon the Steel Fortress. However, they were not the sole entities moving towards their target. —Kwoooaar! —Kraaah! An uncountable number of magical beasts, of all sizes, preceded the demi-humans, emitting ferocious roars. These encompassed a diverse array of creatures. From diminutive beasts such as Flame Wolves to mid-sized monstrosities like Ogres and Cyclopes, and even colossal beasts tens of meters in stature, they were all intermingled. By Zeon’s conventional understanding, such a congregation should have been impossible. Magical beasts typically maintained strict territorial boundaries, intolerant of any intrusion. Smaller beasts would naturally flee from larger ones, and mid-sized beasts would never dare trespass into the domains of gargantuan creatures. Encounters between different magical beasts in proximity inevitably led to fatal conflicts. The very fact that such a multitude had coalesced in one location defied all natural order. This unusual gathering indicated a profound deviation from the norm. Zeon meticulously scrutinized the magical beasts. The instant he observed their eyes, his comprehension dawned. “They are enthralled.” The eyes of the magical beasts lacked any semblance of lucidity. This was irrefutable evidence that their reason had been completely extinguished. An immense power had undoubtedly seized dominion over their minds, compelling their movements. No ordinary tamer could possibly subjugate the consciousness of such a vast number of magical beasts simultaneously. Particularly the giant-type magical beasts—their potent mental fortitude rendered them nearly untamable. Only dragons possessed the capability to command giant-type magical beasts. Yet, to Zeon’s knowledge, no dragons resided in El Harun. This left only one plausible explanation. “An… artifact?” It was evident that someone wielded an item with the power to control magical beasts. The pressing question remained: who possessed this artifact and orchestrated this control? Just as Zeon began his descent towards the ground, seeking the orchestrator of the magical beasts— Screeeech! With a piercing tear through the air, an object hurtled towards Zeon. It was a flying-type magical beast, attacking with a speed that surpassed sound itself. These were Blade Frigate Birds. Zeon promptly intercepted the approaching Blade Frigate Bird with his Sand Blaster. Boom! The Blade Frigate Bird disintegrated in mid-air with a resounding explosion. However, it was premature to assume safety. The attacking Blade Frigate Birds were not a mere handful; dozens swarmed the sky, charging towards Zeon with terrifying velocity. “Tch!” With an exasperated click of his tongue, Zeon swiftly conjured a sand wall before him. Boom boom boom boom! The Blade Frigate Birds slammed into the reinforced sand barrier, detonating upon impact. Innumerable Blade Frigate Birds perished in the sky as deafening blasts echoed through the air. The assembled forces of El Harun on the ground heard the commotion and directed their gazes upward. “Ze……on!” Among them, Del Roa recognized Zeon and his brow furrowed in concern. Zeon also spotted Del Roa. However, Del Roa’s appearance had undergone a significant transformation. Even prior to his merging with the World Tree, he had possessed a grotesque visage, but now he appeared even more bizarre. He was clad in garments fashioned from tree bark, and over these, he was adorned with a multitude of items. A helmet crafted from wood, a necklace composed of bones, and dozens of dark metallic ornaments dangled from his arms and legs. Rather than resembling the leader of El Harun, he presented more as the chieftain of some ancient, primitive tribe.

The ragged clothes and headgear adorning him were fashioned from the remnants of the World Tree itself.

The sacred necklace encircling his throat and the intricate adornments upon his limbs were precious artifacts, brought forth from the distant land of Kurayan.

When he had achieved a profound oneness with the World Tree, such material possessions became superfluous. Yet, with the World Tree now gone, he embraced every artifact he could find, seeking to amplify his formidable abilities.

A chilling aura of murderous intent ignited Del Roa’s gaze as he fixed his stare upon Zeon.

“You presume to obstruct my path?”

“Your destination is the Steel Fortress, is it not?”

“Indeed, I am marching to deliver retribution upon the humans and elves who dared to betray El Harun. You possess no legitimate grounds to impede my righteous vengeance.”

“And how is it that I possess no justification? The Steel Fortress harbors countless humans, far beyond merely those who have incurred your ire.”

“Should they offer sanctuary to El Harun’s traitors, then their lives are forfeit as well.”

“Why feign such noble pretense? Your true motive is the covetous desire for the Steel Fortress.”

Zeon’s voice dripped with scorn as he addressed Del Roa.

At these words, Del Roa’s eyebrows contorted in a violent spasm.

He offered no rebuttal.

No matter the arguments he might contrive, the undeniable truth remained – their avarice for the Steel Fortress and their intent to seize it could not be concealed.

‘Victory is all that matters now; possession will follow. Once Osolo succeeds in obliterating the portal, Neo Seoul’s influence over this region will be permanently severed.’

At that precise juncture, the bone necklace suspended around Del Roa’s neck pulsed with an intense, radiating light.

—Kraaaah!

—Kieeeeh!

Suddenly, a swarm of aerial magical beasts, including fearsome griffins, materialized in the heavens, launching a ferocious assault upon Zeon.

As Zeon executed a strategic retreat, a realization dawned upon him:

‘So that artifact is the key to commanding these magical beasts.’

He had gleaned all the crucial information he required.

Engaging in a protracted conflict here, at this very moment, was unnecessary.

Skillfully evading the onslaught of the airborne magical beasts, Zeon continued his measured withdrawal.