NOVEL NEXT Chapter 431: The Maw
The quicksand continued its relentless descent, and Ethan's lungs were screaming for air. The dense sand crushed in from all sides, locking his limbs in place—he couldn't even twitch a finger. All the power in his body was sealed tight, useless. Even shaking his body to quicken the fall was impossible.
He didn't dare release his Senses either. If any War God-rank powerhouses were nearby, a sudden spike from him could alert them. And if they came chasing now, that would be the end.
'Surely, I'm not that unlucky... right?'
"Activate skill: Divine Teleportation… coordinates…"
Just as he prepared to use his last resort, the ground beneath him suddenly gave way. The resistance vanished in an instant. He could move again.
A surge of relief and elation surged through him. He quickly canceled the teleportation input and kicked his legs—finally, they responded. With a whoosh, his entire body dropped like a stone with the shifting sand.
In a heartbeat, he slammed into something solid. Blinking, he realized he was now sitting atop a sand dune, the quicksand pit he had just fallen through hovering barely two meters overhead.
If he had waited a moment longer, the dune would have sealed the pit, and he'd be buried alive.
He exhaled in disbelief and chuckled. "Fortune favors the bold, huh?"
The last two weeks had been brutal. He'd taken down countless monstrous races, most of which had constructed vast underground vaults to store resources. The higher-ranked ones—especially the Royal-class—were practically hoarding treasure troves. He'd even found caches belonging to Hurricane City.
When he stumbled across the massive Golden Falcon City and saw its protective array, he'd known it would be a jackpot. What he didn't expect was the War God-rank enforcers to arrive the moment the battle ended. He thought for sure the chance to plunder it was lost.
And yet… here he was.
Still breathing. Still standing. Still lucky.
---
Half an hour later, Ethan stood in the ruins of his hopes, utterly dejected. The entire underground structure had collapsed in on itself. Not even a feather remained within reach. His dream of walking away with wealth beyond measure had been buried along with the city.
'Unreal. I'm this unlucky?'
He sighed and looked around. At least the oxygen levels underground seemed stable.
He tapped a small device on his wrist and called Ormund. "Shift into human form first," he warned. "If you pop out in full beast mode, you'll bring this whole place down on our heads."
Moments later, a flash of light materialized Ormund into the cramped space. The towering beast had taken on a human shape, though still clearly massive.
"Ethan... where the hell are we?" Ormund asked, glancing around.
"Beneath Golden Falcon City," Ethan replied, plopping down on the ground. He pulled out a pile of food and drinks from his storage and tore into them like a starved animal. "We'll rest here for a few days before moving on. I haven't eaten in six days—I need to talk to someone who isn't trying to kill me."
---
One Month Later — Sea of Death, Central Region
In the heart of the Sea of Death, a colossal tornado twisted endlessly between heaven and earth. It was the source of Hurricane City's name and its natural defense.
At the center of this storm—its eye—sat Hurricane City, perfectly calm amidst the chaos. It was thanks to this natural barrier that the other three great cities tolerated Hurricane's arrogance. Rumors claimed that not even a Saint-rank powerhouse could pierce the wind belt. Anyone who tried would be shredded instantly.
Only Hurricane City knew the secret paths in and out. And unless they gave you permission, no one was getting through.
---
"Julian... Ethan still isn't here," Dana said quietly, eyes on the southwestern horizon. "Do you think something's happened to him?"
They'd arrived three days ago. The Four Domains Sacred Assembly was about to begin, and Hurricane City had opened three safe passages through the tornado: southwest, due north, and due east. Each entrance was only wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side.
Julian was about to reply, but Uncle Jed beat him to it.
"He's probably okay, for now. Scouts reported that the War God-rank beasts have formed a blockade between the Central and Southwest regions. That means they haven't caught him yet. But with only one day left before the Assembly starts… if he doesn't get here soon, it might be a disaster. Regis, Hank, Quinn—all of them could be in serious danger."
He shook his head grimly.
"And even if Ethan does make it… getting past that blockade is another matter entirely."
---
"Ethan, half a day more and we'll hit the border!" Ormund shouted over the wind as he soared at full speed.
Ethan, riding on his back, frowned. "Too quiet… this whole month, not a single War God-level bastard's come after us."
"Maybe they gave up?" Ormund offered, unconcerned.
Ethan didn't answer. He didn't like it. The silence didn't feel like mercy—it felt like a setup.
"Ethan, my skill's recharged. Ready to burst again!" Ormund called out. With no hesitation, he triggered his acceleration technique.
A sonic boom tore through the desert. Several dunes below were completely leveled by the shockwave. Ormund had been pushing himself nonstop, using every charge as soon as it was ready, just to claw back the time they'd lost.
As they slowed from the burst, Ethan spoke up. "Don't use it again until we reach the border."
"What? If I don't, we might not make it in time!"
"Something's off," Ethan muttered. "How many charges can you store again?"
"Three, max."
"Then save them until you can double up. I've got a bad feeling."
Ormund gave him a sideways glance, but nodded. "Alright..."
---
Half a day later, the desert began to change. Ahead, a massive rift valley opened up—cutting across the dunes like a scar. Despite the shifting sands of the desert, the gorge remained clean, the walls impossibly smooth, almost mirror-like. It looked unnatural—like it had been carved by a giant blade.
Ormund slowed as they approached.
"That's the Rumination Gorge. Once we cross it, we'll be in the Central Region. Hurricane City's turf."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Rumination Gorge? I thought it was called One-Line Sky?"
Ormund shook his head. "That's just an old name. There are three of these canyons—in the southwest, east, and northwest of the Central Region. Together, they form a triangle where all three intersect."
"And the name?"
"Rumination Gorge," Ormund said. "Strong updrafts appear here every few hours, sucking the sand back up and ejecting it like a beast clearing its throat. That's where the name comes from—like something ruminating."
Ethan opened his system map. The name still read "One-Line Sky." But as Ormund finished explaining, the system pinged.
[Ding… System notification: Incomplete map markers detected. Updating…]
Huh? Was the system wrong?
[Ding… System notification: Map update complete.]
When he reopened the map, the name had been updated: One-Line Sky (Rumination Gorge).
He rolled his eyes. 'Seriously? That's what the update was for?'
Still… the system's insistence on retaining the old name made him pause.
Why bother keeping both?
They crested the final ridge above the gorge. And that's when Ethan felt it.
Like a phantom hand reaching through his chest, squeezing his heart.
Danger…
"Ormund, accelerate—now!" he barked.
"Bear Form—Iron Hide—Triple Activation!" Ethan roared.
Three layers of silver-scaled energy shields enveloped Ethan just as the sand in front of them erupted.
A monstrous shape burst from the earth, its enormous, segmented body twisting as it rose—a sand worm, the size of a fortress tower. Its gaping maw opened wide, lined with concentric rings of jagged, grinding teeth.
The beast lunged.
The shields shimmered as the worm's impact sent a crushing jolt through Ethan's body. He gritted his teeth, barely holding on.
"This is it," he muttered. "The trap."
The month of silence. The updated map. The too-convenient terrain.
They had been funneled here, lured into this precise location. The ambush had been set in motion long before they ever reached the gorge.
The sand worm let out a deafening roar that shook the very stone beneath them.
Ethan knew one thing for certain—they couldn't fight this thing. Not here. Not in this terrain.
"Ormund, pull up!" Ethan shouted. "We run!"
Even as he braced himself, he began to channel again, his mind locking onto one last hope.
'Divine Teleportation… don't fail me now.'
He only prayed he could finish the incantation before the beast swallowed them whole.