Chris lifted his head, his expression changing drastically. The creature before him, the Sand Wraith, was far too powerful.
Upon seeing the Sand Wraith, Chris finally realized where he was.
Silent Dunes.
The Silent Dunes was a place devoid of all life. Like the infamous Celestial Peaks, it was one of Aethelgard’s ten forbidden zones.
The Sand Wraith wasn’t a living creature in the traditional sense. It was a beast made entirely of sand, and no one truly knew how it came into existence. Unlike ordinary beasts, it had no flesh or blood.
Compared to the Celestial Peaks, the Silent Dunes were even more dangerous. Those who ventured into its sands often lost their way and perished, never to return. The greatest threat in the Silent Dunes was the Sand Wraiths, which lay hidden, attacking any Aetherbinding cultivators they encountered.
Chris let out a bitter smile. He hadn’t expected to find himself in such a place. While the Silent Dunes were smaller than the Celestial Peaks, the Sand Wraiths that roamed its sands were far more formidable.
According to legend, an ancient war had once been waged here. During the ancient era, the world was rich in spiritual energy. At that time, Solstice cultivators were as common as grass, and Elysium masters walked the earth freely.
For reasons unknown, powerful Aetherbinding cultivators of that era fought a devastating battle here. Countless strong warriors fell, reducing the once-thriving region to a barren desert.
Since then, the spiritual energy of Aethelgard had gradually thinned, though it still far surpassed that of Earth, which had entered its era of dwindling Aetherbinding-a time when humanity turned to science over spiritual cultivation.
Now, in Aethelgard, a Pinnacle-level Aetherbinding cultivator was considered a strong warrior. Solstice cultivators were regarded as the elite, and few had ever seen an Elysium-level cultivator.
The aftermath of the ancient war also left the Silent Dunes riddled with unstable spatial rifts. Those who inadvertently wandered into these rifts were instantly torn apart. Because of this danger, few dared to enter the Silent Dunes.
Whether the legends were true or not, Chris didn’t know. But one thing was certain: the Silent Dunes were one of the ten forbidden zones of Aethelgard, filled with deadly perils.
Chris tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade, Dragon Slayer, as he faced the towering Sand Wraith. Nearby, Stripes, his loyal companion, growled fiercely, glaring at the creature.
The Sand Wraith was massive, standing over ten meters tall, its entire body composed of swirling sand.
With a thunderous roar, the Sand Wraith charged at Chris and Stripes.
Chris swung his Dragon Slayer with all his might, slicing off the creature’s arm. But to his shock, the severed limb crumbled into sand and reformed almost instantly.
Chris froze in disbelief. Before he could recover, the Sand Wraith attacked again.
Gripping his blade tightly, Chris launched a flurry of strikes, but the Sand Wraith seemed invulnerable. No matter how many times he struck, it regenerated.
“This isn’t working,” Chris muttered, frustration mounting.
Even though Stripes had evolved and gained strength comparable to a Solstice cultivator, killing a Sand Wraith was no easy feat.
Suddenly, the Sand Wraith grabbed Stripes with its enormous hand.
“Stripes!” Chris shouted, his voice filled with alarm.
It was too late to intervene. The Sand Wraith lifted Stripes and prepared to devour him.
Just as it seemed Stripes would be swallowed, the beast clawed ferociously at the Sand Wraith’s face.
The creature roared in pain, dropping Stripes, who quickly escaped.
Chris’s face lit up with relief and joy.
Enraged, the Sand Wraith abandoned its attack on Chris and turned its fury toward Stripes.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Chris leaped into the air, swinging Dragon Slayer with all his strength at the Sand Wraith’s head.
The blade struck with a deafening impact, but the creature retaliated, sending Chris flying dozens of meters before he managed to steady himself.
“This thing’s defenses are insane!” Chris muttered, frustration etched on his face. Despite his powerful strike, the Sand Wraith remained unscathed.
Seizing the moment, Stripes lunged again, claws raking across the Sand Wraith’s body.
Chris and Stripes worked together, wearing the creature down with relentless attacks. Despite its immense power, the Sand Wraith struggled to deal with their coordinated assault.
With a furious roar, the Sand Wraith turned to flee.
“Not so fast!” Chris bellowed. “Stripes, stop it!”
Hearing his command, Stripes dashed forward with incredible speed.
The beast confronted the Sand Wraith, roaring defiantly before hurtling itself into the creature’s body through its mouth.
The Sand Wraith went berserk, thrashing wildly and roaring in agony.
Chris watched with a grin. “Stripes, you’re amazing!”
Inside the creature, Stripes continued to attack relentlessly. The Sand Wraith, though still alive, collapsed to the ground, its strength rapidly fading.
Chris seized the opportunity. Charging forward, he drove Dragon Slayer into the Sand Wraith’s head with all his might.
The creature let out one final, agonized scream before falling silent, its massive body disintegrating into lifeless sand.
Standing over its remains, Chris smiled triumphantly.
“Ha! Got you!” he laughed, approaching the creature’s lifeless form.
With a single stroke, he carved out the Sand Wraith’s Heartstone.
As he held the shimmering stone in his hand, Stripes eyed it greedily.
Chris frowned. “Stripes, don’t even think about it. I need this.”