Chapter 251: A Battle Across the Desert

Chapter 251: Chapter 251: A Battle Across the Desert

Yoon Ha-eun had participated in more dungeon raids and Gate subjugations than she could easily count, yet the moment she stepped into the desert-like landscape of the S-Rank Gate, she found herself instinctively scrutinizing the surrounding terrain. The seemingly endless dunes, the absence of reliable cover, and the unusual density of mana in the atmosphere all suggested that this environment had been shaped to favor the creatures inhabiting it rather than the Awakeners who had come to hunt them.

The sudden emergence of the giant scorpions had only reinforced that impression.

Standing at the head of the group assigned to the left flank, Ha-eun watched the approaching swarm with a composed expression while issuing a series of instructions to the Awakeners under her command. The monsters were enormous, their armored bodies scraping against the sand as they advanced, and the venom dripping from their curved stingers was more than enough to discourage anyone from approaching them carelessly.

Nevertheless, Ha-eun was not particularly concerned.

She was an S-Rank Awakener, the Guild Master of the Horizon Guild, and a summoner whose abilities allowed her to command powerful creatures that could fight alongside her while providing her with numerous tactical advantages. Although the scorpions were dangerous, their strength alone was insufficient to make her lose her composure.

’Their numbers are considerable, but their movements are relatively straightforward. The real danger lies in their venom and the possibility that they might attack from several directions simultaneously. As long as we maintain our formation and prevent them from surrounding us, we should be able to handle this wave without suffering serious casualties.’

"Everyone, listen carefully!" Ha-eun called out, raising her voice sufficiently to ensure that the Awakeners behind her could hear her instructions over the approaching swarm. "Our primary objective is to eliminate the scorpions without allowing them to break through our formation. Frontline fighters, keep their pincers occupied and avoid engaging their stingers directly. Ranged attackers, concentrate your fire on their joints and the softer areas beneath their bodies rather than wasting your attacks against their armored shells."

She paused briefly, allowing her gaze to sweep across the group before continuing.

"Those with defensive abilities, remain close enough to support the frontline whenever necessary, but do not crowd around a single target. We have enough firepower to bring these creatures down, provided that everyone understands their responsibilities. If you notice a scorpion preparing to launch its tail, warn the people around you immediately. I don’t want anyone getting injured because they failed to pay attention to their surroundings."

"Understood, Guild Master!"

The Awakeners responded almost simultaneously, their voices carrying a mixture of determination and nervous anticipation.

Ha-eun nodded before extending her right hand toward the approaching monsters. Mana gathered around her fingers, forming intricate patterns of light that spread across the back of her hand and extended toward her wrist. The symbols resembled delicate branches intertwined with one another, their luminous lines shifting as though they were alive, and the moment the summoning magic reached its full intensity, three magic circles appeared on the sand in front of her.

The surrounding mana stirred violently.

A massive silhouette emerged from the first circle, followed by two more figures that materialized from the remaining formations. Their appearances differed considerably, but the pressure radiating from all three was unmistakable, immediately drawing the attention of the Awakeners who had never witnessed Ha-eun’s summons in person.

The first creature was a Stormcrest Griffin, an A-Rank magical beast whose powerful body combined the muscular build of a lion with the wings, hooked beak, and keen eyesight of a great eagle. Its golden-brown feathers were interspersed with dark-blue plumage, while faint streaks of lightning occasionally flickered across its enormous wings whenever it moved. Standing nearly four meters tall, the beast possessed enough strength to tear through a monster’s armored hide with its talons, and its mastery over wind magic allowed it to accelerate through the air with astonishing speed.

The second was an Ironhide Earth Bear, a heavily built magical beast covered in dark-gray fur and overlapping plates of stone-like armor. Its shoulders rose higher than those of an ordinary vehicle, and its thick forelimbs ended in enormous claws capable of tearing apart the ground with every strike. Unlike the griffin, which excelled in aerial combat and mobility, the Earth Bear specialized in defense and overwhelming physical force, making it particularly effective at holding the attention of powerful enemies while protecting its allies.

The final summon was a Tidefang Serpent, a long-bodied magical beast with deep-blue scales, silver markings along its back, and a pair of curved horns protruding from its head. Its body could stretch several meters across the battlefield, and its movements were fluid enough to allow it to weave between obstacles or coil around opponents with considerable speed. Despite its name, the creature was not an aquatic species; its elemental affinity lay in water magic, which it could condense into high-pressure streams and razor-sharp blades capable of cutting through the armor of formidable monsters.

All three were A-Rank beasts, and their individual strengths complemented one another remarkably well.

The Stormcrest Griffin dominated the air, the Ironhide Earth Bear controlled the frontline, and the Tidefang Serpent restricted enemy movements while providing ranged support. Together, they formed a versatile combat force that could adapt to a wide variety of opponents, and their coordination was further enhanced by the summoning contract connecting them to Ha-eun.

"Stormcrest Griffin, take to the air and keep the creatures from advancing around our left flank. Earth Bear, remain at the front and protect the fighters who engage the scorpions directly. Tidefang Serpent, target their legs and restrict their movements whenever you see an opening."

The three beasts responded immediately to their master’s commands.

The griffin spread its enormous wings and launched itself into the air, stirring a cloud of sand beneath its talons as it rose above the battlefield. The Earth Bear advanced with a deep growl, positioning its massive body between the approaching scorpions and the frontline Awakeners, while the Tidefang Serpent glided across the ground, its long body weaving through the sand as it prepared to intercept the monsters.

Ha-eun then raised her other hand, and the magic patterns glowing across her skin brightened considerably.

A faint radiance spread from her palms, extending through the summoning contract and enveloping the three magical beasts. The light settled over their bodies like a thin veil, strengthening the mana circulating through their cores while reinforcing their physical capabilities. The griffin’s wings began to crackle with a more intense current of lightning, the stone-like plates covering the Earth Bear grew denser, and the Tidefang Serpent’s blue scales shimmered as its water magic became more concentrated.

The effect was not limited to her summons.

Thin streams of light extended from Ha-eun’s hands toward the Awakeners fighting alongside her, briefly surrounding their bodies before settling beneath their armor. The enhancement strengthened their physical capabilities, improved their resistance to the surrounding environmental mana, and helped stabilize the flow of energy required to activate their abilities..

"Everyone, advance!" Ha-eun ordered. "Use the opening created by my summons, but don’t pursue a target so far that you lose sight of your teammates. We will clear this flank systematically rather than allowing the monsters to dictate the pace of the battle."

The command immediately set the left group into motion.

The first giant scorpions rushed toward them, their enormous pincers opening and closing as they charged across the sand. The Earth Bear met the leading creature head-on, planting its forelimbs into the ground before swinging one massive paw into the scorpion’s head. The impact produced a heavy metallic crash, forcing the monster sideways and sending a shower of sand into the air.

Before the scorpion could recover, two frontline Awakeners rushed forward and attacked the joints beneath its body. One wielded a broad, mana-coated sword, while the other concentrated his power into a heavy hammer, directing their strikes toward the vulnerable areas exposed by the Earth Bear’s assault.

The scorpion retaliated almost immediately, swinging one pincer toward the swordsman while its tail descended from above with frightening speed.

"Move back! Watch the stinger!"

The swordsman twisted away just as the venomous weapon struck the ground where he had been standing. Sand scattered beneath the impact, and a patch of earth darkened almost instantly as the venom spread across its surface.

The hammer-wielding Awakener took advantage of the opening, bringing his weapon down against the monster’s exposed joint with enough force to crack its armor. The scorpion let out a harsh, chittering cry and staggered sideways, giving the Earth Bear the opportunity to seize one of its pincers and force it against the ground.

A moment later, the swordsman’s blade pierced the gap beneath its head.

The giant scorpion collapsed.

"One down! Don’t let the others get past the Earth Bear!"

The battle continued without pause.

Above them, the Stormcrest Griffin swept across the battlefield, its enormous wings generating powerful gusts that disrupted the movements of the approaching scorpions. Whenever a creature attempted to rush past the frontline, the griffin descended with its talons extended, striking the monster’s head or tearing at the joints of its armored legs before climbing back into the air.

Its lightning magic proved particularly effective against the scorpions’ sensory organs, momentarily disrupting their movements and leaving them vulnerable to the coordinated attacks of the Awakeners below.

Meanwhile, the Tidefang Serpent glided between the monsters, releasing streams of compressed water that struck their legs with enough force to damage their joints. In several instances, it coiled around a scorpion’s body and restrained its movements long enough for nearby Awakeners to attack its exposed underside.

Ha-eun remained slightly behind the frontline, directing her summons while monitoring the condition of the people under her command. Her hands moved through several precise gestures as she adjusted the flow of mana passing through the summoning contracts, strengthening one beast when it needed additional force and redirecting another whenever the formation threatened to become unbalanced.

The process required concentration, but it was far from overwhelming for someone of her rank.