Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

HELHEIM SCANS

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 197

The second-in-command of the Red Storm, Kormac, muttered as he surveyed the interior of Steel Fortress.

"What a mess!"

Steel Fortress was a natural stronghold unlike anything they had encountered before.

Properly managed, it could house tens of thousands, making it an unparalleled sanctuary in the desert.

It was remarkable that such a place had remained undiscovered.

The problem lay with the defenders of this fortress.

Most of them were stumbling around, intoxicated, unable to utilize their skills effectively. Kormac wondered how they had managed to defend Steel Fortress for so long.

The Awakeneds of Steel Fortress were no match for the Red Storm, seasoned warriors honed by the desert.

Although they survived by raiding, they did it for their families. No one in the band regretted this choice.

To survive, they killed their enemies and took their possessions to feed their families.

Concepts of justice and human decency had long since vanished.

They felt no guilt.

"Arggh!"

"Please... spare me..."

Kormac felt nothing as he watched the Awakeneds of Steel Fortress die, their screams echoing around him.

One of the Awakeneds lunged at Kormac.

"You bastard! Why... why are you attacking us?"

His eyes were bloodshot, full of anger.

From the Awakened’s perspective, it was unfair.

While they were living peacefully, they came in and started indiscriminately killing everyone.

"And what do you expect me to do about it?"

Swoosh!

With a swift movement, two small discs shot out from Kormac's waist.

These paired discs flew towards the attacking Awakened with deadly precision.

"Hah... this won't—"

The Awakened tried to counter, but it was cut short, literally, as the discs sliced through his weapon and body, cutting him in half.

The sheer power was outrageous.

It was Kormac's skill "Death Discs".

This skill alone had earned Kormac his position as the second-in-command.

He was unstoppable.

Whirr!

"Argh!"

"Eek!"

The discs flew around him, cutting down anyone who approached.

Corpses piled up, blood forming rivers on the ground.

He was like the Grim Reaper incarnate.

Then he noticed an old man and two children trembling in a corner.

They were Holtran, Jacob, and Lucy.

Whirr!

The Death Discs flew toward them.

Although aimed primarily at Holtran, Jacob and Lucy were in the path and would likely not survive. Kormac showed no hesitation.

"Cut it out, dammit."

Levin interjected, stepping in the way.

Purple lightning erupted from his body, striking the discs and disrupting their control.

Clang!

The discs fell to the ground, temporarily disconnected from Kormac's command.

Kormac scowled at Levin.

"Who are you?"

"Just a person."

"You're not from Steel Fortress, judging by your clothes. Step aside, and I'll let you leave."

"You must be joking. Who do you think you are? You're just an invader acting like you own the place."

"A good item should belong to someone who appreciates its value. The same goes for this place. We'll put it to much better use than these drug-addled fools. For the sake of the residents here, it would be better for us to become the rulers."

"And you're confident you'll treat the residents well?"

"…"

"I know your type. You're like hyenas. You feed on carrion and know only how to steal. You won't protect anyone."

Levin's harsh words made Kormac's expression harden.

"You must have a death wish to be speaking like that. Fine, I'll grant it."

Whirr!

The discs lifted from the ground, spinning rapidly.

Levin's body shimmered as he turned into his ghostly form.

"Let’s see who dies."

"An interesting ability. That must be your skill? But you won't escape my Death Discs."

"Who said anything about escaping? I hope you don’t run away."

Crackle!

Purple lightning flowed from Levin’s whole body.

"Die!"

Kormac, seeing the flashing lightning, hurled the Death Disks.

Boom!

The clash of their powers sent electric arcs flying in all directions.

"Eeek!"

Brielle quickly pulled Jacob and Lucy back to shield them from the sparks.

Steel Fortress had turned into a hellscape.

Bodies littered the ground, and the air was filled with the groans of the wounded.

It wasn’t just the Awakeneds who were hurt.

Countless civilians had died, all trying to defend their home.

Though they were ordinary people, they had stood up to protect their home, only to be struck down.

The Red Storm showed no mercy to those who opposed them.

Their principle, established by Urtian, was to crush resistance thoroughly.

"Kill everyone who resists and spare only those who submit."

"I've heard that somewhere before."

At that moment, someone interrupted Urtian and blocked his path.

It was Zeon.

Ssshhh!

Urtian’s waist emitted a grotesque blade—his shamshir.

Without a word, he lunged at Zeon, aiming for his neck.

This was Urtian's style: no needless talk, just kill.

With this method he had defeated countless enemies, but this time, his method failed.

Clang!

The shamshir was deflected just inches from Zeon's neck.

Zeon had defended himself using the Inferno Gauntlet.

"Hmph!"

Urtian smirked and attacked again, targeting Zeon’s vital points. But his strikes never found their mark.

HELHEIM SCANS

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Clang! Clang!

Zeon's gauntlet intercepted every attack, deflecting or blocking each blow.

Urtian’s lips twitched, realizing Zeon’s strength.

As their weapons clashed, Urtian asked.

"Good! You’re worthy to face me. What’s your name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"So I can remember it."

"Don’t treat me like a dead man. It’s infuriating."

"No reason to care about a soon-to-be dead man’s feelings."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their fight intensified, sparks and sweat flying.

Urtian was surprised.

He wasn’t using his full power or skills yet, but he was still strong.

Much faster and stronger than a normal human.

As an elf, he was born with this strength.

The fact that an elf, not a human, led the Red Storm showed how powerful he was.

Whoosh!

His shamshir moved like a storm, yet every strike was blocked by Zeon’s gauntlet.

Their physical abilities were evenly matched.

This was a first for Urtian.

"Fine!"

Fwoosh!

Urtian's shamshir glowed with a powerful aura, its strength and speed magnified.

He moved with blinding speed.

It felt like his gear had shifted.

But Zeon matched his pace.

Whoosh!

Zeon left afterimages as he moved

Bang! Boom!

The two men clashed while running at blinding speeds inside the Steel Fortress.

"Keuuk!"

"Argh!"

Those in their path were thrown aside, screaming.

Urtian’s eyes turned cold.

He was an A-rank Awakened.

Though he had lost to Lee Ji-ryeong, that was because Lee had become S-rank.

He had never lost to someone of the same rank.

Swinging his shamshir, he muttered.

‘Aero Bomb.’

Boom!

An explosion of air blasted Zeon backward into a wall.

This was why Urtian rarely lost.

Like Levin, he was a dual Awakened.

One hand wielded the sword while the other cast spells.

His two-pronged attack pressed Zeon hard.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Aero Bombs exploded around Zeon as the shamshir kept him off balance. Houses collapsed under the barrage.

"Aah!"

Watching from a distance, Holtran’s eyes widened in horror.

To him, it seemed Zeon was helpless.

Just then.

Through the dust, a red flash appeared.

Urtian felt a chill as a beast-like red glow met his gaze.

Instinctively, he raised his shamshir.

Boom!

Immediately afterwards, a strong shock hit him.

It was a fireball the size of an adult's fist.

It had been barelyblocked by the shamshir, had he been unprotected, he would have been severely injured.

"Ugh!"

Urtian grunted, the impact making him groan.

At that moment, Zeon appeared through the dust.

As Zeon swung his fist, a wave of fire poured down.

It was one of his favorite skills, Fire Rain.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Shit!"

Urtian cursed, wildly swinging his shamshir to deflect the fiery barrage.

"Huugh! Huuugh!"

Urtian panted, his muscles swollen and veins bulging.

He had pushed his strength to its limits to counter Zeon's attack.

Muscle spasms wracked his body, and his heart pounded.

Unrelenting, Zeon launched another Fire Rain.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Urtian's face twisted in anger.

"Don't underestimate me, human!"

He leapt into the air, slashing with his aura-infused blade.

The air cleaved with his strike.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fiery rain and the sword's air blast clashed, shaking the cavern.

"Leader!"

"Are you alright?"

The Red Storm members rushed to Urtian’s side.

Numerous Awakeneds gathered around Urtian as he landed.

Urtian looked at the shamshir in his hand.

The shamshir was an item excavated from a dungeon. Such items were chipped and rare.

"Tch! It was my favorite sword."

Without hesitation, he discarded it. A subordinate handed him an identical blade.

Gripping the new shamshir, Urtian said.

"Consider it an honor, we’ll face you together."

The Red Storm was even stronger united.

As they formed ranks around Urtian, Zeon said.

"In that case, we'll face you together as well."

"We?"

"Yes, we..."

Suddenly, mounds of sand erupted behind Zeon.

HELHEIM SCANS

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]