The giants noticed Higashino Makoto.
It lowered its head, its topaz eyes gazing down at the figure enveloped in light.
"Are you an intruder too?"
Its voice came from all directions, deep and hoarse.
Higashino Makoto did not answer.
He simply stood there, head tilted back, golden eyes gazing at the colossal giant that blotted out the sky.
Then he spoke.
"Super-Tier Magic-- "
"The Wrath of the Salt King"
His voice wasn't loud, but with the aid of magic, it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.
The sky changed color.
That's the color of sulfur.
A blinding, unsettling, hellfire-like yellow-green light poured down from the sky, engulfing the entire city.
The giant raised his head, his topaz eyes gazing at the sky that had changed color.
"This is--"
It didn't finish its sentence.
Because a fire broke out.
It is a kind of light like the surface of the sun.
It fell from the sky, landing on the giant, on the ruins, and on this city that had been asleep for thousands of years.
"The Wrath of the Salt King" is taken from the biblical legend of God destroying the brothel city of Sodom with sulfur and fire.
It inflicts widespread fire and holy damage and applies the "Judgment of Salt" effect.
Those who commit sins will be transformed into pillars of salt, the effect of which is related to the enemy's good or evil status.
Are giants guilty?
Higashino Makoto was unaware of those earth elements.
But the guardians of this city—
Those immortals, that immortal in yellow robes.
Their very existence is a "sin" against this world.
Because they shouldn't exist.
White flames fell on the giant, and its body began to melt.
The yellow sand turned into liquid in the flames, then evaporated, and then disappeared.
The flowing runes shattered in the flames, emitting a piercing shriek, like a living thing struggling in its death throes.
The giant raised its hand, intending to retaliate. But the moment its arm was raised, it turned into a pillar of salt.
A column of salt, pure white, crystalline, and shimmering in the white flames.
The salt column spread from the arms to the shoulders, from the shoulders to the torso, and from the torso to the whole body.
"I will not die."
The giant's voice echoed in the flames, low and desperate.
My mission—unfinished—
Then, it fell silent.
Its body transformed into a gigantic column of salt, standing in the heart of the city, shimmering with a pure white light against the deep purple sky.
The yellow-robed immortal stood atop the pillar of salt; the golden light from the two holes in his mask had been extinguished.
But the battle is not over yet.
Because Higashino Makoto could sense that the giant's life had not yet ended.
It still had a bit of health left, hidden deep within the salt pillars, clinging to life under the protection of the yellow sand and runes.
"As expected of the final boss, its health bar is indeed very thick."
"Higashino Makoto," he said in a low voice.
"Let's do it again."
He raised his right hand, and a red and black sphere appeared in his palm.
The sphere was only the size of a table tennis ball, but the energy it contained made the surrounding air tremble.
"Great Catastrophe".
A skill unique to the world-class profession of Disciple of Disaster, hailed as the strongest annihilation magic in YGGDRASIL.
At the cost of consuming 60% of MP, it grants the strongest area-of-effect destruction magic in the game.
A torrent of crimson and black energy surged from the sphere, like an angry dragon, rushing towards the pillar of salt.
Wherever the energy passed, the air was torn apart, space was distorted, and the earth trembled.
The pillars of salt were no match for the "Great Catastrophe".
Those pure white crystals shattered, evaporated, and disappeared in the red and black energy.
The giant's true form, hidden deep within the salt pillars, was revealed.
A heart-like mass made of yellow sand and runes, constantly writhing.
Then, they were instantly swallowed up by the crimson Calamity Torrent.
Higashino Makoto remained silent.
He simply raised his hand and gently shook it.
The crimson and black energy torrent contracted, condensed, and exploded.
Boom--
A deafening roar shook the heavens.
The shockwave spread in all directions, leveling the surrounding ruins.
Yellow sand filled the sky, and pebbles flew everywhere. The deep purple sky turned white in the light of the explosion.
When everything calmed down, the giant was gone.
The salt pillars are gone.
The immortal in the yellow robe is gone.
Those flowing runes, those shimmering lights.
Everything is gone.
Only a golden scepter remained where the giant died.
The Sand Scepter.
Higashino Makoto stepped forward, reached out, and grasped the scepter.
World Item.
Effects control the desert.
The holder can become one with the desert, perceive everything in the desert, and control everything in the desert.
Sandstorms, quicksand, dust storms --
Everything related to the desert can be controlled by the holder.
Moreover, the holder will not get lost in the desert.
No matter where you go, you can find your way.
No matter what dangers they encounter, they can find refuge in the desert.
Higashino Makoto looked at the gold ring on his finger, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Good."
He turned around and looked at Ainz in the distance.
Ainz hovered in mid-air, his crimson eyes fixed on him. His skull face was expressionless, but Higashino Makoto could feel his gaze.
"Ainz."
"Um."
"I've taken the items, and 100 million gold coins. I'll give them to you when we get back."
Ainz was silent for a moment.
"Good."
He turned and flew out of the storm.
Higashino Makoto followed behind him, his golden eyes gazing at the deep purple sky.
The storm gradually subsided behind us.
The ruins gradually fell silent beneath my feet.
On his finger, the gold ring shimmered with a warm glow in the sunlight.
"The Sand Scepter..."
He murmured the name, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"A good result."
In the distance, on the edge of the storm, Tingyun stood on a sand dune.
Its Kohaku eyes gazed toward the eye of the storm, its fox ears stood erect, and its tail swayed gently behind it.
"Grown ups..."
She said in a low voice.
You must come back...
Then, she saw it.
A black figure flew out from the storm.
Ainz.
Another figure followed him out.
Higashino Makoto.
Tears welled up in Tingyun's eyes.
She didn't wipe it; she just stood there, watching the figure get closer and closer.
Then, she pounced on her.
"My lord, you've scared this young lady to death!"
Higashino Makoto caught her and reached out to pat her head.
Although I felt she was exaggerating a bit, it did feel nice to be cared for.
"I said I would come back."
Tingyun cried in his arms for a long time.
So long that Ainz grew impatient waiting, so long that Narberal's gaze shifted from wariness to helplessness.
Then she looked up, wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, and took a deep breath.
"Sir, have you obtained that item?"
"Got it."
What is it like?
Higashino Makoto reached out, took out the scepter, and handed it to Tingyun.
"The Sand Scepter" can control the desert.
Tingyun stared at the ring, a complex light flickering in her Kohaku eyes.
"My lord, with this item, can you... change this desert?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Maybe."
He turned around and looked at the endless expanse of yellow sand.
"However, this desert has its own inhabitants and residents. It's best not to disturb it unnecessarily."
Tingyun looked at him, a certain light gleaming in her Kohaku eyes.
"Sir, you are so gentle."
Higashino Makoto did not answer.
He simply stood there, gazing at the yellow sand, the golden light of the setting sun reflected in his eyes.
Ainz's voice came from afar.
"Higashino, he's gone."
"Yes, it's here."
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the carriage.
Tingyun followed behind him, her fox tail swaying gently.