Chapter 308 305: The Mobs and Mini boss!

Chapter 308 305: The Mobs and Mini boss!

A simple gust of wind blew, and the trees crumbled apart like a castle made of sand

Witnessing this, Rowan and Alfred realized with a growing appreciation that had Val and Oliver not taken appropriate action, their end would've been the same as those trees.

"The journey ahead will be difficult, far more dangerous than anything we've encountered so far," Val said, his voice steady. "But are you willing to risk your lives and follow me?"

"If we don't step into hell, who will?" Alfred responded, determination to risk his life for the greater good clear in his voice.

"For the peace of the kingdom, I'm willing to risk it all," Rowan added, his gaze firm and resolute.

"We've faced so many challenges before and came out on top. I believe we will conquer this too," Oliver stated, his confidence unwavering.

Val felt a surge of satisfaction at their responses.

It had not been a mistake choosing and leading this group.

They were willing to face the dangers ahead, and he was confident that together they would close the dimension and he would obtain the final, most glorious reward that would push him one step closer to his ultimate goal.

Val took a deep breath and jumped into the portal,

The others, without a moment's hesitation, closely followed behind him, ready to face the challenges of the lesser dimension together with him.

After the teleportation, they were greeted by a vast expanse of sand, stretching as far as the eye could see, with numerous dunes rising and falling like waves in a stormy sea. The atmosphere was dark and cold, a stark contrast to the lively world they had just left behind.

Val, always vigilant and ready, activated his heavenly eye, his vision expanding exponentially. He could now see through the sand dunes surrounding them, revealing an ancient structure in the distance.n-(o-(v)-e-/l(.b.-1--n

It was a massive castle, so wide and tall that it seemed to touch the sky, as if it was made for giants rather than men. Its appearance was imposing and awe-inspiring, a testament to the strength and power of those who had once inhabited it. Inside, the castle was thick with the force of corruption, making it abundantly clear to Val that the core of corruption was indeed hidden within its walls.

"Where should we go now?" Oliver questioned, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape.

"There's a castle in the distance. That's where we need to go. The core is hidden there," Val revealed, pointing towards the structure with a determined gaze.

"We'll be following you, boss," Rowan stated, his tone full of trust and readiness.

With that, Val took the lead, and they began their journey across the harsh desert.

Unbeknownst to them, the sand dunes were not as empty as they appeared. Hidden within them were creatures, half-man, half-scorpion, known as E'ere. These creatures were formidable, possessing a poison that could prove fatal even to the strongest of bloodline users. They were also deadly assassins, their presence nearly impossible to detect. Any other group would have been caught off guard by the scorpions, but sadly for them, this group had Val, and thanks to his heavenly eye, he had seen them.

Without a moment's hesitation, Val unleashed a powerful Abyssal Hellfire attack. The sand dunes exploded, sending sand flying in every direction, and the scorpions inside them were set ablaze. Their screams filled the air as they were burned alive, their bodies turning to ash.

"How? We were hidden so perfectly... How did you discover us?" one of the scorpions managed to scream out in agony.

"Guess," Val said teasingly, a smirk on his face.

Of course, the scorpion didn't have time to guess; it was burned alive before it could utter another word.

Val gained a bunch of EXP for defeating these mobs.

"Man, that was brutal," Alfred commented, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and awe.

"Now it can keep guessing in hell," Val replied nonchalantly, his gaze already moving on to the horizon.

"Damn, you're a menace!" Rowan chuckled, clearly impressed by Val's display of power.

With the threat of the eere eliminated, they continued their journey towards the castle, undeterred and ready for whatever lay ahead. The air was filled with a sense of determination and camaraderie, as they knew they were one step closer to their goal.

Val, perceiving the imminent danger, quickly gave a sharp, decisive signal for an immediate retreat, his eyes filled with a sense of urgency as the group propelled themselves away at their top speeds. They moved swiftly across the sand, leaving trails behind them as Val maintained his vigilant gaze on the desert landscape, fully aware that they were on the brink of confronting a formidable adversary.

From the depths of the desert, a sand giant began its awe-inspiring ascent, rising with an elegance that belied its colossal size. It towered above them, a behemoth made entirely of swirling, shifting sands, its form both vast and solid. The shimmering particles of sand created a play of light and shadow across its body, lending it an appearance of fragility which starkly contrasted with the undeniable strength it exuded. The giant's eyes, two bottomless pits of darkness, seemed capable of devouring all light and life, creating an oppressive aura of power and might.

Val, with reflexes honed through countless battles, responded in the blink of an eye as the giant lifted its gargantuan hand and brought it crashing down. He jumped backward with all his might, narrowly escaping the impact as the giant's fist smashed into the ground, releasing a shockwave that rippled through the air, distorting the very atmosphere of the desert.

Oliver, with his unparalleled mastery over soul power, exhibited a graceful dodging maneuver, evading the attack with precision and agility. Rowan, embodying strength and endurance, stood his ground, choosing to face the shockwave head-on with his formidable physique. Alfred, however, found himself at a distinct disadvantage. The desert provided no vines for him to summon, and as a result, he was caught off guard and blasted away, ending up buried in the sand upside down, his feet flailing helplessly in the air as he struggled to breathe.

As despair began to take hold, thinking he was about to meet a sandy grave, he suddenly felt a strong grip hauling him out of his predicament. Gasping for air, he looked up to see Rowan, the group's muscle-bound member, staring down at him with eyes filled with concern.

"Hey, are you alright? That was a close call!" Rowan asked, his voice echoing with genuine worry.

"Coughing* Apart from feeling like I've been trampled by a herd of elephants and having a few broken bones, I think I'll live," Alfred responded, trying to inject a bit of humor into his voice despite the pain.

Oliver, from a distance, called out to them, his tone sharp and focused, "Hey, if you two are done with your little reunion, we have a giant to deal with. Focus!"

"Right, I'm on it," Rowan responded immediately, his attention snapping back to the giant. He charged forward, sword in hand, ready to strike. However, as he swung his weapon at the giant, it simply sank into its sandy body

Alfred stared in disbelief. "Has he lost his mind? Does he really think that would work?" he thought, unable to comprehend Rowan's actions. "The guy is all brawn and no brains. It's unbelievable that he's still alive with that kind of intelligence."

Val and Oliver exchanged a glance, their expressions filled with disbelief. "Does he not understand the basic principles of combat? Does he only know how to launch blind attacks?" Val muttered, shaking his head.

"Let go of the sword, you idiot!" Alfred shouted, realizing that the giant was absorbing both Rowan and his sword.

But Rowan, with an unexpectedly serious expression, looked back at them and declared, "My attacks don't work on the giant from the outside, so I've decided to defeat it from the inside!"

And with that, he was completely absorbed by the giant, leaving the rest of the group behind, their faces in their palms. "That idiot," Val muttered, his frustration evident. "The giant is made of sand. Whether you attack it from the inside or the outside with normal attacks, it's not going to make a difference."

After swallowing Rowan, the giant turned its focus back to the trio, launching a barrage of sand attacks in their direction.

Blood Manipulation: Crimson Wave!

Val released a massive wave of blood, which solidified into a barrier, blocking the giant's attack but crumbling under the onslaught. As the red shards fell to the ground, Val swiped his hand, and the giant's body was set ablaze.

Kuagh!

The giant, in a frenzy, tried to douse the flames with sand, but to no avail. In a last-ditch effort to save itself, it discarded the part of its body that was on fire, significantly reducing its size but also stopping the spread of the fire.

..