Mav stood atop a hill, his feet sinking into the soft, brown sand. The heat radiated through his clothes, drenching his body in sweat. The yellow cloth wrapped tightly around his head did little to help—it only trapped the heat, making it feel even more unbearable.
This makeshift disguise, a simple band of cloth hurriedly tied around his head, was a temporary solution. He planned to commission a tailor for something more practical, and perhaps adopt a new name to go along with this new persona.
A short distance away lay a vast, hollow pit—an unnatural break in the endless desert. Inside, black critters crawled up and down the sandy walls like shadows, their frantic scuttling breaking the stillness of the desert around him, sending a chill down his spine.
"Ugh," he muttered, shivering slightly.
Shaking off the unease, he took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand: leveling up his most destructive skill, Dark Red Nuke. He hadn’t originally planned on doing it here, but the pit of Sand Scorpions had caught his attention—a perfect target for leveling up his skill. He scanned the horizon to ensure no one was nearby, then retrieved a low-tier mana potion from his item box, downing it in one gulp.
"Dark Red Nuke," he commanded.
A massive explosion ripped through the pit, the force sending shockwaves that even reached the hill where he stood, forcing him to crouch for balance. Dust and sand billowed into the air, swirling before the wind gradually dispersed it.
When the dust settled, the crater had nearly doubled in size. Small spires of sand jutted out at odd angles, some crystallized from the heat of the blast. The once-living creatures were now silent, their scurrying forms obliterated. He exhaled in satisfaction, his tense shoulders relaxing as a strange calmness settled over him, though his eyes gleamed with a faint, unsettling pleasure.
Sand Scorpion Core x56 Obtained.
Sand Scorpion Shell x56 Obtained.
"That was oddly satisfying," he said, a grin spreading across his face.
Suddenly, the ground shifted beneath him. The sand began to slide, pulling him toward the pit. He instinctively leaned back to avoid falling, but the movement sent him tumbling onto the soft sand.
"Oh crap," he muttered, scrambling to his feet.
The hill was collapsing, the sand funneling into the crater he had created. He clawed at the ground, kicking his legs to find traction, but it was no use—the shifting sands dragged him down further.
"I have no choice. Dark Yellow Transcendence!" he shouted.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Power surged through his legs as he burrowed his feet deep into the sand, then launched himself upward. He soared over the crumbling hill and landed smoothly on firmer ground, running a few steps before slowing to a stop. Once he was certain the sand beneath him was stable, he deactivated the skill.
"That was close," he sighed, the thought of suffocating under the sand sending a shiver down his spine.
He glanced around, feeling the gritty sand cling to his sweat-drenched skin like a second layer, a constant reminder of the relentless heat. The desert stretched out in every direction, an endless expanse of hills and plains that felt suffocating in their isolation. The sun blazed mercilessly overhead, its light reflecting off the sand and forcing him to squint against the glare. The air shimmered with heat waves, distorting the horizon like a mirage. In the distance, shadows moved—creatures stirring restlessly, and high above, others circled ominously, their presence adding to his unease.
“I can’t wait to hit my level cap and get out of here,” he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
He had heard of this place—Xiros Desert—after consulting Mina. It was teeming with creatures from the book Daimoniki II. Though he had initially intended to head straight to Pyknos Forest, he realized it was still too dangerous. This desert would serve as a safer, albeit unpleasant, training ground.
This was his third day here. Organos had told him to wait a few days before meeting the Red Flame Guild leader, who was occupied with other matters. Mav figured he might as well use the time to grind and strengthen his skills. Each day, he carried two high-tier and two low-tier mana potions—enough for a few hours of relentless training in the scorching heat.
Once his skill had finished its cooldown, he retrieved a high-tier mana potion to replenish his nearly depleted reserves.
He cast Dark Yellow Transcendence again, scanning the area for potential targets, careful to avoid where other parties of Flame Users might also be fighting.
Once he spotted his prey, he began to move. His first step sank slightly into the sand, but by the second, he had adapted to the soft terrain. Drawing on his experience, he shifted his weight forward, and his feet barely left an impression as he picked up speed. Although the shifting dunes slowed him down compared to solid ground, it felt like skimming over water; he found a rhythm, his movements light and quick, almost as if he was gliding above the surface. The wind whipped past him, and behind, he left only a faint trail of scattered grains.
His targets, Torpedo Vultures, were Daimoniki that hunted in packs, raining down rapid Red Fireballs with the precision and speed far surpassing that of Gatling Slugs. Their near-unstoppable assault posed a challenge, but for Mav, it was an opportunity.
He activated Dark Green Invincibility, absorbing their barrage of Fire Balls. As his shield began to fade, he leapt into the air, his body still enhanced by Dark Yellow Transcendence. With a swift, powerful kick, he spun in a circle, striking all the vultures at once.
Torpedo Vulture Core x6 Obtained.
He repeated this process several times, carefully balancing the levels of his two skills to more easily keep track of their durations.
After using three of his mana potions, he pulled out his final low-tier one, preparing to head back. His training wasn’t just about leveling offensive and defensive skills; he also planned to improve Dark Blue Miracle, his healing ability. For that, he had bought another piece of cloth, this one blue, which he intended to wear the next day as part of his disguise.