Chepter 20
Ran vs Sand Monster
The desert wind howled loudly across the endless dunes.
Sand moved like waves in an ocean.
At the center of the storm stood Ran and Mariya.
And above them on the tall sand dune stood the mysterious desert ruler—Zarek.
His cold yellow eyes glowed as he watched them carefully.
Behind him, the massive Sand Serpent rose again from the desert.
Its enormous body twisted through the sand like a living storm.
The creature opened its massive jaws and roared.
The sound shook the desert itself.
Mariya stepped back.
"This thing is huge!"
Ran stepped forward calmly.
His sword slowly began glowing with blue energy.
"Stay behind me."
The serpent lunged forward.
Its giant body crashed across the sand toward Ran.
The speed was terrifying.
But Ran did not panic.
He jumped into the air.
His sword flashed.
SLASH!
A wave of blue energy sliced across the monster's body.
The serpent split apart into two halves.
For a moment, the creature collapsed into loose sand.
But suddenly—
The sand began moving again.
The two halves rejoined.
The monster rebuilt itself.
Ran frowned.
"So physical attacks won't work."
Above them, Zarek laughed.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?"
He stretched his arms.
The desert wind obeyed him.
"This entire desert belongs to me."
The sand serpent attacked again.
This time faster.
It spun around Ran like a giant sand tornado.
Ran blocked the attacks with his sword again and again.
CLANG! CLANG!
Sand and stone collided with his blade.
The force pushed him backward across the dunes.
But Ran suddenly stopped sliding.
He planted his sword into the ground.
Blue energy exploded around him.
"Enough."
The wind around him began swirling.
The power of the Guardian awakened again.
Ran pulled his sword from the sand.
His eyes glowed faint blue.
"Let's try something stronger."
He dashed forward at incredible speed.
The serpent lunged again.
But this time—
Ran moved faster.
He ran straight along the monster's body.
The serpent roared and tried to bite him.
But Ran jumped high above its head.
His sword shone like lightning.
"Wind Breaker Slash!"
He swung the blade downward.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion of energy tore through the serpent's body.
The monster shattered into a massive cloud of sand.
For several seconds the desert went silent.
Mariya smiled.
"You did it!"
But then—
The sand began moving again.
The monster slowly started reforming once more.
Zarek's laughter echoed again.
"You cannot destroy what the desert creates."
Ran realized something important.
The monster was only a guardian.
The real power was Zarek himself.
And the Temple beneath the sand.
Zarek's True Power Reveal
Zarek slowly walked down from the sand dune.
The desert wind moved around him like a living force.
Ran watched carefully.
"You control the sand."
Zarek smiled.
"No."
"I am the sand."
Suddenly the desert floor trembled.
Zarek raised his hand.
Thousands of grains of sand lifted into the air.
They began forming armor around his body.
Within seconds—
Zarek had transformed.
His body was now covered in golden desert armor.
His eyes burned with ancient power.
"The Temple of Wind gave me this power."
Mariya whispered,
"He has the temple's energy…"
Zarek laughed.
"Yes."
"And soon it will belong to no one but me."
He slammed his hand into the sand.
A massive sandstorm exploded across the desert.
Visibility disappeared instantly.
Ran could barely see.
Zarek's voice echoed from everywhere.
"Try to find me."
Suddenly—
A sharp blade of sand shot toward Ran.
He blocked it just in time.
Then another.
And another.
Zarek was attacking from inside the storm.
Ran realized this fight had just become far more dangerous.
Temple Puzzle
While Ran fought inside the storm, Mariya ran toward the hidden temple entrance.
The stone stairs led deep underground.
Inside the temple, ancient walls were covered in strange symbols.
The crystal in her hand glowed brightly.
"This must be the control chamber."
In the center of the room stood a circular stone platform.
Four ancient symbols were carved into it.
Wind.
Sun.
Sand.
And Balance.
Mariya realized it was a puzzle.
"The temple controls the desert."
"If I solve this…"
"Zarek will lose his power."
But solving the puzzle would not be easy.
Mariya Power Upgrade
Outside the temple, Ran continued fighting inside the sandstorm.
But the attacks were becoming stronger.
Suddenly—
A powerful light burst from inside the temple.
Mariya had solved the puzzle.
The temple awakened.
A massive wind burst across the desert.
The sandstorm stopped instantly.
Zarek looked shocked.
"What?!"
Mariya stepped out of the temple.
Her crystal was now glowing brighter than ever.
The power of the Wind Temple had merged with her energy.
Ran smiled.
"Looks like you solved it."
Mariya raised her hand.
"Let's finish this."
The final battle against Zarek had begun.