CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 88: THE YOUNG GIRLS’ RESOLVE

The life force of the sand nest Demon Worm is resilient; as long as its brain remains, its body can regenerate, which was something Li Ang was aware of.

But he didn’t anticipate such a disgusting mutation. Just as he was about to summon the Light Blade to completely obliterate it, the Demon worm sank into the sand, burrowed into the desert, and escaped.

"Bring out Anastasia!" Li Ang shouted to Zoe.

The young girl raised her hand, and the Earth Serpent transformed from energy into a solid form.

"Use Seismic Level Climbing!"

After Li Ang finished, he summoned the Wind Elemental Summoning, which didn’t require a Tier and only needed to lift the three present off the ground.

The Earth Serpent’s Scale Crown stored energy and struck into the ground, with the vibrations quickly spreading. The entire sand desert surface shook. Various sand-dwelling creatures emerged from the shadows, beneath the cover of sandy plants, and temporary shelters formed by gravel, fleeing in terror.

It retracted its head to accumulate more power, and when the second vibration hit, the desert was already a scene of swirling sand and flying debris.

A rumble came from the depths of the earth, getting closer and closer.

Finally, the surface erupted in a cloud of sand, and a half-dragon Demon Worm, over ten meters long, was forced out of the ground.

The seismic attack was exceptionally effective against subterranean creatures, forcing it to reveal its true form.

The Demon Worm writhed on the sand, with tough skin and coarse bristles on its body brushing against the ground, swiftly charging at the Earth Serpent.

"Jadestone Beam: Wind!" Li Ang shouted.

The Earth Serpent immediately converted the Seismic Level Climbing’s energy into a Jadestone Beam, starting from its Energy Transfer Scale Crown, and a blue light pierced through the hot air in a straight line.

The energy’s aftermath whipped up a fierce wind, blowing the sand aside and turning the beam’s path into a channel that sliced through the yellow sand, as if conquering the whole desert.

The Jadestone Beam collided head-on with the Dragon Transformed Sand Nest Demon Worm. The frenzied Power of Wind immediately shattered the layers of eyes on its half-dragon head, causing fluids to splash everywhere.

The remaining wind turned into Wind Blades, tearing at the Demon Worm’s body, but only causing its surface to crack without injuring the muscle beneath.

The Earth Serpent’s growth was still insufficient, and although it had the advantage, its power wasn’t enough to seriously breach the Sand Worm’s defenses.

Li Ang’s Silver Blade followed closely, slicing from multiple directions, cutting the Sand Worm into six or seven segments.

These severed bodies convulsed and bounced on the sand for quite a while before finally dying.

Li Ang let out a sigh of relief, sheathed his sword, and turned to look at the two young girls.

Zoe’s once cheerful expression was gone, and her face even looked a bit pale.

"Are you injured?"

"No, it’s just that it was so disgusting."

The little cat was unusually cowering, hugging her arms tightly: "I absolutely don’t want to be touched by that kind of monster, absolutely!"

Li Ang shook his head. Legend had it that those swallowed by the Sand Nest Demon Worm, if they had strong defenses and didn’t die immediately, would suffer unimaginable torment.

He then looked at Dorothy, and the Half Elf maiden smiled at him before swooning into his arms.

Li Ang tried to help her up but found out something was wrong; it wasn’t as he thought— her seizing the chance to act spoiled.

"What’s the matter?"

Dorothy’s voice was small and weak: "I think I’ve been stung."

"Where?"

She raised her arm weakly, revealing a dark blue dot on the back of her forearm.

From the dot, twisted blue veins, like earthworms, spread across her fair skin.

"Don’t worry about me, you said I could metabolize it," the Lady smiled feebly. "I won’t die, so there’s no need to worry about me."

Even though she wouldn’t die, the torment of the Demon Worm’s poison was excruciating. According to Dorothy’s aversion to pain, the Demon-Born Flower couldn’t block the sensation of pain.

Zoe’s lips quivered as she approached Dorothy: "Was it because you were saving me just now?"

Dorothy closed her eyes, her breath terribly weak.

Zoe explained that when the monster attacked, Dorothy had held onto her, shielding her from the sting that had shot out of the monster’s massive mouth.

"You helped me earlier, didn’t you? I’d rather be injured than you...uh..."

The Half Elf maiden’s body trembled, unable to stand any longer.

Li Ang cradled her, letting her snuggle against his chest, and found a flat area with less wind and sand, using a cloak to cushion the ground for her to lie down.

Zoe coiled the Earth Serpent to block the wind and sand; its body also emitted heat to prevent her temperature from dropping.

Li Ang initially intended, after the battle, to collect materials and return to town, find a crafting station, and forge them into equipment, upgrading his Equipment Creation skill.

Dorothy had already started suffering from the insect poison’s effects, clinging tightly to Li Ang, unwilling to let go, as if this were the only way to endure the pain without crying out. Naturally, Li Ang couldn’t push her away.

According to the descriptions of those who had been poisoned, the torment was like countless needles threading through their body, the sensation both itchy and painful, yet with no trace to be found. Whenever one thought it fading away and relaxed, it would suddenly strike sharply again. As it was not tied to a particular area, there was simply no way to resist it.

Night fell, and there wasn’t a single ray of light on the sand desert at night. Fortunately, the gentle glow and warmth from the Earth Serpent served as a campfire, eliminating the need for other methods.

Zoe collected the small demons hunted during the day, sorting them into material piles without much conversation, often lost in thought.

When she returned, Li Ang offered her some dry rations. Dorothy, nestled in his embrace, was drenched in sweat, as if being showered. She bit her lip, suppressing her throat’s voice, but each time her body trembled, she couldn’t help but let out a soft, pained murmur.

In the silence, Li Ang took a deep breath.

"According to theory and data, the place I chose should have a low probability of appearing with Transcendent Realm creatures, much less Sand Nest Demon Worms. However, I should still have been prepared for unexpected events."

His words made Zoe twitch her eye, and the enduringly pained Dorothy also raised her face.

Dorothy’s lips moved as if to speak, but looking at her, Zoe opened her mouth instead: "Why did that monster come here? How could it revive?"

"I suspect it’s due to the magical disaster that previously appeared in the Salem Sky Realm, which has led some people to the Flashing Field, triggering the monster’s mutation."

"So it’s not Li Ang’s fault, but those people’s fault," Zoe frowned, saying, "It’s their fault."

The young girl’s words calmed Dorothy in Li Ang’s arms, as if that was what she wanted to say.

Zoe stabbed the ground’s gravel with her sword, as if they were her enemies.

"In the Four Major Aerial Realms, a magical disaster’s influence can’t be so widespread," Li Ang said, "those who influenced the Sand Worm had specific objectives, which may lead to further dangers afterward."

"Once Dorothy is better, we will leave the Flashing Field, avoid getting caught in these troubled waters."

Zoe was silent for a moment, frowning and looking up: "Do unexpected events frequently occur when combating monsters in the wild?"

Li Ang thought for a moment and nodded: "The probability could be more than half."

"Why?"

"Because Nebis is a complex and ever-changing world where everything has a spirit, and spiritual energy uses magic power to influence the world, causing constant changes. No scholar can predict every situation. During hunts, monsters intruding, unexpected terrain changes, sudden weather shifts, or disaster occurrences, are all possible."

"Then it’s settled."

Zoe tapped the ground’s gravel forcibly: "Since there will always be situations, we should learn to cope with them.

"Li Ang, if I were stronger, Dorothy wouldn’t have been stung because of me.

"You can protect us a few times, but not forever.

"One situation and we leave? Encounter someone more powerful and we run? I refuse."

Zoe held the Purest Star Crystal: "Watch, I’ll soon master it and break through the shackles to enter the Transcendent Realm. You said no one on this island surpasses the Transcendent Realm; by then, I’ll crush any enemy."

"Me too..." Dorothy reached out, hooking her hand around Li Ang’s neck.

Her beautiful eyes were tightly shut, her smile forced: "As long as you’re here, I can endure any pain, hehe. As long as you don’t leave, anything is possible."

Under the night sky, the two young girls both expressed their determination.

The next morning, Dorothy had recovered and shamelessly clung to Li Ang, unwilling to get down. Zoe stood by, wanting to speak but ultimately saying nothing.

Deciding to indulge her momentarily, Li Ang didn’t push her off, but carried her while sorting and collecting the Demon materials, placing them onto the previously purchased assembly-type sand sled, dragging the materials back to town.

Re-entering the city settlement of the Flashing Field, they found the atmosphere starkly different from when the three had left.

Several people, openly brandishing weapons in their hands, patrolled the streets. Upon spotting Li Ang and the others, they approached directly.