Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

Chapter 113

Kim Kyung-soo’s eyes glared fiercely.

“What did you just say?”

“Don’t risk your life over something trivial.”

“Ha!”

At Zeon’s response, Kim Kyung-soo looked bewildered.

The same expression was on the faces of the other party members.

Especially Yoo Seung-hee, whose face revealed her inner thoughts, looked visibly upset.

They had planned to kill Zeon and take his buggy.

It was to replace the engine of their broken-down vehicle with the buggy engine.

There was no better environment for murder than the desert.

With no fear of being caught by anyone, and with the sand and monsters taking care of disposing of the bodies, it was an ideal place.

That’s why Awakeneds utilized the desert environment to their advantage, either to kill their enemies or to use it as a tool for plundering.

Kim Kyung-soo’s party was no exception.

Growing up in the same neighborhood and awakening at nearly the same time, they shared a special bond.

They had a strong tendency to reject ordinary people or even Awakeneds other than themselves, and if even they did not like them even a little, they would band together and fight or kill them.

To them, Zeon was a very enticing prey.

Not only was he alone, he even had a buggy, which was essential for desert survival.

If they disposed of Zeon in the middle of the desert, no one would know that a murder had taken place here.

Kim Kyung-soo asked.

“It seems like you’re also an Awakened, but if you just hand over the vehicle, I’ll spare your life. How about it? My offer…”

“I think it’s full of shit. You should make a reasonable offer if you expect anyone to listen.”

“Do you think you’re all that? I can tell you’re bluffing.”

“I’m not entirely without skill.”

“But there are four of us. I don’t know what your rank is, but it won’t be easy to take on all of us.”

Kim Kyung-soo smiled confidently.

If Zeon’s rank was higher than theirs, it could backfire.

However, Zeon’s attire allowed him to be so confident.

The higher the rank, the better the items one is equipped with.

Except for items excavated from dungeons, most equipment is made in the workshops of Neo Seoul.

Each workshop has its own characteristics, so knowing the name of the workshop allows you to infer the performance of the equipment.

The medium armor worn by Kim Kyung-soo’s party was also workshop-made.

It was the best item that C-rank Martial Arts Awakeneds could wear.

It was a luxury item with insulation, lightweight, and defense magic inscribed on it.

In contrast, Zeon wore only a robe similar to a coat, without any armor at all.

He didn’t even have any offensive weapons.

If he were a magic-based Awakened, he should have a mana amplification tool like a staff or wand, and if he were a Martial Arts Awakened, he should have a cold weapon like a sword or spear.

But Zeon had neither.

He seemed to have come to the desert like a sitting duck, completely defenseless.

Moreover, the opponent was not from Neo Seoul but an Awakened from the slums.

There was no reason not to plunder.

Swoosh!

Kim Kyung-soo’s party all drew their weapons at once.

The men were all Martial Arts Awakeneds, and only Yoo Seung-hee, the woman, was a magic-based Awakened.

Yoo Seung-hee held a staff instead of a sword.

Pointing the staff at Zeon, she said.

“Bind!”

Suddenly, an invisible force tightened around Zeon.

At the same time, the men attacked Zeon simultaneously.

Swoosh!

Three swords aimed at Zeon’s vital points.

With a scoff, Zeon swung his right fist.

“Tsk! Blood must be shed before tears flow.”

Boom!

Dozens of fire missiles flew towards the four people.

“Ugh!”

“Damn it!”

“It’s magic.”

Numerous fire missiles bombarded the bewildered Kim Kyung-soo and his group.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

“What the hell?!”

“Damn it!”

“It’s incredibly strong!”

“Shit!”

A perplexed expression appeared on the faces of the men.

They each used their skills to deflect or block the fire missiles.

Usually, at this point, the momentum of the attack would be broken.

Because there’s a limit to the amount of mana even for high-ranking Awakeneds. But it seemed like there was no such limit for Zeon.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fire missiles continued to rain down endlessly.

Kim Kyung-soo shouted to Yoo Seung-hee.

“Damn it! Do something!”

“My magic isn’t working.”

Yoo Seung-hee yelled back.

Clearly, even though she was exerting pressure with Bind, Zeon was barely affected.

There was only one reason why her magic wasn’t working.

It was clear that the opponent’s rank was higher than hers.

“This guy’s rank is higher than mine.”

“Then is he C-rank? Damn it!”

“Everyone, use your best skills!”

“Kaah!”

Feeling the crisis, Kim Kyung-soo’s party unleashed their full power.

Zeon muttered with a weary expression.

“You’re all just rookies.”

Assessing the opponent’s strength before fighting is basic.

If the opponent’s armament is weak, it’s not to be taken lightly; instead, caution is warranted.

To roam the desert without any armor means that one is confident in their skills.

There was no longer any meaning in facing them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fire missiles turned into a rain of fire.

The defensive barrier created by Kim Kyung-soo’s party couldn’t withstand the hellish rain and was ruthlessly shattered.

“Aaargh!”

“Agh!”

Their screams echoed in the night sky.

***

“Ugh!”

Yoo Seung-hee groaned as she opened her eyes.

But her vision was blurry, making everything in front of her seem hazy.

“Damn it! Snap out of it.”

“Now’s not the time to be dazed.”

“Hurry up and get up.”

Her comrades’ urgent voices rang in her ears.

‘Fuck! What the hell is he saying?’

Yoo Seung-hee muttered, trying to focus her eyes. As she did, her vision gradually cleared.

“Ugh! What’s that?”

The first thing that caught her eyes, after regaining her sight, was a huge monster staggering towards them from a distance.

“Damn it! It’s a Giant-Horned Bear.”

“Why is it here?”

“Aaargh! Help me!”

The men panicked and shouted.

Yoo Seung-hee also struggled to move her body. But her body didn’t budge at all.

“What’s going on? Sand?”

It was then that Yoo Seung-hee realized that their heads were the only parts left above the sand.

She struggled to free herself from the sand, but strangely, she couldn’t muster any strength in her arms and legs.

At that moment, Yoo Seung-hee’s gaze fell on Zeon sitting in the buggy.

Zeon, with a smile on his face as if he found something amusing, was looking at the approaching Giant-Horned Bear.

Yoo Seung-hee hastily cried out.

“Please, save us. We were wrong, please, please spare us.”

Tears streamed down Yoo Seung-hee’s face as she pleaded.

It was only then that Zeon turned his head to look at Yoo Seung-hee.

“If you spare our lives, I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?”

“Yes! Anything.”

Yoo Seung-hee nodded frantically without hesitation, even uttering words she shouldn’t have in the face of a life-threatening situation.

Zeon smiled at her response.

“Then just stay right there.”

“What?”

“The Giant-Horned Bear’s favorite food is human flesh. It can smell and track humans from tens of kilometers away. It’s probably going to arrive in about five minutes.”

“Aaah!”

At Zeon’s casual words, Yoo Seung-hee trembled all over.

The image of being captured and devoured alive by the Giant-Horned Bear flashed through her mind.

“Aaargh!”

“Damn it! Spare us. We were wrong.”

“Please forgive us.”

The men shouted in panic.

Reason had already abandoned them.

With a smile, Zeon said.

“You were all intending to do the same to me. No?”

“That… We were completely wrong.”

“I’m not trying to point out right or wrong right now. I’m just returning the favor of what you were planning to do to me.”

“We’ll give you everything we have. Take all the loot stored in the car.”

“Of course, that’s a given. Now, the monster is almost here.”

The Giant-Horned Bear was now only a few hundred meters away.

Seeing it up close, the bear was enormous.

Armored and imposing, it emanated a tremendous aura.

Trapped and buried in the sand, the four of them felt even greater fear.

Especially Yoo Seung-hee, being a woman, was terrified to the point of urinating in the sand.

Her face was deathly pale, streaked with tears.

“Sob! Please spare us. I’ll do anything.”

“If you spare us, I’ll swear my loyalty to you.”

“Aaah!”

Screams and cries filled the air.

The footsteps of the Giant-Horned Bear, upon hearing their voices, quickened.

Thud! Thud!

The dull sound of its steps pounded on their hearts.

They were consumed by fear, unable to think.

Zeon spoke to them.

“You’ll swear your loyalty to me?”

“Yes, we will.”

“We will.”

“Yes!”

“Please.”

They answered without further thought.

Zeon took out four scrolls from his pocket.

These were items obtained from conquering a certain dungeon in the past.

They were called Scrolls of Covenant.

These items were used by the Royal Family of Kurayan to enforce loyalty upon special entities.

They were created for compelling entities with high risks of betrayal, such as assassins.

Once the covenant was made, there was no turning back.

Their souls would be enslaved.

The Scrolls of Covenant were tools for unilateral and unfair contracts.

Zeon spoke.

“Party A, Zeon. Party B, Kim Kyung-soo, Lee Joon-soo, Choi Chang-sik, and Yoo Seung-hee. Party B swears their loyalty to party A and must obey him without fail. If party B disobeys party A’s orders, their hearts will explode.”

Under normal circumstances, rejecting a covenant with the Scrolls of Covenant was obvious.

One of the disadvantages of the Scrolls of Covenant was that they would never activate unless a covenant was made voluntarily by both parties.

But Kim Kyung-soo’s group, with their lives at stake, had no room for further thought.

Now, the Giant-Horned Bear was so close that they could smell its breath.

Its red, bloodshot eyes, drool dripping between its teeth, and its foul stench were vividly felt.

“I swear.”

“Aaah! The Giant-Horned Bear is almost here. I swear.”

“Please spare us. I swear.”

“Sob! I swear.”

Zeon tore the Scrolls of Covenant while they were crying out. Instantly, a faint light spread from the Scrolls of Covenant to their hearts.

They felt invisible chains forming around their hearts.

Even though no one had taught them, they instinctively knew that if they betrayed, these invisible chains would crush their hearts.

Finally, with a smile, Zeon stood up.

The contract was now complete.

They could never betray him.

Koooww!

At that moment, the Giant-Horned Bear almost arrived.

Looking at the Giant-Horned Bear, Zeon said.

“Now you’re of no use.”

Sand rose around Zeon, and dozens of huge sand spikes pierced through the Giant-Horned Bear.

Rumble!

“Kreeeuukk!”

The Giant-Horned Bear, pierced by sand spikes, screamed in agony and breathed its last.

The four of them stared with gaping mouths.

“Damn it! What was that?”

“He moved the sand.”

“That’s impossible!”

“How could the Giant-Horned Bear die so easily?”

Those who had fallen from Awakeneds to slaves lost their words at the sight of something that defied common sense.