Chapter 112: Spreading Blood on Sand (3)
“Good. I was curious about the performance of this new weapon, anyway.”
With his arms crossed, Ronan pulled two swords hilts simultaneously. Lamancha and a sword that had not been seen before emerged. Shullifen fixed his gaze on Ronan’s left hand and spoke up.
“So it was a dagger. That’s surprising.”
“When I first received it, I was wondering what it was too.”
Ronan’s new weapon was indeed a dagger. It looked to be about 30 cm in total length, which made it quite different from Lamancha in many ways.
The blade had elegant curves, and the hilt, with unknown characters engraved on it, gleamed in a pure white, like the starlight on a winter night. Ronan turned the dagger around in his hand out of habit and chuckled.
“Damn, it’s still surprisingly heavy.”
The weight felt as if he were wielding a two-handed sword, making his shoulder droop. The abnormally heavy weight set it apart from Lamancha.
Without enhancing his muscles with mana, it would be difficult to handle it freely. Ronan furrowed his brow as he suddenly recalled the time he received the weapon.
“I can’t remember its name. Dydican told me about it. It’s… something…”
“The sword itself looks good. But what’s with the hilt?”
Shullifen scrutinized the dagger, noticing the stark black hilt in contrast to the pure white blade. He sensed a foreboding aura emanating from it, which had been troubling him throughout their journey.
Ronan knew that it was because the hilt had been finished with the pieces from Vijra. Nebula Clazier’s mana was slowly seeping over the dagger.
“I don’t know.”
However, instead of answering, Ronan shrugged his shoulders. It was too long a story to explain under these circumstances.
The torches and shouts were getting closer. The wind suddenly picked up, parting the clouds that had been obscuring the moon, revealing the furious faces of the approaching people.
“They’re over there! Get them!”
“Looks like one of them’s a mage from the way they’re using wind magic. Take care of that one first!”
“Damn it, I never thought we’d be attacked first…”
There were seven men and three women. The group’s identity was just as expected, the losers of Dainhar.
Their disheveled appearance made it clear they weren’t a band of bandits. The adventurers going to Dainhar usually make a lot of preparations, so robbing even just a couple of them would bring in a good income.
Shullifen readied himself in a combat stance. Meanwhile, Cita, who was also prepared to cast blood magic. Ronan suddenly walked forward and blocked Shullifen’s path.
“What are you doing?”
“Just wait a moment. There’s something I want to try.”
“Something you want to try?”
“Yeah, it’s the first time since I’ve received this weapon, so I want to see if it’s any good. Cita, you wait for a moment too.”
“Bweeh.”
Cita reabsorbed the blood it had gathered to shoot a blood bullet. Reluctantly, Shullifen stepped back. Suddenly, a shout from the center of the group caught their attention.
“Stone Hand!”
“Oh?”
Hearing the incantation, Ronan curled his mouth. It appeared that a mage had joined the band of bandits as well.
Bang! The ground before them exploded, and a giant palm made of rock emerged. It was large enough to cover an area of at least 3 meters.
“You idiot. At this level, you could make a living without having to steal.”
Ronan spat on the floor and swung Lamancha. Several lines were drawn on the rock’s surface.
Thud!
The shattered rock hand lost its shape and exploded. The woman’s eyes widened as she cast her spell.
“W-what?!”
“You again.”
Ronan located the mage’s position and threw the dagger. Its weight gave it a substantial feeling, much like throwing a javelin.
Swish!
The white dagger flew towards her woman in a perfect straight line.
“Be careful!”
The man in front, the vanguard, raised his shield to protect the woman. His quick reflexes suggested he was a skilled warrior. However, that didn’t matter much. With a loud crack, the dagger shattered the shield and pierced the man’s throat.
“Argh…!”
Blood spurted out, and the sound of neck bones breaking echoed. It was an instant and undeniable death. The woman realized what was happening too late.
Thud!
The tip of the dagger protruding from the back of the man’s neck pierced her forehead. The two bodies flew backwards simultaneously and crashed onto the ground. The bandits around them were scared and backed away.
“Min-Mindy! Fuck…”
“Shit, the dagger pierced through the shield?!”
There was no doubt about their instant deaths. The two bodies were convulsing. Ronan, satisfied, whistled.
“It’s quite useful.”
It had more penetrating power than he had imagined. Just by looking at the path the dagger had flown, one could tell it was a well-crafted weapon.
Suddenly, Ronan raised his right foot. Such agile opponents needed to be dealt with quickly, before they scattered like cockroaches. He turned to Shullifen.
“Hey, when I stomp my foot, shoot out a whirlwind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Shullifen raised an eyebrow, confused. Without answering, Ronan stomped his foot. Thud! The sound echoed, and a ripple of mana spread out.
However, their focus was on the dagger dug deep into the woman’s forehead rather than at Ronan’s feet. Whoosh! Shiny roots grew out of nowhere and wrapped around the bandits gathered around the woman.
“What’s… what’s happening?!”
“My body…!”
The bewildered bandits suddenly found their feet bound and struggled to get free. Shullifen’s eyes widened, and he recognized the technique.
“Ronan…! How are you using that technique?”
“I’ll explain later, but first, let’s get rid of them. They’re weaker than I expected.”
Ronan pointed with his chin toward the bandits. Some were already trying to break free from the roots. Shullifen, quickly regaining his composure, grasped the hilt of his sword. A stormy aura surrounded his sword as the wind of the desert swirled around it.
“Very well.”
Shullifen swung his sword towards the direction of the bandits. The sharp shockwave shot along the blade and pierced the center of the group of bandits.
Shwaaah!
A whirlwind with a diameter of about 10 meters engulfed the bandits.
“Aaargh!”
“Save us…!”
The bound bandits couldn’t escape the whirlwind. Faint cries were muffled by the sound of the wind. Sprays of fresh blood splattered like a shower. Limbs torn apart by the sharp wind danced through the air.
Eventually, the wind subsided. Thud! Thud! The corpses that had been lifted into the whirlwind fell to the ground one by one. The scene was like a stew filled with spicy peppers and tomatoes.
“Ugh, fuck.”
Ronan frowned. It seemed like he wouldn’t even feel like eating for the next three days. Shullifen’s Storm Sword was much stronger than the one he had seen during the intermediate evaluation. This, along with Navirose’s Aura, seemed like it could never be copied.
“You don’t know when to hold back.”
“Compassion for the wicked is unnecessary.”
Of course, there were no survivors. In the midst of the carnage, a glimmering light caught their attention. Ronan approached the remains, and, between the internal organs, he retrieved the dagger that had been buried under all the blood and guts.
“This is good.”
This was the reason he had asked Shullifen to use the Storm Sword, even at the risk of losing the dagger. Suddenly, the name of a dagger he had forgotten flashed through his mind. He mumbled to himself as he wiped off the blood on the dagger.
“Ymir.”
It seemed like the name of a giant or something. It wasn’t his favorite, especially when it was related to giants, but regardless of the name, Ronan was quite pleased with the new weapon.
Besides its unconventional weight, it also had the ability to redirect spells using mana, which he found advantageous. He picked up whatever he could carry and turned on his heel.
“Cita, let’s clean up.”
“Bweeh!”
Cita spread its four wings wide. The droplets of blood that had pooled and splashed to the surroundings took the form of droplets and floated into the air.
The same thing happened to the two boy’s bodies and clothes. Cita absorbed the blood within less than three minutes.
“Good job. You haven’t lost your touch.”
“Bweeh~”
When Ronan scratched Cita’s neck, Cita purred, closing its eyes. According to Ophelia, the more blood Cita absorbed, the stronger its blood magic became, so they took the opportunity to feed it whenever possible.
“…You’re quite capable.”
Shullifen muttered softly as he noticed his clothes had become clean. The two of them, having cleared away the band of losers, continued on their way. If Ronan had the same mindset as before, he would have wanted to go to their base and kill them all, but unfortunately, he didn’t have much time to spare.
****
“Damn it. We’ve finally arrived.”
“Is this it? It’s my first time seeing it in person.”
Shullifen muttered with apparent interest. A vast expanse of red sand stretched endlessly before them. The distinctive dunes seemed to ripple and change shape slightly with every gust of wind. The sea of stars overhead looked like it might spill over the horizon at any moment.
On the fifth night of their journey on foot, the two of them entered the Crimson Desert. Ronan, who had stretched out his body, grumbled.
“Ugh… I used too much energy on those bastards.”
“It was the right choice. The number of victims will definitely decrease because of that.”
“That’s true.”
The two walked for five more days, just as Ronan had predicted. During this time, the sun had risen and set four times, and they had dealt with thirty-two defeated adventurers along the way. Shullifen had typically been the one to detect their presence, initiating combat with a sword strike, and Ronan had followed to finish them off.
As the rumor about them spread, the bandits had started to employ more strategic tactics, but they always ended up as minced meat in the face of overwhelming power. Ronan nodded his head in satisfaction as he observed Shullifen’s back.
‘Bringing this guy was the right choice. He’s not only skilled, but he has no hesitation about killing villains.’
His abilities were unquestionable, and he had no qualms about taking down wrongdoers. Thanks to him, they had quickly made their way into the desert, despite the unforgiving terrain. Ronan suddenly stretched out his arm and pointed ahead.
“I can see it now. That’s Dainhar.”
Shullifen said, turning his head. In the distance, a cluster of rock formations reminiscent of a crown or an inverted hand shape came into view.
Shullifen had been gazing silently at Dainhar, and his lips twisted as he muttered.
“I have a feeling… something’s not right.”
“Right? The closer we get, the more we’ll learn why it’s called the ‘Forbidden Land.’ You must absolutely do as I tell you.”
Ronan, recalling the hardships of his past lives, shivered. Even if they could avoid the damned Sandworms, Roc Birds, and traps set by the natives, the challenges ahead were far from over. He tossed his backpack aside and said.
“At any rate, good work. Let’s camp here for tonight.”
Shullifen hesitated as they set up a campfire and laid out their sleeping bags. The desert nights were cold, and they needed to wear thick leather clothes to stay warm. Each breath they exhaled formed white puffs in the chilly air.
Tonight, it was Shullifen’s turn to keep watch first. He stood straight with his hands on his hips, scanning the desert. Ronan, wrapped in a sleeping bag, gestured towards Cita.
“Come here, Cita.”
“Bweeh?”
Cita, who had been dozing by the campfire, approached Ronan as he opened the sleeping bag. Cita came inside it obediently and curled up on Ronan’s chest.
Ronan gently embraced Cita, feeling the warmth through its soft feathers.
“This is it. Damn, it’s finally warm enough.”
“Bweeeh~”
It was one of the positives of having a pet. Cita purred contentedly, as if it were in a good mood. Just when Ronan was about to fall asleep.
“…I heard you saved Sion.”
“Huh?”
“While I was busy, such an incident happened.”
Ronan raised his head. Shullifen’s gaze was still fixed on the sand. Ronan realized that he was soon going to tell him about what had happened at the Dawn Magic Tower.
“Oh, that little one is your sibling, right? How is she doing?”
“Yes. After the Dawn Magic Tower sent a message, I sent a specialized healer right away. Fortunately, there were no issues with her health.”
“That’s good. She seems to be cuter than you, less serious.”
“She is a child who grew up receiving a lot of love. Among my siblings, she’s the only one with a natural talent for magic.”
Ronan breathed a sigh of relief, having heard that she was unharmed. He had been curious about what happened during those two days. Shullifen finally continued the conversation.
“For the two days we were together, all we’ve talked about is you and Lady Acalusia. Lady Acalusia in particular, it’s almost like they’ve become biological sisters. There is no way she wouldn’t know that we are adversaries.”
“What are you trying to get at?”
“Nothing much. Just…”
Ronan raised an eyebrow. He sensed that he was intentionally dragging the conversation. After a brief silence, Shullifen turned to Ronan.
“Thank you for saving my little sister.”
“Huh.”
Simultaneously, he lowered his head. Ronan let out a wry chuckle. He hadn’t expected to see this guy act sentimental. Feeling a little awkward, Ronan waved his hands.
“It’s nothing. It’s alright.”
“The entire family knows of your contributions already. I will repay you in the name of Garcia.”
“I don’t care about rewards. If you’re so grateful, just keep watch for another hour. I’m going to sleep.”
With that, Ronan lay down, now feeling rather uncomfortable about the gratitude. Cita, who had already dozed off, let out a contented purr. As her body grew warmer, sleep began to overtake Ronan, and his eyelids slowly drooped.
.
…Thud!
.
“Ronan, wake up.”
“…Huh?”
Ronan opened his eyes. The dazzling night sky was still visible above. A crimson nebula beyond the Milky Way was burning brightly.
Ronan slowly raised his upper body. It seemed like the fatigue in his body hadn’t completely dissipated. Shullifen was standing in the same position as when he had seen him.
“What the hell, how long did I sleep for…?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“This damn inconsiderate guy… you can’t stand me any longer, so you wake me up after sleeping for only half an hour? Are you even human?”
“Just look over there.”
Without much of a response, Shullifen pointed towards the desert. Ronan, who had just woken up grumbling, looked in the direction he was indicating. His eyes widened.
“Damn it. Why is that monster here?”
“It just flew in from the direction of Dainhar and crashed landed here. Do you recognize this creature?”
“I do, but…”
Come to think of it, he thought he had heard something falling when he was dozing off. Not far from where he stood, a huge, rare bird-like creature lay on the ground. It had a wingspan of nearly 6 meters, almost reaching the size of a wyvern.
Ronan knew what this creature was. It was a strange bird called “Roc Bird”, which only lived in Dainhar. Ronan shook his head to shake off his drowsiness and opened his mouth.
“Let’s go check it out.”
Both of them hurriedly ran towards the Roc Bird. Cita, who had just awakened, followed behind them. Ronan, who arrived first, clicked his tongue and muttered.
“Damn it, it’s dead.”
The Roc Bird was already dead, with its neck broken. Its stiff wings lay motionless. Ronan raised an eyebrow.
“Why would it have come all the way here?”
Roc Birds were creatures that lived only within the boundaries of Dainhar. He still remembered being chased by these creatures in his previous life. As Ronan examined the corpse, he noticed something unusual.
“Oh… Oh no…”
When he was about to say something, a whimper came from under the bird’s wings. The Roc Bird’s wings were blocking the source of the sound. Ronan’s eyes widened.
“Shit. Let’s check.”
Ronan slowly approached the sound. As he lifted the wing, a trembling, injured boy was revealed. He was huddled in a ball, shivering in the cold. He was covered in various tattoos, visible on his bare upper body.
“Agh… ughhh… every… ev-everyone…”
“Get it out quickly.”
Judging from his appearance, he was a native of Dainhar. Shullifen quickly picked up the boy Ronan, who had lowered the wings, asked the boy.
“Hey kid, snap out of it. What happened, what’s going on?”
“…They’re… all dead…”
The boy mumbled those words, and then lost consciousness. Ronan instinctively sensed that thing had gone very wrong.
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