Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 291

“Where is this place?”

“Who am I?”

Aeron and Dominic, their faces blank with shock, looked around in a daze.

All they could see was an expanse of searing hot sand.

Just half a day ago, they had been in the slums.

While it was no Neo Seoul, the slums were still livable.

Now that they were stranded in this desolate desert, they fully realized how good they’d had it.

They had been entranced by Zeon’s promise to help them grow stronger. But before they could regain their senses, they found themselves in the middle of nowhere.

“I remember the sandstorm surrounding us, but… after that…”

“Same here…”

Awooooo!

A wolf’s howl echoed from somewhere in the distance.

The expressions on their faces froze instantly.

“What was that?”

“Could it be… a beast?”

Panic setting in, they fumbled to check their belongings.

Fortunately, the items they had bought from the Goblin Market were still with them.

Aeron drew his sword, while Dominic clutched his staff with both hands.

Their hands trembled violently as they held their weapons.

“Ugh…”

“Damn it, I’m going to piss myself.”

Awooo!

The howling grew louder, closer, their bodies shaking more with every second.

Then, over a sand dune, the source of the sound appeared.

Large, round ears, pitch-black eyes, and mottled fur—beasts that resembled wild dogs, but with far larger, sharper teeth.

“What kind of beasts are those?”

“They look like wild dogs…”

Their appearance wasn’t particularly intimidating, which gave Aeron and Dominic a fleeting sense of relief.

That was until dozens more appeared behind the first one.

“What the…!”

“Damn it, a pack?”

Growl!

At once, the beasts lunged toward them.

They were Lycaons, beasts that resembled African wild dogs.

F-rank beasts—the weakest among their kind.

An E-rank Awakened could handle them easily with a clear mind. But to Aeron and Dominic, both half-paralyzed with fear, the Lycaons might as well have been Cerberus.

As the pack closed in, Aeron swung his sword instinctively.

“Take this!”

Yelp!

The lead Lycaon yelped and collapsed, wounded by his sword. But the rest of the pack pressed on undeterred, unfazed by their fallen comrade.

“Ahhh!”

Fueled by sheer desperation, Aeron slashed wildly, his survival instincts kicking in.

Meanwhile, Dominic stood frozen, staring blankly at his friend’s frantic battle.

The surreal sight of his friend fighting beasts left him stunned.

It wasn’t until Aeron’s voice snapped him out of his daze that he realized the gravity of the situation.

“Damn it! Start attacking! I can’t take them all on by myself!”

“Huh?”

“Get a grip, you bastard!”

“Oh! O-okay!”

Finally, Dominic fumbled to lift his staff.

It had cost him every coin he had saved. Though it was a mass-produced staff, its mana conductivity and skill-casting speed were decent thanks to its supplementary enchantments.

Dominic planted the staff into the ground and shouted,

“Shock Wave!”

Boom!

A wave of energy erupted, slamming into the Lycaon pack.

Yelps and snarls filled the air as the beasts were knocked back, writhing in pain.

“Yes!”

Seizing the opportunity, Aeron drove his sword into the necks of the disoriented Lycaons, taking them down one by one.

Dominic, gripping his staff tightly, panted heavily.

“Huff… huff…”

Just one use of a skill had nearly drained half his mana. He had recklessly poured too much into the spell, unable to control it due to his inexperience.

Looking down at his staff, Dominic felt a strange rush of exhilaration.

‘So this is magic… the power of an Awakened…’

For the first time, the reality of his Awakening truly sank in.

But his moment of awe was cut short by Aeron’s sharp voice.

“Damn it! Are you just gonna stand there after using one skill?”

“Huh?”

“Look ahead, idiot! There’s more coming!”

“More?”

Dominic whipped his head up to see yet another wave of Lycaons charging toward them, kicking up clouds of sand.

Growl!

Bark!

The pack seemed to be fleeing from something, but they were heading straight for Aeron and Dominic.

Aeron raised his sword and muttered grimly,

“Stay focused. This isn’t over.”

“So there’s going to be more?”

“That’s my guess. Conserve your mana when you cast. If you run out, you’ll die.”

“Got it!”

Dominic gritted his teeth, nodding determinedly.

He couldn’t keep relying on Aeron. He was a mage, an Awakened in his own right.

Strengthening his resolve, Dominic prepared to cast again.

* * *

“Looks like they’re finally getting the hang of it.”

“They’re gonna give me a heart attack...”

The two were perched atop a sand dune, watching the battle unfold below.

From their vantage point, they had a clear view of Aeron and Dominic fighting the Lycaons.

It was Zeon who had brought the pair here.

Unknown to them, this desert was far from Neo Seoul—a journey of several days for an ordinary Awakened. But for Zeon and Levin, it had been no trouble.

Zeon had chosen this place deliberately.

It was home to packs of Lycaons, F-rank beasts.

For rookie Awakeneds like Aeron and Dominic, Lycaons were the perfect training opponents.

Threatening enough to be dangerous, but not so powerful as to be insurmountable.

“They’re wrapping it up.”

“Already?”

“Aeron’s holding out better than I thought, and Dominic’s skills pack some punch. Most importantly, they work well together.”

“Of course they do. They’re my friends.

Levin said with a satisfied grin.

“Quit grinning and go round up another pack.”

“On it!”

Levin’s form shimmered as he turned ghostly and floated into the air.

Scanning the desert, he soon spotted another group of Lycaons.

“You’re next.”

Levin descended toward the pack.

The Lycaons scattered, confused by the transparent figure approaching them.

“This might sting a bit.”

Levin said with a smirk, unleashing Purple Lightning.

Crackle!

If he had used his full power, the Lycaons would have been obliterated instantly. Instead, he carefully adjusted the output to avoid killing them outright.

Of course, the Lycaons would have disagreed about it being “careful.”

Yelp!

Snarl!

Stunned by the lightning strike, the pack panicked and fled—exactly in the direction Levin wanted.

“This way, please.”

Levin coaxed, firing small electric jolts to guide them toward Aeron and Dominic.

The Lycaons charged straight into the two, unleashing their frustration on them.

Growl!

Bark!

Aeron and Dominic’s eyes widened.

“Again?”

“Damn it! Can’t we get a break?”

But the Lycaons didn’t wait for an answer.

Baring their sharp teeth, they lunged.

Aeron stepped forward to block their assault while Dominic cast his spells from the rear.

Their movements, while still rough, had grown noticeably sharper.

Aeron’s sword strikes became more precise, with the occasional skill woven in. Dominic, too, had learned to adjust his mana output, conserving energy as he cast.

Not that it made things easy.

Each time they defeated one pack, another would soon follow.

By now, they had realized what was happening.

“This has to be Hyung and Levin’s doing, right?”

“Who else?”

“Damn it! You really can’t trust anyone in this world.”

“Quit whining and pick up your sword. We’ve got another wave incoming.”

“What about your mana?”

“Barely enough for one more fight.”

“Then let’s give it everything we’ve got.”

“Yeah.”

They bumped fists and readied themselves once more.

* * *

“They’re getting better.”

“Even an idiot learns if you put them through enough hell. Want another jerky?”

“Sure.”

Levin handed Zeon another piece of jerky, a delicacy from Klexi’s shop.

Zeon didn’t bother asking what it was made of.

‘If it tastes good, that’s all that matters.’

Chewing thoughtfully, Zeon watched as Aeron delivered the finishing blow to the last Lycaon, ending the fight.

The two collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Their exhausted forms looked almost pitiable, but Zeon felt no sympathy.

This was a gentle introduction compared to what he had endured.

Zeon had been forged through brutal trials under Dyoden’s guidance. Levin, too, had grown strong through Zeon’s harsh training.

Compared to that, this was child’s play.

“Let them rest for now, then we’ll find something stronger.”

“Not Lycaons?”

“They’re no longer a challenge. Without risk, there’s no growth.”

“So, something tougher?”

“F-rank, but on the stronger side.”

“Got it.”

Levin nodded and took off again.

Moments later, another dust cloud rose in the distance as yet another pack of beasts charged toward the exhausted Aeron and Dominic.

Thanks to Levin’s tireless efforts, the pair had no time to recover.

Their anguished cries soon echoed across the desert.

“Damn it, Levin!”

“Why are you doing this to us?”

Levin chuckled softly, muttering to himself,

“This is all for your own good. Hyung’s heartfelt love for you both, expressed in the harshest way.”

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]