Sand Storm
Sand Blaster.
It was a skill Zeon favored.
It was also the first skill he had mastered.
As such, he wielded it with expert proficiency.
A single Sand Blaster didn't pack much punch on its own. But when dozens fired at once, that changed everything.
It had enough power to shred ordinary monsters in an instant. In fact, Zeon had hunted countless monsters that way.
But his opponent was the Balrog.
Its flesh was tougher than any large monster's, and above all, it was shielded by a powerful force field.
High-grade monsters of A-rank or above possessed these force fields, which offered formidable resistance against most physical and magical attacks.
Naturally, the higher the monster's rank, the stronger the field became.
The Balrog had no official rank.
It had only just emerged into the world today.
But its sheer presence and that force field told the tale.
'S-rank at minimum.'
That was the floor. Even freshly awakened, it was this strong. Once it fully regained its power, even guessing its true level might prove impossible.
'To think they'd awaken this thing. Demian!'
The Balrog was a monster that could wipe out an entire colony in seconds.
And they'd unleashed it right on Neo Seoul's doorstep.
No matter that it was to lure out the elves and extract info on Elharon—it was going too far.
Maybe they trusted Zeon that much.
That he'd definitely stop the Balrog.
Shwick!
A flame whip lashed out at invisible speeds.
Zeon triggered Sand Step, retreating backward.
By a hair's breadth, the whip grazed the space just in front of his face.
Sizzle!
Even just passing by, the air scorched and shimmered.
It was hot enough to melt the skin off most Awakeners.
But this level of heat couldn't touch Zeon.
He had the Superheat Gauntlet.
Embedded with the Red Dragon's eye, it shielded him perfectly from flames.
At least, he wouldn't die to the Balrog's fire attacks.
That left only pure skill clashes and raw physical exchanges.
Shwick!
Another flame whip hurtled in.
Even without the fire, its sheer force could rip apart a monster's body like wet paper.
Clang!
Zeon blocked it with his Superheat Gauntlet.
Only possible because the gauntlet's durability matched the whip's.
Bam-bam-bam!
The flame whip and gauntlet clashed repeatedly, bursting the air and unleashing flame storms in all directions.
Zeon and the Balrog moved and collided at speeds invisible to the eye.
Their motions were too fast for even Serion Olia and Mariel to track.
The High Elder gaped, still maintaining his barrier.
"That strong?"
He knew Zeon was powerful.
The fact that the twins he'd sent to stop him had gone radio silent proved it.
But he hadn't expected Zeon to match the Balrog physically.
"A martial-type Awakener, then?"
The High Elder immediately dismissed the thought.
Zeon wasn't just some martial-type.
The sand rippling around him proved it.
As if resonating with Zeon, the sand churned restlessly.
Like hunting dogs awaiting their master's command, ready to tear out any prey's throat.
At that moment, Zeon gestured.
The sand floated up, clumping together in midair.
Chunks the size of a child's forearm rocketed toward the Balrog at terrifying speed.
Sand Missiles.
Boom-boom-boom!
Dozens slammed into the Balrog's massive body mid-whip swing.
But they inflicted no damage.
Its force field protected it completely.
Zeon knew that.
He'd unleashed the missiles anyway—to whittle down the field.
No force field, no matter how strong, lasted forever.
Not even the Balrog's.
Freshly inhabiting Demian's body, it had no reserves to spare. So Zeon bombarded it relentlessly, chipping away.
Thankfully, the High Elder's barrier contained a massive amount of sand. And Zeon commanded it masterfully.
"Let's get serious."
Zeon summoned the sand.
It rose like a tsunami, crashing over the Balrog.
Rumble!
Serion Olia covered her mouth as a dozens-of-meters-high sand wave engulfed it.
"A Sand Mage…?"
"My god!"
Ilai's eyes bulged.
A massive sand pillar lifted Zeon into the air.
Confirming it: Zeon was a Sand Mage.
Rawr!
The enraged Balrog unleashed its Eyes of Destruction.
Red beams from its eyes melted the sand propping Zeon in seconds.
The sand flowed like lava.
The barrier interior turned volcanic in an instant.
Lava rivers snaked everywhere; the air baked.
Just breathing felt like it would cook your lungs.
"Hup!"
"Damn it!"
The survivors barely clung to life, covering their mouths with sleeves as they retreated.
"Your Majesty!"
Even as Borlin Stravach pulled her back, Serion Olia couldn't look away from Zeon.
Zeon spread his arms like a conductor.
The sand chasing the Balrog exploded like a bomb.
Boom!
Immense pressure and countless grains pelted it.
Cremoa.
One blast would shred ordinary monsters to rags.
But this was the Balrog.
The disaster monster.
The sand couldn't pierce its force field, scattering harmlessly.
"This won't work! We have to help him."
"No, Your Majesty!"
Ilai blocked her path.
"Didn't you see? He harbors ill will toward our kind. Helping him means he'll stab us in the back."
"Ilai!"
"Think rationally. If Elharon's location leaks, every one of our kin from Kurayan is at risk."
Ilai's eyes were bloodshot.
She'd always coveted Serion's throne, opposing her covertly. But they agreed on one thing: Elharon.
It was the final bastion for all who'd fled Kurayan.
They had to protect it until they grew stronger.
"We don't even need to act. Let the humans inside this barrier die. Elharon's secret stays safe."
"No, Your Majesty!"
Borlin rebelled against Ilai's words.
"How dare you!"
Ilai glared fiercely, but Borlin pressed on undaunted.
"I know Elharon matters. But so does this place. Neo Seoul is where we live, right? We already tiptoe around humans. If it falls too, our kin here have nowhere to go."
"Why not? Elharon's there."
"I don't know Elharon. This is my home. Most of our kin probably feel the same."
"What do you know? Shut your mouth."
"I'm sorry, but I have to say it. If we don't help Zeon now, countless in Neo Seoul die. The city might survive, but the slums won't. Their hatred and resentment toward us will only deepen."
Borlin looked relieved after spilling it all.
She didn't care about Ilai's backlash.
Ilai turned to Serion.
"Don't listen to her."
"Ilai!"
"Humans are our enemies. Never forget that."
"Sigh! Sorry, Ilai. I've always respected your views, but not this time."
"Your Majesty!"
"Even if this exposes Elharon, I can't let masses die. And you think we'll escape unscathed? We might now, but eventually, the Balrog hits us too."
"But…"
"Enough. That's an order. Any more backtalk, and it's insubordination—punishable."
Serion fixed Ilai with a chilling gaze.
Ilai couldn't argue further.
'Damn it!'
Humiliation bit deep; she chewed her lip till it bled.
Serion ignored her, stepping forward.
Zeon battled the Balrog fiercely.
The barrier's interior was now a lava hellscape.
The Balrog's doing.
Monsters transcending rank like it reshaped their surroundings instinctively.
Terraforming on command.
Born in hellfire, the Balrog thrived on extreme heat and flames.
This terrain maximized its power.
As the environment shifted, the Balrog grew stronger.
Zeon's assaults intensified in response.
Boom!
He hurled sand relentlessly at it. But most had melted; his supply was limited.
Zeon bit his lip faintly.
'Go all out?'
He could manipulate the sand beneath the lava if he wanted. But that'd expose his full power.
As Zeon hesitated—
"I'll help."
Serion shouted, unleashing a skill.
A massive glow erupted from her, surging into Zeon.
He felt overwhelming power boil within.
Blessing of the Earth, one of her skills.
It temporarily transferred her mana—a buff.
Serion was S-rank.
Her mana was vast as an ocean.
She poured a huge chunk into him.
Zeon was stunned by the unprecedented fullness.
'With this…'
Even his strongest skills wouldn't seem like his own.
Perfect.
"Good!"
Zeon roared, soaring into the air.
The Balrog pursued.
Flame wings had sprouted on its back.
Flapping them, it closed in instantly.
Bang!
It broke the sound barrier, sonic boom erupting.
Its whip sharpened to a spear, aiming for Zeon's throat.
In that desperate moment, Zeon murmured calmly.
"Sand Storm!"
Roooar!
The lava churned, unleashing buried sands skyward.
The surging sand spun viciously, swallowing the Balrog and its whip.
Zeon's onslaught didn't stop.
"Sand Mixer!"
Greeeeend!
Fine grains whirled like a blender, gnawing the force field.
Exposed skin met the high-speed rotation.
Crunch-crunch!
Even the Balrog's iron hide flaked away.
Grrrraaah!
Agony roared from it; Eyes of Destruction fired wildly.
Superheated beams ravaged the barrier.
The High Elder spat blood.
"Damn it! Can't hold much longer. Finish it!"
Then Serion and Borlin unleashed attacks.
Their strikes scattered sand, blinding everyone.
Zeon released Exion.
Full throttle at last.
Black sand wings draped him as he slammed the Balrog.
BOOM!