Chapter 17

A powerful aura gathered around both of Gawain's fists.

His aura was far more intense and dazzling than that of Kleing or Mashimoto—a clear sign that his rank was higher.

His level was also one step above Zeon's.

In terms of pure stats alone, Zeon could never defeat him.

But this was the desert.

The entire desert was his stage—his canvas.

Here, he could paint any picture he desired.

Shuuu!

Sand walls suddenly rose from all directions, shielding Zeon. But they were quickly shattered by Gawain's fists.

Without panicking, Zeon launched Sand Missiles.

The same technique he had used to kill Kleing moments ago.

"Pathetic."

Gawain swung his fist and destroyed the Sand Missiles.

Having seen Kleing die, he had already grasped Zeon's attack pattern.

"Die!"

Neutralizing the Sand Missiles in an instant, Gawain closed the distance and threw a massive punch at Zeon.

"Hup!"

At that moment, with a shout, Zeon disappeared from Gawain's sight.

A large pit suddenly formed beneath Zeon's feet, swallowing him whole.

It happened so quickly that Gawain could only stare in confusion.

From beneath Gawain's feet, Zeon fired Sand Missiles in rapid succession.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Like fireworks exploding, Gawain's body trembled under the barrage.

"Grrgh!"

Gawain hunched his body, minimizing the impact.

As a D-grade Awakened, his durability was immense. He reinforced his entire body with aura as well.

Because of that, he was able to endure the indiscriminate barrage to some extent.

But if it continued like this, he would die without even getting a chance to counterattack.

Gawain clenched his teeth.

"Don't underestimate me! Uwoooaaah!"

With a roar, he slammed his fist into the ground.

KWAANG!

The moment his fist struck the sand, a shockwave erupted.

His skill—Shockwave.

The blast overturned all the sand in the area.

Even the pit where Zeon hid could not escape it.

"Guh!"

The shockwave rattled Zeon's brain.

His eardrums and the tiny blood vessels in his eyes burst.

Staggering from the unexpected counterattack, Zeon faltered.

Gawain seized the opening and leapt into the pit.

"It's over, brat!"

He unleashed Shockwave directly at Zeon.

If it hit him head-on, Zeon wouldn't survive.

"Yaaah!"

At that moment, with a shout, all the surrounding sand poured into the pit.

Like a tidal wave, it crashed down over both Gawain and Zeon.

The impact of the sand disrupted Gawain's Shockwave.

"Ugh!"

Buried alive in the sand, Gawain quickly regained his senses.

An enormous mass of sand pressed down on his entire body.

First, he tried to locate Zeon—but he couldn't sense him anywhere.

Zeon had clearly escaped the pit.

'You rat…!'

Grinding his teeth, Gawain forced himself up.

Boom!

He unleashed Shockwave, blasting away the massive pile of sand covering him.

As Gawain stood alert atop the pit, preparing for Zeon's next attack—

Thud!

Suddenly, an intense pain shot through his lower body.

"What… is this?"

He looked down in disbelief.

More than a dozen spikes had pierced through his lower body and abdomen in a crisscross pattern.

They were spikes made of sand.

He had prepared only for an attack from above—but had made no preparation for an attack from within the pit itself.

Because he had assumed Zeon had already escaped.

At that moment—

Zeon rose up from the bottom of the pit.

"Ghk… you…!"

Coughing up blood, Gawain stared at him in shock.

He had never imagined Zeon would deceive his senses and remain hidden in the pit.

That made it all the more terrifying.

There was only one kind of ability capable of controlling sand so freely.

"You… don't tell me… a sand-type Awakened?"

"Yes."

"Damn… such a broken ability…!"

Gawain coughed up blood once more.

At that moment, Zeon withdrew his control.

The sand spikes piercing Gawain's body collapsed back into grains.

As the spikes supporting his body vanished, Gawain crumpled as well.

He did not move again.

"Haah…"

Only then did Zeon collapse to the ground, his tension finally releasing.

In truth, that final attack had been improvised.

It was something he came up with instinctively at the very moment his life was in danger.

There had been no guarantee it would work—but he trusted his instincts.

Instead of escaping the pit, he had hidden beneath Gawain's feet, masking his presence with sand.

If Gawain had noticed even for a moment, everything would have been over.

At that range, a direct Shockwave would have killed him instantly.

"Haah… haah…"

As Zeon panted heavily—

"You bastard!"

"Die!"

The scavengers who had crawled out of the pit launched a surprise attack.

By the time Zeon noticed, their weapons were already just about to strike him.

There was neither time nor strength left to dodge.

Just as Zeon thought of death—

Shuuuung!

An intangible force swept past above his head.

Slash!

The scavengers attacking him were instantly split in two by the unseen force.

Their blood splattered all over Zeon.

"Ah…!"

Zeon stood there, drenched in their blood, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly.

Then he heard Deioden's voice.

"You let your guard down when there are still enemies left."

Zeon lowered his head.

He had no excuse.

"You're still far from it, you idiot!"

Deioden's insult stabbed into his chest like a blade.

＊＊＊

Deioden withdrew his crayon.

He had released aura through it, cutting down every enemy that had tried to ambush Zeon.

The fact that Deioden could project aura dozens of meters away was astonishing—but Pavilsah was more shocked by Zeon.

He muttered in disbelief,

"Unbelievable… a sand-controlling Awakened?"

He had wandered the desert for many years and met countless Awakened, yet never once had he seen someone who could control sand.

He had never even imagined such a thing existed.

Pavilsah glanced at Deioden.

Deioden still looked dissatisfied.

He was displeased that Zeon had failed to properly finish the fight and nearly brought danger upon himself.

'So that's why that monster keeps him around.'

Only now did Pavilsah understand why Deioden was traveling with Zeon.

In a desertified world, the most powerful existence was a sand user.

Though Zeon had only recently awakened his ability and its power was still limited, his potential for growth was limitless.

After dealing with all the scavengers, Zeon trudged back toward Arkelon.

Fatigue was written all over his face.

He had poured everything into that one battle.

His imagination, his mana, even every last drop of his physical energy.

Fighting demonic beasts was difficult—but fighting humans was even harder.

"Hoo…"

Letting out a long breath, Zeon climbed onto Arkelon.

"You did well."

"Good job."

Pavilsah and Keily greeted him.

But Deioden was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Deioden?"

"He went inside. Said his eyes were rotting from watching…."

"Haah…"

As Zeon sighed, Pavilsah chuckled.

"His standards are simply too high. You fought well enough."

"Yes!"

"You've done enough. Go rest."

He gestured toward Keily.

Keily approached Zeon.

"Come on. I'll show you where to stay."

"Thank you."

Zeon didn't refuse and followed her.

She led him to a small room tucked away in a corner.

"Rest here. I'll bring you something light to eat."

"Alright."

Keily left him alone and went outside.

Zeon sat on the stone bed and looked down at his hands.

Tremble…

They were shaking as if he had a severe tremor.

Today, he had killed many people.

Even if they were scavengers, they were still human—just like him.

Taking human lives inflicted deep mental strain.

He had killed before—but this felt different.

Back then, it had been an accidental killing in a desperate struggle to survive.

This time, it had been the deliberate slaughter of many people under a carefully laid plan.

The guilt weighed heavily on him.

"…I still have to overcome it."

Zeon steadied his wavering mind.

He couldn't afford to dwell on guilt forever.

To survive in this harsh world, he had to discard such feelings.

It was a world where one couldn't live without stepping on others.

His heart wavered for a moment—but Zeon had long since learned that rule.

"Hoo…"

His trembling hands gradually calmed.

Only then did he have the composure to reflect on the battle.

Leaning against the wall, Zeon replayed the fight with the scavengers in his mind.

＊＊＊

Pavilsah entered Deioden's room without knocking.

Deioden was staring intently at the crayon resting on his knees.

Pavilsah spoke.

"Your crayon has changed."

"I reforged it with the heart of a Flame Drake."

"You've given it a fire attribute? So you really intend to go through with it."

"For a hundred years, I haven't forgotten my goal for even a single moment."

"…A hundred years is more than enough time to forget everything."

Pavilsah let out a sigh.

A deep shadow fell over his face.

Because he felt ashamed.

He had convinced himself that it had been unavoidable—that it was a catastrophe no human could endure—and buried the memory of that day.

Instead, he had devoted himself entirely to the protection and prosperity of the Mott Tribe.

While he lived solely for his people, Deioden had lived for a single purpose.

That was not something just anyone could do.

Among all the people Pavilsah knew, only Deioden was capable of it.

That made him seem like a fool—and yet worthy of respect.

Pavilsah spoke.

"Give me the crayon."

"..."

"If you keep using it like that, it'll only damage it further. I'll have my people stabilize it."

The heart of a Flame Drake contained immense heat.

It was like a living furnace.

Having absorbed that power, the crayon was under extreme strain.

If it wasn't stabilized now, its durability would drastically weaken.

Deioden handed the crayon to Pavilsah.

The moment Pavilsah took it, his body staggered.

That was how heavy it was.

It was the weight of the life Deioden had carried.

A man who had borne such a weapon—and lived for a single purpose for a hundred years.

That man was Deioden.