Chapter 19
The Beginning of a New Journey
Several days had passed since the final war.
The mountains where the battle against Victor had taken place were now peaceful again.
Nature had slowly begun to heal.
But Ran and Mariya had not stayed there for long.
Their mission had only just begun.
Early one morning, the two guardians stood at the edge of a vast desert.
Golden sand stretched endlessly before them.
The hot wind moved across the dunes, carrying grains of sand through the air.
Mariya looked at the glowing crystal in her hand.
The crystal map had guided them here.
A small glowing symbol pointed somewhere deep inside the desert.
"This is the place," Mariya said.
Ran adjusted the sword on his back.
"The first temple."
Mariya nodded.
"Yes… the Temple of Wind."
Ran looked across the endless dunes.
The desert looked calm, but something about it felt strange.
"Be careful," he said.
"Places like this always hide secrets."
They began walking into the desert.
Hours passed.
The sun climbed high in the sky, making the sand burn under their feet.
The wind grew stronger.
Suddenly the crystal began glowing brighter.
Mariya stopped.
"Ran… something is nearby."
At that exact moment—
The ground beneath them trembled.
The sand around them began swirling violently.
Ran quickly grabbed his sword.
"Stay back!"
Suddenly a huge creature burst out of the sand.
It looked like a giant sand serpent.
Its body was made entirely of moving sand and stone.
Its glowing yellow eyes stared directly at them.
Mariya stepped back in shock.
"A desert monster!"
The creature roared loudly.
The sound echoed across the dunes.
Without warning, it attacked.
Its massive body crashed toward them like a sandstorm.
Ran jumped forward.
His sword flashed with blue energy.
CLANG!
The blade struck the creature's rocky head.
But the monster barely moved.
Ran slid back across the sand.
"This thing is strong."
The serpent lunged again.
Mariya raised her crystal.
A wave of divine light burst forward.
BOOM!
The creature was pushed back.
But it quickly reformed.
The sand gathered again, rebuilding its body.
Ran frowned.
"So destroying it won't work."
Mariya suddenly looked at the crystal map.
"The temple must be controlling it."
Ran understood immediately.
"Then we find the temple."
The serpent attacked again.
Ran ran straight toward it.
The creature opened its massive jaws.
But at the last second—
Ran jumped over it.
He landed behind the monster and began running across the dunes.
The creature followed him.
Meanwhile Mariya used the crystal again.
The glowing map expanded.
A hidden structure slowly appeared beneath the sand.
"Ran!" she shouted.
"The temple is underground!"
Ran immediately changed direction.
The serpent chased him across the desert.
Suddenly the ground cracked open.
An ancient stone staircase appeared beneath the sand.
Wind burst out of the hidden entrance.
Mariya looked amazed.
"The Temple of Wind…"
But before they could move—
A slow clapping sound came from behind them.
Both of them turned.
A tall man wearing desert armor stood on top of a sand dune.
A long cloak moved behind him in the wind.
His eyes glowed faintly yellow.
"Well… well…"
"So the new guardians have finally arrived."
Ran narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled coldly.
"My name is Zarek."
"The ruler of this desert."
Mariya felt the dark energy around him.
"You control the monster…"
Zarek laughed.
"Of course."
"This temple belongs to me."
Ran stepped forward.
"That's where you're wrong."
Zarek's smile disappeared.
"Then try to take it."
The desert wind began rising around him.
The sand serpent returned behind him like a giant guardian.
The first battle of their new journey was about to begin.