Volume 4 Chapter 19: Sandstorm

Translator: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Ryunakama”

Numerous tornadoes all started moving at once.

The first one to notice that was Edgar.

「Be careful! The tornadoes are moving!!」

Raging winds started shifting.

Some, coming our way.

「Captain! What should we do!」

「Calm down. There should be a human silhouette in one of the whirlwinds. First, locate that……!」

There is that silhouette.

We saw it during our previous survey.

……We didn’t simply get hurt for nothing.

An investigation is an accumulation of effort.

Expanding on analysis of found facts and results until they finally can change the tides.

It’s no different this time.

「Yes, found it……!」

Yes. Last time, when we got injured, I remember the size of the tornado where we saw that silhouette.

Compared to others, it was just a tiny bit larger.

There, I certainly saw a shadow.

It is inside these winds. Arrows or bullets will be simply repelled.

Physical armaments do not have much meaning here.

So we didn’t even bother to bring any of that. Instead—

「After analysis we found formation and magic that should be effective……」

Those 『Tornadoes』don’t come from the air but instead rise from the ground.

That’s where their source lies.

That’s something we understood after being hit with them previously. Thus—

「We should just blow them up along with the ground……! All personnel concentrated fire on the right tornado!」

「Rogerーー【Wind Blast】!」

Along with the squad nearby, Edgar fired mid-tier wind magic.

Usually, it would create a shockwave, which will knock away everything around. Each spell doesn’t have much power but if several such spells are used at the same area simultaneously, the effect will change.

「――」

An explosive blast occurred, with a force strong enough to challenge the tornado.

A cloud of dust rose, blocking the sight. However, the next moment, it all was blown away.

And we could observe the effect of the shockwave.

「We did it! The tornado stopped!」

The tornado coming our way stopped.

Not only that, but it also became smaller, weak enough to disappear any second now.

「It works!」

「Haha, we will make you regret giving the archeological guild, known for its tenacity and investigations, time to devise a plan!」

The squad members shouted energetically.

Even though all we did was stop a single tornado by working all together. It’s a considerable effort.

「Yeah, it can work. Then……」

Edgar spoke, looking at the dissipating tornado. That moment.

「Ooh, slowing my winds. And not only that, even finding me. Not bad at all.」

The shadow that we saw inside the tornado spoke.

●

It was my first time seeing it without tornadoes or dust clouds blocking my sight.

「An insectoid……?!」

Rarely seen around this area, a species that looks like a mix between a human and an insect.

Other cities aside, but no one saw even a single one of them around Eniado for dozens of years.

That’s because the environment here doesn’t suit them.

In addition to that, the insectoid’s right arm was weirdly swollen, giving it a very peculiar appearance. No one would be able to overlook it.

Since when has it been in this desert?

And why inside a tornado?

「You bastard…… Just who are you…!」

When asked, the insectoid smiled with his eyes.

Then, opened its ant-like jaws.

「I will tell you, as a reward for catching a glimpse of me. I’m Majin, Lord of Purple Winds, Ammit. Remember the name of the one who will wither both you and the gods……!」

These words made the survey squad wince.

「A majin……?」

「Even in these lands……? And what the hell is that creepy arm……」

Ammit laughed aloud at those words.

「Unable to grasp this beauty, how very human-like…… In that case, learn it’s beauty with your own bodies. 『The Arm of Storms』that I received as a proof of my peerage from my master……!」

When he said that, purple sand and wind burst out from his hand with incredible momentum.

「Wha……?!」

It immediately began swirling around, forming another whirlwind around Ammit.

「That purple sand, tornadoes and storms. All of that was your doing……?」

「You are correct, puny human. ……Now, you did well, resisting the weakest winds I put up during my rest. For doing so well, you deserve an appropriate reward, witness, my power.」

As Ammit said that, the wind produced from that arm became even stronger.

In one go, the surroundings were covered in numerous tornadoes. And that isー

「Impossible…… They are many times larger than before……」

Yes. Easily over dozens of meters in diameter.

A number of such tornadoes were raging around. And that’s not all.

「This is my first present. 【Sand Blast】」

With Ammit’s words, a number of black stakes flew out of the surrounding tornadoes.

「Everyone, evade!」

Edgar shouted, jumping aside. However,

「Guoh……」

「I-I’m sorry. I couldn’t dodge it…」

Several squad members were hit anyway.

Black stakes were stuck into their arms and legs.

「Those stakes…… So the one that attacked the local god……! So it was a work of a majin……! Those hit, fall back while you still can move! It will drain your magic power!」

He commanded the wounded to retreat, but then, he noticed.

「Now…… This is where the fun begins.」

Noticing Ammit retreat inside a tornado.

「Are you running away……?!」

「What a folly. You merely don’t deserve to see the beauty of this arm.」

The voice came from inside a tornado.

But, Edgar no longer could tell where it was coming from.

「Kuh…… If we use another wind magic spell at point blank distance, then maybe……!!!」

Fully prepared to be shot, he approached the tornado and was about to cast his spell. Butー

「Oh, you want to feel my winds so much? Then, that desire shall be granted. Consider it another reward. 【Sand Blast】」

The tornados around us began moving, coming right at us.

Normally, it’s just wind. But tornadoes created by the majin seemed to differ in nature.

「Guuoh……?!」

Touching them felt like hitting a solid rock wall.

Which knocked Edgar away a good few meters.

「Gah… What, is this…… It’s like a solid object that only appears like a tornado……」

「Captain! These tornadoes are not like the others. They are a lot higher and wind magic doesn’t affect them at all!」

Some members of the squad were throwing wind blades and explosive blasts at the tornadoes.

But all of them are repelled.

Fire and Ice magic have the same effect.

Solid, completely unlike a wind.

「Oh my, what’s wrong? Didn’t you want more of my wind?」

And only the mocking voice keeps coming from somewhere.

「 Now, we aren’t done yet. And won’t be, until you completely wither. Be honored and accept your reward from Majin Ammit.」

●

We were already in the sky a bit before 4pm.

We are a bit early, but it’s surely better than being late. Flying the shortest route we head to the designated point.

Time-wise we should have arrived without a problem, but then, we noticed something.

「Hey, Master. Can you see that? Down there?」

「Yeah, looks like the fight has already began.」

「Yes…… Tornadoes are chasing the people from the archeology guild.」

I immediately noticed it because I was surveying the ground during the flight.

That the fight already started.

「And, I heard only some bits, but they were talking about majins and whatnot.」

「As expected you have great ears, Berzelia. And…… another majin, huh.」

I already heard from guilds and people on the streets that there have been more sightings of majins lately.

It was mostly on the level of rumors, without any concrete proof, but I heard about such talks going around.

……And now, one of them appeared at such a remote place.

Though we can’t say for sure yet. But, if such a word was dropped, it means that we should be extra careful.

「If a majin is attacking the people from the guild, then we have to do something.」

For now, we already finished the air survey part of the request.

We already saw the insectoid inside a tornado, and also saw it attacking the squad dispatched by the guild.

Seeing the situation, we don’t have time to take things easy.

「As always, I will cover your back, Master.」

「Yeah, I’m counting on you. Can you go there in a straight line?」

From this position, we should be able to make a good attack.

「Of course. ……But, going the normal way, the wind might interfere, can I descend at full speed? It would be impossible to stay on me through physical means though?」

Berzelia asked, worried, but I gently brushed her.

「It’s fine. If I switch past transportation skills on the way then it should work out somehow.」

The ability to use several past skills at once greatly expands my riding ability.

That’s why I can stay on her, Dragon Monarch, for more than three minutes.

「ーーThen, let’s make our first grand entrance in a while, Master!」

「Yeah.」

Using Past Transportation I pull out a certain combination skill.

Not a combat one, and not one that boosts my physical abilities.

……Simply a skill to ride a dragon.

And used it.

「【Dragon Connect】」

The next moment, I was bonded to Berzelia, impossible to separate. Probably sensing thatー

「This skill, I love it, it’s like I’m being embraced by you, Master……!」

Berzelia said happily, andー

「Then, I’m going to speed up, Master! 【Burning Dragon Dive】」

Together with Berzelia, I plunged down at speed exceeding that of a sound.