Chapter 462 - 462 - Master of the Desert, the Mirage Sand Dragon

"On top of that, the materials off it alone are worth a fortune. Dragon Amber Sand, one of the top materials for crafting first-class Mage equipment. I've been worrying about not being able to buy any on the market, and I was already thinking about asking Asfi to look into a substitute for me."

"Well, now we've got one more reason to kill it."

Dragon Amber Sand had superb magic conductivity, harmony, and compatibility, making it the most central and finest material for forging a top-tier staff.

And in the upgrade recipe for the Scholar's Staff, its name sat right there on the list.

"So we kill it?"

"Fine by me. Before we head into the Deep Floors, a warm-up isn't a bad idea."

Before the words had even faded, everyone exchanged a look and started moving.

A string of heavy thuds slammed into the soft yellow sand underfoot, kicking up wave after wave of dust. Aura, Laurier, Margaret, Iri, and Leon each shrugged off their Wonder Packs, all of different designs, and dropped them on the ground without hesitation. Then came the preparations: those checking gear checked gear, those drinking water drank water, those stretching legs and loosening backs did that, and in every pair of eyes hidden under a hood there was an eager gleam.

Kureha, battle maniac that she was, looked especially worked up.

"A Lv.6 monster, and with environmental bonuses on top. The last time my blood ran this hot was, I think, the last time."

Margaret froze for a beat, then burst out laughing.

"Hearing your words is like hearing your words."

"Dear Miss Sword Saint, since when did you pick up Leon's brand of nonsense literature?"

Kureha flushed slightly and stammered out a defense.

"Uh, it just rolled off the tongue too easily. I've forgotten what I meant to say in the first place."

Leon, sitting on a big chunk of ice checking his spare weapons, Magic Crystals, Potions, bandages, and other supplies and equipment, grimaced. Hold on, how did this get pinned on me?

"Hey, hey, hey, don't dump the whole blame on me."

They each went on with their own preparations while chatting to ease the tension.

After all, what they were about to challenge was a Lv.6 super-large BOSS with environmental bonuses. Saying they weren't nervous would be impossible.

It was only because they'd trained for this, and because following the party had grown their experience and their perspective, that they could face it calmly. Swap in any other party and the moment they heard a Mirage Sand Dragon had been born, they'd turn around and leave without a word.

Jeanne tilted her head back for a mouthful of water and adjusted the fit of her gauntlets. When she looked up, her eyes were stern.

"Everyone, it's about time!"

"Prepare for battle!"

The commander gave the order.

Fighting spirit rose without a sound.

A thunderous roar came rolling in from the far edge of the sky.

As if it had sensed the challenge here, the enormous mirage-like shadow deep in the sandstorm rippled open like a lake surface struck by a stone. The wind and sand shrieked, the earth trembled, and one earthquake-like boom after another fell like a drumbeat of death, hammering down on every heart. The beats came slow and heavy, thudding closer.

Swallowing the last bite of Monster Hunter Special (hot dog version), Leon threw back a Wild Mixture.

His right hand lifted again and again, almost twitching with the speed of it.

"Frost Armor!"

"Arcane Intellect!"

"Blessing of Might!"

"Power Word: Fortitude!"

Right after, the boofs from Aura, Iri, Laurier, Rose and the rest went up one after another!

"Golden Oath!"

"Hurricane Aria!"

"Pure White Kite Shield!"

"Black Grail!"

"Rite of the Bacchanal Frenzy!"

Brilliant magic sigils settled over everyone, gradually forming ring after ring of light beneath their feet.

"Phew... here it comes!"

Before the words had faded, a roar that tore the sky apart came ripping through the wind.

Jeanne bent her knees and sank her hips, her golden braid whipping up in the wind. Her expression was severe as she swung her arm up and shouted.

"Plan A!"

"Half-moon formation, deploy!"

They broke into several streaks of speed, pivoting on the vanguard and spreading out to all sides.

Jeanne and Rose took the very front, standing side by side at the center. Persephone and Kureha followed on either flank, positioned slightly back. The four of them formed an arc of a battle line.

Behind them, Leon stood at the center, with Aura and Laurier to his left and right, the three of them making up a solid midguard.

Further back were the rearguard, Margaret and Irisviel, responsible for support, healing, cover, and supplies.

In no time at all, a formation of four in front, three in the middle, and two at the back took shape. From a bird's-eye view, they looked like a Christmas tree bristling with edges, standing stern upon the battlefield.

The curtain of yellow sand was ripped open by a massive claw, and then a draconic monster more than twenty meters tall and over seventy meters long burst through as if breaking out of the frame of a painting, landing before them with a crash.

Its body was entirely made of flowing yellow sand, its huge frame carrying a strange, uncanny outline and giving off a suffocating pressure. Those enormous crimson eyes looked down like the gaze of an abyss, and everyone held their breath.

Laurier swallowed. Her legs went weak as she looked up at that shadow blotting out the sun. In the shade of it, her face went pale.

"Th-this is..."

"The hidden boss of the Lower Floors, the Mirage Sand Dragon?!"

Sweat beaded at Aura's temple and ran past the corner of her eye, but she didn't dare blink.

"Th-that's a huge body, and the whole thing is made of sand. Don't tell me it's completely immune to physical attacks?"

"Huh?"

Persephone spoke calmly.

"The Guild has very few records on the Mirage Sand Dragon. Almost nobody has ever encountered one. And even when they do, it rarely appears together with a sandstorm."

"Running into it inside a sandstorm, that already counts as an Irregular."

Before she finished speaking, a wave of freezing air blew past from behind!

"Ice clones!"

"Secret Art: Transcendent Magic Circle!"

True Essence of All Magic, activate!

Full chant, full charge!

"Descend upon this place!"

"Blizzard!"