Chapter 150
Sand Blaster.
It was a skill Zeon frequently used.
It was also the very first skill he had mastered.
That was why he wielded it with such proficiency.
The power of a single Sand Blaster wasn’t particularly impressive. But when dozens were fired at once, it became a completely different story.
It possessed enough destructive force to grind down most magical beasts in an instant. In fact, Zeon had hunted many beasts using Sand Blaster.
But his opponent was Balrog.
Its body was tougher than most large-class magical beasts, and above all, it possessed a powerful force field.
High-ranking magical beasts of A-grade or higher possess such force fields, which provide strong defense against most physical and magical attacks.
Naturally, the higher the beast’s rank, the stronger this field becomes.
Balrog’s exact rank did not exist.
Because it had appeared in this world for the first time today.
But just from its presence and its force field, it was obvious.
‘At least S-rank.’
That meant S-rank was the minimum.
Even newly awakened, it was this strong—if it fully regained its power, it might become impossible to even estimate.
‘You actually woke something like this, Damian!’
Balrog was a monster capable of annihilating an entire colony in an instant.
And such a creature had been unleashed right near Neo Seoul.
Even if it was to lure out the elves and obtain information about Elharun, it was going too far.
Perhaps it also meant that they trusted Zeon that much.
That he would surely stop Balrog.
Screeeech!
A flaming whip lashed out at an invisible speed.
Zeon stepped back using Sand Walk.
By a hair’s breadth, the flaming whip grazed the space right in front of his face.
Sizzle!
It had only brushed past, yet the air itself burned.
The heat was intense enough to melt the skin of most awakened beings.
But this level of heat meant nothing to Zeon.
He wore the Gauntlets of Extreme Heat.
Embedded with the eye of a Red Dragon, they completely protected him from flames.
At the very least, he wouldn’t die from Balrog’s fire attacks.
That left only a pure clash of skill and physical power.
Screeeech!
The flaming whip came again.
Even ignoring the flames, its sheer physical force alone was enough to tear apart most magical beasts.
Clang!
Zeon blocked the flaming whip with the gauntlets.
This too was possible because the gauntlets were just as durable as the whip.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the flaming whip and gauntlets collided repeatedly, the air burst apart, and fiery storms raged in all directions.
Zeon and Balrog moved and clashed at speeds too fast to be seen.
Their movements were so rapid that even Serian and Mariel couldn’t follow them with their eyes.
The old man maintained the barrier and stared in shock.
“Was he really this strong?”
He had known Zeon was powerful.
The fact that the twins sent to stop him had not reported back was proof enough.
But he hadn’t expected his physical abilities to rival Balrog.
“Then is he a martial-type awakened?”
The old man quickly denied his own thought.
Zeon wasn’t just a martial-type awakened.
The rippling sand around him proved it.
The sand surged as if responding to him.
Like hunting hounds waiting for their master’s command.
At any moment, ready to tear into their prey.
At that moment, Zeon gestured.
The sand rose into the air and gathered.
Clumps of sand the size of a child’s forearm shot toward Balrog at terrifying speed.
Sand Missile.
Boom boom boom boom!
Dozens of Sand Missiles exploded across Balrog’s massive body.
But they caused no damage.
The force field protected it.
Zeon knew that.
Even so, he continued firing—to wear down the field.
No matter how strong, a force field couldn’t be maintained forever.
The same applied to Balrog.
Having just taken over Damian’s body, it couldn’t have much leeway.
That was why Zeon overwhelmed it with sheer volume—to grind down the field.
Fortunately, within the barrier created by the old man, there was an enormous amount of sand.
And Zeon possessed the control to command it all.
“Let’s get serious.”
He raised the sand.
Like a tidal wave, it surged forward and engulfed Balrog.
Crash—!
A sand wave tens of meters high crashed down.
Serian covered her mouth in shock.
“A sand… sorcerer?”
“My god!”
Eli’s eyes widened.
A massive pillar of sand rose and lifted Zeon into the air.
Now it was undeniable—he was a sand sorcerer.
Krrraaaah!
Enraged, Balrog unleashed the Eye of Destruction.
A red beam shot from its eye and instantly melted the sand supporting Zeon.
The sand liquefied like lava and flowed downward.
Inside the barrier, the environment transformed into a volcanic region.
Rivers of lava flowed, and the air burned with heat.
Just breathing felt like it would scorch the lungs.
“Hah!”
“Damn it!”
Those who barely survived covered their mouths and retreated.
“Your Majesty!”
Even as she was pulled back by Borin, Serian couldn’t take her eyes off Zeon.
Zeon spread his hands like a conductor.
The sand before Balrog exploded like a bomb.
Boom!
An immense pressure and countless grains of sand slammed into Balrog.
Zeon had used Claymore.
A single blast could shred most magical beasts into rags.
But the opponent was Balrog.
A calamity-class beast.
The sand couldn’t penetrate the force field and scattered in all directions.
“This won’t work! We have to help him.”
“No, Your Majesty!”
Eli objected, stepping in front of Serian.
“Didn’t you see? He harbors hostility toward our kind. If we help him, he’ll surely stab us in the back.”
“Eli!”
“...We have to judge this calmly. If the location of Elharun is exposed, all of our people who crossed over from Kurayan will be in danger.”
Eli’s eyes were bloodshot.
She had always coveted Serian’s position and secretly opposed her. But there was one thing they both agreed on.
That was Elharun.
Elharun was the final stronghold for everyone who had crossed over from Kurayan.
Until they gained greater power, it had to be protected.
“We don’t even need to use our strength. We just let the humans inside this barrier die. Then Elharun’s secret will remain safe.”
“That’s unacceptable, Your Majesty!”
Borin openly defied Eli.
“You dare—!”
Eli glared fiercely, but Borin continued without backing down.
“I understand that Elharun is important. But this place matters too. After all, Neo Seoul is where we live, isn’t it? We already survive by watching the humans’ reactions—if this place collapses too, our people here will have nowhere left to go.”
“Nowhere? Isn’t there Elharun?”
“I don’t know Elharun. This place is my home. And I’m sure most of our people feel the same.”
“What do you know to speak so recklessly? Watch your tongue.”
“I’m sorry. But I have to say this. If we don’t help Zeon now, countless people in Neo Seoul will die. The city itself might survive, but the people in the slums won’t escape death. And if they die, the hatred and resentment toward us will only deepen.”
After saying everything she had held back, Borin looked relieved.
She didn’t care what consequences she might face from Eli.
Eli turned her gaze to Serian.
“You must not listen to her.”
“Eli!”
“Humans are our enemies. You must never forget that.”
“…Hah. I’m sorry, Eli. I’ve always respected your opinions, but this time—I can’t.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Even if this decision exposes Elharun’s location, we must stop people from dying. And if we leave Balrog alone, do you think we’ll remain safe? Maybe for now—but eventually, we’ll suffer great losses as well.”
“But…!”
“That’s enough. This is an order. If you argue further, I’ll consider it insubordination and punish you.”
Serian looked at Eli with cold eyes.
At that point, Eli could no longer oppose her.
‘Damn it!’
Humiliated, Eli bit her lip until it bled.
Ignoring her, Serian stepped forward.
She saw Zeon locked in fierce battle with Balrog.
By now, the interior of the barrier had turned into a volcanic wasteland.
This too was Balrog’s power.
High-tier monsters like Balrog could reshape their surroundings to suit themselves.
Instinctively terraforming the area.
Balrog was a creature born from the flames of hell.
For it, a land of blazing heat and fire was the perfect battlefield.
As the environment changed, Balrog grew even stronger.
But Zeon’s assault against it intensified as well.
Boom—!
Zeon gathered every bit of sand he could and hurled it at Balrog. But most of the sand in the area had melted, limiting how much he could control.
He bit his lip slightly.
‘Should I go all out?’
If he wanted, he could even manipulate the sand beneath the lava.
But doing so would reveal all of his power.
As he hesitated—
“I’ll help you!”
Serian shouted and activated her skill.
A massive burst of light erupted from her body and shot toward Zeon.
At that moment, Zeon felt immense power surging within him.
It was Blessing of the Earth, one of Serian’s abilities.
A buff skill that temporarily transferred her mana.
Serian was an S-rank awakened.
Naturally, her mana was vast and deep like the sea.
And she had transferred a significant portion of it to Zeon.
The overwhelming fullness of power startled even him.
‘With this much…’
Even if he unleashed a powerful skill, no one would believe it was purely his own ability.
That was enough.
“Good!”
Zeon shouted and leapt into the air.
Balrog immediately pursued him.
Flames gathered behind its back, forming a pair of blazing wings.
With a single flap, it closed the distance instantly.
Boom!
Breaking through the air, a sonic boom exploded.
The flaming whip in its hand sharpened like a spear, aiming for Zeon’s throat.
At that critical moment, Zeon murmured calmly—
“Sand Stop.”
Kwoooosh!
The lava overturned, and from beneath it, an enormous amount of sand erupted into the air.
The surging sand spun violently, swallowing both Balrog and its flaming whip.
But Zeon didn’t stop there.
“Sand Mixer.”
Grrrrrr—!
Fine grains of sand spun like a massive blender, grinding away at Balrog’s force field.
As the field eroded, Balrog’s exposed skin met the violently rotating sand.
Crack—!
Even its incredibly tough hide began to peel away under the relentless abrasion.
Kwoooaaaar!
In unbearable pain, Balrog unleashed a roar of fear and fired the Eye of Destruction wildly.
Blazing beams of searing heat struck all over the barrier.
The old man coughed blood and shouted—
“Damn it! I can’t hold it any longer—finish it now!”
At that moment, Serian and Borin launched their own attack skills.
Their strikes scattered the sand particles everywhere, obscuring everyone’s vision.
And in that instant—
Zeon released Exion.
Finally, he drew out its maximum power.
With black sand spread behind him like wings, Zeon struck Balrog head-on.
BOOOOM!