Chapter 109 - Chapter 106: The Desert of Burning Whispers and the Skeleton Sunscreen

Chapter 106: The Desert of Burning Whispers and the Skeleton SunscreenThe fall of the First Judge had left the Capital in a state of holy indigestion. As Von (Volt), Rena, Sai, and a very grumpy Aki made their way out of the smoking ruins of the city, the lush green plains began to wither, replaced by the harsh, orange dunes of the 'Scorched Barrens'. This was a land where the sun didn't just shine; it attacked."Remind me again why the fourth fragment couldn't be in a luxury spa?" Aki groaned, wiping a thick layer of dust from his forehead. He was currently riding on the shoulders of 'Bonesy,' the skeletal soldier who had now become his unofficial mount. "It's 120 degrees, my boots are melting, and I'm pretty sure I just saw a lizard explode from the heat."Rena, who was using her mana to create a small, localized cooling mist around the group, looked exhausted. "The fragments were scattered by the Judges to the most inhospitable places on Earth, Aki. They didn't want anyone—especially not Von—to find them while sipping a cocktail."Sai was trudging along, his heavy armor clanking with every step. "Stop complaining, Aki. At least you aren't the one carrying the extra water barrels. And why is that skeleton wearing your silk scarf again?""It's called 'Aesthetic Defense,' Sai. Look it up," Aki snapped, then turned back to Von. "Boss, we've been walking for three days. The system says we're entering the 'Dead Zone.' My map is just a blank piece of parchment now. Are you sure your 'old memory' isn't just a heat-induced hallucination?"Von (Volt) didn't look back. He walked with a steady, predatory grace, his black cloak absorbing the desert heat as if it were a refreshing breeze. The three fragments of the Crown were pulsing against his chest in a syncopated rhythm—thump-thump, thump-thump—guiding him like a compass toward the heart of the waste."The memory is clear, Aki," Von said, his voice as dry as the sand beneath them. "Beneath these dunes lies the 'Temple of the Sun-Eater.' It was built by a cult that worshipped me during my first reign. They didn't believe in spas. They believed in purification through fire."[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Entering 'The Scorched Barrens'. Environmental Hazard: 'Eternal Sun-Scorch'. Effect: -10 HP per minute for non-undead party members. Suggestion: Find shade or a very large umbrella.]"Ten HP per minute?!" Aki shrieked, jumping off Bonesy's shoulders. "Von! I only have like... a few hundred left! I'll be a well-done steak in less than an hour! Rena, do something! Cast 'Big Fridge' or 'Ice Age' or whatever you mages do!"Rena sighed, her hands glowing with a soft blue light. "I'm trying, Aki! But the mana in the air is too dry. I can only keep this mist up for another ten minutes."Von stopped and looked at the horizon. A massive sandstorm was approaching, but it wasn't brown—it was a shimmering, golden red. "That's not sand. It's 'Solar Dust.' The Fourth Fragment is reacting to our presence. It's calling for a guardian."Suddenly, the ground beneath them shifted. A massive creature erupted from the dunes—a Sand-Worm the size of a cathedral, its body covered in scales of solidified lava. But this wasn't a normal monster. Its eyes were glowing with the same celestial gold as the Judge they had just killed.[BOSS ENCOUNTER: The Solar-Worm (Guardian of the 4th Shard). Rank: Calamity. Skill: 'Magma Breath'. Warning: It really likes eating thieves.]"Of course it does," Aki whimpered, hiding behind Sai's shield. "Why can't it like eating vegetables? Or mages? Mages are full of vitamins!""Sai, hold the head! Rena, freeze the sand beneath its tail!" Von commanded, drawing the Void Reaper, which instantly began to vibrate with black lightning.The battle was a chaotic symphony of fire and shadow. The worm lunged, its mouth a vortex of teeth and flame. Sai slammed his shield into the beast's jaw, the impact creating a shockwave that sent sand flying for miles. Rena unleashed a 'Frost-Nova,' turning the burning sand into slippery glass, causing the worm to lose its balance."Aki! Now!" Von shouted.Aki, realizing his 'Professional Fountain Dweller' title wasn't going to help here, pulled out a specialized 'Explosive Harpoon' he'd swiped from the Academy's armory during the distraction. "Alright, you oversized noodle! Let's see how you like a little internal combustion!"Aki leaped onto the worm's back, running along its lava-scales while his boots literally smoked. He jammed the harpoon into a soft spot behind its neck and pulled the trigger. BOOM.The worm let out a roar that shook the desert. As it thrashed in pain, Von appeared above its head, his scythe glowing with the power of the three unified fragments."Judgment of the Abyss!" Von roared.The scythe cut through the worm's celestial armor like a hot knife through butter. The beast dissolved into a shower of golden sparks and hot ash, leaving behind a single, glowing object buried in the sand.It was the fourth fragment—a piece of the Crown that looked like a burning ember that never went out.[QUEST UPDATE: 4/7 Fragments Unified. Title Evolution: 'Herald of the Dark Sun'. New Skill: 'Infernal Immunity'. Word Count Goal: 15K Reached. Status: Legendary Momentum.]Von picked up the fragment. As it touched his hand, the heat of the desert seemed to vanish, replaced by a cool, comforting darkness that spread for miles. The sandstorm stopped. The sun dimmed.Aki collapsed onto the sand, gasping for air. "I'm... I'm alive. I'm actually alive. Bonesy, remind me to buy you a new scarf. This one is scorched."Rena walked up to Von, her eyes wide as she looked at the fourth fragment. "Von... your armor. It's changing again."Indeed, Von's black armor was now etched with golden veins, a perfect fusion of the abyss and the sun he had just conquered. "Four down, three to go," Von said, looking toward the distant mountains of the West. "The next one is in the 'Frozen Tundra.' Aki, I hope you have a coat."Aki just groaned and buried his face in the sand. "I hate this job. I really, really hate this job."