Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert
Chapter 354

Chapter 354

“Mom!”

Remura wept uncontrollably as she looked upon Heather’s lifeless body.

In the end, they had failed to save Heather.

It was all because of Chen Xi’s interference. But apart from Remura, no one mourned Heather’s death.

That’s how heinous her crimes had been, despite the trust they had placed in Remura.

“Sigh…”

Zetoya looked at Remura and let out a heavy sigh.

His heart was burdened.

It was true that Heather’s absence would be better for Remura’s future, but that didn’t justify her death.

Once Levin killed Chen Xi, the Awakened finally broke free from her hypnosis.

Only then did they come to their senses—confused, disoriented.

“This can’t be…”

“Shit… damn it…”

Fortunately, only two people had died.

One was Remura’s mother, Heather. The other, the E-rank Awakened who had attacked her.

The others had suffered various degrees of injuries, but no one else had died.

“Mom! Moooooom!”

Remura collapsed on top of Heather’s body and wailed in anguish.

Zetoya, Levin, and Brielle silently watched her.

They didn’t try to comfort her.

They knew better—it was best to let her cry until every last emotion had run dry.

Just then, Bakum got to his feet and approached Zetoya.

Zetoya instinctively took a defensive stance, but Bakum spoke first.

“No need to be on guard. I’m not shameless enough to challenge someone I already lost to.”

“You too, sir…”

“You Awakened recently, didn’t you?”

“Yes. And you were bedridden until just recently. That’s the only reason I was able to win.”

“That’s no excuse. I lost, and I accept it.”

“That’s a relief. I didn’t want to fight you again.”

“Neither did I.”

Bakum’s response surprised Zetoya, his eyes widening. Bakum then continued to explain.

“You’re going to become strong. You’re already impressive, but you’ll grow even faster from here on.”

“That was just luck…”

“No. It’s talent. You have incredible talent. I doubt anyone in the Crocodile's Den will be able to defeat you after a year or two.”

He wasn’t saying it to flatter him.

Bakum had fought Zetoya directly and experienced his potential firsthand.

The way Zetoya leapt and ran along the walls and ceiling of the sewer like it was flat ground—it had left him stunned.

No other Awakened in Crocodile's Den could move like that. Maybe his skills wouldn’t translate well above ground, but in the underground sewers, he was a force to be reckoned with.

He had just Awakened, and already his combat instincts were that sharp. It was hard to imagine what he’d be capable of once he gained more experience.

Just then—

“There you are.”

A calm voice echoed through the underground chamber as someone stepped forward.

Startled, Bakum readied himself for combat—only for Levin and Brielle to react first.

“Hyung!”

“Zeon!”

“You’re all safe.”

The man who smiled as he spoke was none other than Zeon.

Bakum felt a jolt of shock upon seeing him.

His heart sank, and his shoulders trembled with involuntary spasms.

His body instinctively recognized Zeon’s overwhelming power.

It was a survival instinct, honed to perfection in the deadly depths of Crocodile's Den.

Even if he couldn’t precisely gauge Zeon’s level, he could sense that it was beyond what he could comprehend.

‘This man is their guardian? He’s a monster.’

Bakum gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the fear.

After checking briefly on the children, Zeon looked around.

“You managed to clean things up well.”

“Except we couldn’t save Remura’s mother…”

“Greed often brings ruin.”

Zeon felt no sympathy for Heather.

Though he was sorry for Remura’s sake, he firmly believed that Heather’s death was for the best.

She was a woman who would’ve drained Remura’s life like a leech had she lived. It was better—for everyone—that she had died here.

Brielle asked Zeon,

“How about outside?”

“That’s sorted too.”

“And Johan?”

“He’s gone to be with the god he worshipped so desperately.”

“Sounds like he got his wish.”

“Let’s hope so.”

“Hehe! Well, it’s all worked out. We don’t have to worry about that side anymore, right?”

Brielle laughed.

Zeon nodded, then looked toward Zetoya and Remura.

From here on, the fate of Crocodile's Den was in their hands.

How they acted would determine the future of this place.

* * *

The defeat of Dongdaemun and the death of Johan sent shockwaves across Neo Seoul.

This wasn’t just any group—it was Dongdaemun, a den of fanatics.

People who would willingly lay down their lives for God and Johan filled that place to the brim.

Touch any one of them, and the rest would swarm like suicide bombers.

Even factions in Neo Seoul with superior strength had avoided provoking Dongdaemun.

It was only because of the A-rank healer issue that clashes had started. If not for that, the other districts wouldn’t have dared to engage Dongdaemun’s zealots.

That was why the news—that Dongdaemun had been utterly annihilated by a single man—stunned everyone.

Not just the slum dwellers, but even the most powerful figures in Neo Seoul were shaken.

A lone man had triumphed over an entire powerful faction.

They had known Zeon’s class was unique—but no one had expected this level of power.

The ones most deeply affected were, unsurprisingly, the South and West Districts—those who had direct conflict with Zeon.

Xiao Lun, the ruler of the South District, had been on bad terms with Zeon from the beginning. Kim Hyunsoo of the West had even imprisoned him once.

Their relationships were irreparably damaged.

That didn’t mean Zeon had a good relationship with the other districts either.

The North was somewhat better, but even the East wasn’t particularly friendly with him.

Until now, none of them had taken Zeon as a serious threat.

Yes, Sand Mage was a unique class with vast potential, but surely he couldn’t compare to them—the pillars of Neo Seoul.

But Dongdaemun’s fall shook that belief to its core.

For the first time, they realized a single individual could topple a great power.

Alarms went off across every faction.

Leadership councils were convened to assess the consequences of Dongdaemun’s collapse and prepare for how it might affect their regions.

The South District, having clashed with Zeon multiple times, was especially proactive.

Inside a massive conference room, Xiao Lun sat at the head of the table, surrounded by the South District’s top brass.

“It’s hard to believe… Dongdaemun, dismantled like that.”

“He killed hundreds of Awakened by himself. Zeon’s strength is already at the level of an entire army.”

“Isn’t this insane? Even if the Sand Mage is broken, this is too much.”

“It feels unfair.”

As the room buzzed like a chaotic marketplace, Xiao Lun’s brow twitched.

The South District was vast.

Naturally, it had both a large population and vast resources.

Everyone here was a leader of some influential power.

They were the kind of people who didn’t flinch at most news. Hardened minds of steel.

Or so Xiao Lun had believed.

When they were around him, they always appeared steady. And they had indeed led the South District well.

But with Zeon’s rise, their composure cracked—chaos revealed their true selves.

‘Pathetic…’

A chill crossed Xiao Lun’s expression, though none of the others noticed—they were too caught up in the discussion.

“We can’t leave Zeon unchecked. If he keeps growing, he’ll interfere with our operations.”

“So we’re going to fight him?”

“No, not that…”

“Then what?”

“Stop being so aggressive. I’m saying we need to prepare—not start a war.”

“I’m just frustrated.”

“This tension’s too high. Let’s all cool down a bit.”

A stunning young woman, seemingly in her early twenties, stepped in to calm the atmosphere.

With her long hair pinned up to reveal a pale, graceful neckline and dressed in a form-fitting cheongsam, her name was Qingming.

She was Xiao Lun’s direct disciple—and a powerful Awakened.

Despite her young age, she held a high-ranking post and had achieved remarkable success.

The youngest in the room, but no one dared underestimate her.

Thanks to Qingming, the agitated mood began to settle.

“Forgive us, Lord Xiao Lun. That was disgraceful.”

Tanlong, the eldest among the leaders, spoke.

In his mid-forties, Tanlong had a commanding jawline, a sharp beard, and piercing eyes.

He led Vermilion Bird, the South’s most powerful guild—one that Xiao Lun had personally supported.

Opposite him sat Chuwei, a cold and calculated administrator overseeing the district’s affairs. He was infamous for being as emotionless as a machine—but even he looked visibly shaken.

Other notable figures like Gotao and Yeomcheong also struggled to calm themselves.

Xiao Lun surveyed them with a frigid gaze—finally resting on Qingming.

“You’re the only one keeping it together, Qingming.”

“I’m honored, Lord Xiao Lun.”

“If you hadn’t stepped in to diffuse the situation, these fools would’ve embarrassed themselves to the end.”

The men winced, his words stinging with truth.

Xiao Lun was not a merciful man.

To him, subordinates were interchangeable parts—replaceable at any time.

If they disappointed him or fell short, he would not hesitate to discard them.

And now, they had shown weakness in front of such a man.

Thankfully, Qingming had salvaged the moment.

“We apologize, Lord Xiao Lun.”

“It won’t happen again.”

Gotao and Yeomcheong said, bowing deeply.

Their faces were deathly pale with tension.

Xiao Lun looked at them for a moment, then finally spoke.

“Zeon really is something. All you big shots with puffed-up egos—reduced to shivering like children.”

“We weren’t scared…”

“Then what would you call it?”

“…”

Yeomcheong, who had tried to explain himself, bit his tongue in silence.

Xiao Lun looked at him with disdain, then continued.

“Everyone here already knows how powerful Zeon is. But in the end, he’s still human.”

“Human?”

“Yes. He has blood in his veins like us. When his mana runs dry, he’s helpless—just like us.”

Xiao Lun’s voice commanded attention.

“As long as he’s human, he has weaknesses. From now on, we gather every bit of intel on him—his abilities, his relationships, his actions. Anything that might be a weakness.”

“You’re planning to go to war with him?”

“What a stupid thing to say. No—I’m preparing for war. There’s already a rift between us and him. Maybe not now, but someday, we’ll clash. We need to be ready.”

Xiao Lun was cold and pragmatic.

He didn’t overestimate his own strength or underestimate Zeon’s.

If they fought now, even if they won, the South District would suffer huge losses.

He didn’t care for glory or hollow victories.

He always prepared for war—and that was why he had survived so many battles with minimal damage.

“Qingming.”

“Yes, Lord Xiao Lun?”

“I’m putting you in charge of this.”

“You’re entrusting me entirely?”

“Yes.”

A seductive smile formed on Qingming’s lips.

It was the same smile that had once bewitched countless men in the South District.