As we delve deeper into the forest, attacks from mutant creatures become increasingly frequent. Deer with twisted metallic antlers charge through the undergrowth, while monstrous birds dive from the sky, their feathers dripping with a viscous substance.

"Arsenal Jann - Earthshaker!" I strike the ground, creating a shockwave that destabilizes a group of mutant boars approaching us. Their deformed bodies stumble and collapse, giving me time to repel them with a volley of stones.

Despite the effectiveness of our counterattacks, I sense Sahara is tiring. Her warnings, though still precise, become less frequent.

"You okay, sweetheart?" I ask between assaults.

"I'm... a bit tired, papa," she replies, her telepathic voice betraying her exhaustion.

The forced use of her prescience consumes enormous amounts of ruh. It was the same for me as a child; when I used blink too often, I'd feel progressively fatigued. The reason is scientific: the lower our level, the less we can use our power. I've been encouraging Sahara to use her ability to help her level up, but she's currently stuck at level 20 of the awakened rank. She seems worried about this limitation.

I'm about to pull out my water flask when suddenly, I hear the distant murmur of a river. Strangely, I notice the mutant creatures seem to avoid that direction.

"Hold on, Sahara. We'll take a break near the water."

We make our way to the river, fending off the last attacks. A monstrous bear, similar to the one we fought earlier, emerges before us.

"Arsenal Jann - Titan's Grasp!"

Giant stone hands burst from the ground, grabbing and crushing the creature before it can reach us.

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Finally, we reach the riverbank. As I'd noticed, the mutants seem reluctant to approach it. Despite a nagging bad feeling, I decide we need this moment of respite.

"We'll rest here for a bit," I tell Sahara, gently setting her down. I fill my flask with fresh water and hand it to her. "Drink, sweetie. You need to regain your strength."

"Arsenal Sylph - Whispering Winds," I whisper, creating subtle air currents around us. If anything approaches, these winds will warn me.

As Sahara approaches the water, a sudden concern grips me. I recall the old man's words about the curse and the disappearances. A flash of understanding strikes me.

"Blink!"

In an instant, I materialize near Sahara, grabbing her just before she tastes the water. My eyes light up as I activate Mireye.

"By all the djinns..." I mutter, scanning the invisible.

Sahara stares at me, surprised. I hand her my flask, my tone urgent and firm.

"Sahara, listen carefully. Only drink the water I give you. This river... it's corrupted."

My thoughts race. The mutated animals, the missing soldiers, the absence of human corpses... Everything fits together.

"Mireye!" I scan the horizon, searching for the mentioned village. There! Ancient dwellings, bathed in a malevolent aura.

Sahara stretches, ready to leave. Suddenly, her ears twitch frantically. She leaps onto my head, her telepathic voice filled with panic.

"Papa! To the west... a creature... Don't cross its path!"

An icy shiver runs down my spine. Without hesitation, I dash eastward.

Monsters emerge, but I repel them with increasing violence. Jalik's voice echoes in my memory: "Your traumas... that's another story."

My confidence wavers. I dare not use Mireye again, fearing what I might see. Bitter words escape me:

"Not just the animals drinking, huh..."

As the village comes into view, an imposing mass looms before us. My blood runs cold.

A giant scarab, as monstrous as the bear, blocks our path. Its mandibles clack, its body oozing the same black substance as the other creatures.

My body freezes, paralyzed by visceral terror. Memories of torture resurface, reviving a deeply rooted phobia.

"Papa?" Sahara's worried voice brings me back to reality.

Panic takes over. Without thinking, I invoke my most devastating technique. Six years have passed since my final training, where I had reached the elite rank. Since then, I've combined real experiences with intensive training, allowing me to reach the next rank: that of master.

"Arsenal Ifrit Level 4: Pyroclasm!"

The air around me ignites instantly. A wave of liquid fire erupts from my hands, so intense it melts the rock in its path. The scarab is engulfed in flames, its monstrous body writhing in the infernal heat.

But the consequences of my haste immediately take shape.

The creature's corrupted matter reacts violently to the fire, causing a cataclysmic explosion. The shockwave burns me, then hurls us backward, sweeping everything in its path.

In a final burst of lucidity, I hold Sahara tight against me, shielding her with my body. We roll several meters before hitting a tree. Pain explodes in my back, and I feel my strength rapidly abandoning me.

"Camouflage... Sand..." I whisper weakly, creating a thin layer of sand around Sahara.

My vision blurs. Using Pyroclasm has drained all my ruh reserves, leaving me empty and vulnerable. I'm only at the beginning of the Master rank, and this level 4 skill has consumed all my energy. As darkness envelops me, I glimpse a figure approaching. Its eyes glow with an unsetting violet light.

"Sa... ha... ra..." Fear for my partner is my last thought before I sink into unconsciousness.