Chapter 420: [ Xinghong's find ]

The night in the desert was relatively cool, and the calm breath almost made Allen forget that he was still in the desert. Cold breaths blew out from his mouth and froze the surrounding air.

However, due to the disturbances of unknown bugs, Allen didn’t get a very restful sleep.

Despite this, Allen still felt pretty energetic when he woke up the next day.

However, during the day, the searing heat of the sun made Allen feeling like he was in an oven, making him almost doubt if it was the same place from the previous night. Although his skin wouldn't be affected by heat, still, what's hot is hot!

In the bright and sunny sky, the huge sun hung high above, much like a huge fireball that was unceasingly emitting flames. The hot sunlight scattered across the golden yellow desert, grilling the tiny sand particles into red-hot small metal pieces.

Due to the high temperature in the desert, threads of hot air rose from the yellow sand, heating the air till it was distorted and became illusory.

The rolling heat wave attacked him as if trying to roast him alive. Fortunately, his body was as miraculous as it could be.

While walking suddenly, a sandstorm raged. If he was a normal human, he would have been dead by now. Allen used his chakra and manipulated the sand around him as he goes forward, circling around him and shielding from the Sandstorm.

Due to the strong sandstorm, the deep footprints left in the yellow sand behind him were covered by the sandstorm in a moment, burying all traces of his passage.

Suddenly, at this moment, a golden light flashed on his chest and then materializes in front of him.

A huge fiery lion with a burning mane.

Xinghong.

Allen looked at Xinghong who had suddenly come out in confusion. Walking towards it, he started stroking the lion’s head. “What is it? Is something wrong…?” He asked softly.

The lion turned at him with eyes sparkling like the most expensive rubies. It cried out happily while rubbing its head on his chest to show its affection.

“Grrr, growl! Growarrr!”

“You smelled something tasty…?!” An incredulous expression appeared on Allen’s face. He came out because he smelled something… tasty…?

The heck…!

Allen wanted to ignore what Xinghong wanted but he noticed the eager expression on it so he complied. It’s probably something precious… well, either way; it wouldn’t be a normal thing because Xinghong went out on his own accord. This meant, that whatever that something was, it should be not ordinary at all!

"So, in which direction?" Allen asked while patting the blazing fur of the large lion.

ROOOAAARRR!! Xinghong immediately roared northwest, meaning it’s in that direction. Allen turned towards the direction, jumped lightly and then appeared on its back.

"Let’s go then." He nodded and then patted its back.

Xinghong roared in excitement and then started running in the air, heading northwest.

Three hours later, Xinghong landed at the destination. Allen leaped off Xinghong’s back and surveyed the surrounding.

"Xinghong, is it here?" Allen looked around. Aside from sand, he did not see anything else.

What is she looking for…?

Then, suddenly another golden light came out. This time, it was Dakna.

“Dakna? Is something wrong…?” First, it was Xinghong and now it's Dakna? What's going on here?

“I can also smell it, master…” Dakna sniffed the air and answered. A bewildered expression appeared on her face. “This is… a flame beast…”

“A flame beast…?” So what Xinghong meant when she said tasty was a monster…?

"However, it’s already gone. Judging from the smell of blood and magic fluctuation it should be fighting another monster three hours ago. After the killing was done, it left with the body.” Dakna slowly narrated what she found out.

I see, well… "If the hunting was done here, its nest should be nearby and not too far away," Allen muttered. Monster huh… Allen closed his eyes and his mana perception instantly spread in the whole like a spider web.

With his current powers, his perception had already reached over ten kilometers. And within this range, he can perceive everything that was happening as if he was installed with a mini-map system like in games.

… …!! Allen's closed eyes opened. “Further in the north, in a small Oasis, I can sense an enormous amount of mana fluctuation. The mana signature was almost the same as the ones in here… so no doubt it should be the same monster!”

“Let’s go!”

The Oasis Allen was talking about was around 15 kilometers from the location that Allen was standing at previously. In 20 minutes, Allen arrived at the destination and landed at the border of the oasis.

It was big with lush greenery and it felt like there was a primitive jungle that had appeared in the desert out of nowhere.

As he gradually closed in on the oasis, the surrounding hot air also began to become cool and refreshing. However, Allen couldn’t help but frown. Even though there was an Oasis here, there are no signs of people being here.

Within the desert, any little green color was treated as a treasure by people. But why is this left alone…?

Allen gently took in the fragrance of the small grass beside him before he exhaled comfortably. He then cautiously swept his gaze over his surroundings.

His eyes swept in all directions, searching for the place where the water source was.

As Allen gradually moved his gaze, he also slowly entered deeper into the oasis. He was walking cautiously when he heard the splashing sound of water a short distance ahead.

Following the sound, Allen arrived at the lake after a few minutes. He walked to the side of the lake and cupped the lake water with both his palms, taking a sip of the water after sniffing it.

"There’s nothing wrong with the water, its drinking water. This lake should be the water source of many monsters nearby," Allen observed.

Allen spread his perception again and frowned. He suddenly discovered that he couldn’t sense anything anymore. That mana fluctuation before had apparently disappeared.

What is this…?

So strange...

Aside from the plants and small animals and bugs, there seem to be no other creatures within the Oasis. But he shouldn’t be wrong…! This should be the place where he had felt that fluctuation a while ago!

“Haaa… just what the heck is wrong with this place…?” Allen couldn’t help but cursed out loud. He couldn’t sense anything no matter how much he looks for it. It’s not like there was nothing but the exact opposite.

Within his perception, all he could see was a place covered by a thick fog or possibly mist. When he opened his eyes, there’s no mist or fog or anything whatsoever and so, it was obvious that it only appears within his perception.

Even still, it was clouding his vision...!!

Thus, with no other choice, Allen decided to spend a night in the Oasis and thoroughly checked the entire place.

Then night comes. Finding nothing, Allen was utterly displeased!

This place was as if it was covered by an invisible barrier--thinking like this, Allen immediately realized the reason why there was no animals or people even though it was an abundant oasis.

This is indeed a Barrier--however, too bad, he was a Monster King. He can go anywhere he wanted as long as it's not forbidden by the One True God. Thus, he had managed to locate this place.

The only thing was, because it wasn't a normal barrier made by the world, and should be made by someone or something, he couldn't do anything inside it. Even his Monster King perception was lost at all--!

"What a hateable barrier...!" Allen cursed in displeasure.

*** ***

The moon was like a silver plate that hung in the distant sky. The cool moonlight scattered down, covering the entire Desert range with a faint layer of silver yarn.

This layer was unusually beautiful under the dark sky, appearing exceptionally obscure and mysterious. And like a touch of magic of nature, above the Oasis a beautiful Aurora with varied brights colors appeared for some unknown reason.

This magnificent spectacle seemed to be showering colorful raindrops as if one looks up above, tiny sand-like things seemed to be falling down from the Aurora, like tiny raindrops.

Under this beautiful scene, there was a faint bonfire that was rising within the lush, green Oasis. The red-colored firelight was extremely eye-catching in the dark and silent Desert.

Beside the bonfire, there was a young man wearing a black coat. This, accompanied by the warm smile that hung on his delicate and handsome face, gave him a uniquely handsome look. He was sleeping on the ground while his head leaned on a soft lap pillow from a cool faced bewitching beauty. Her long eyes carried an unknown emotion as she looked lovingly at the young man on her lap.

This was none other than Dakna.

She gently stroke Allen’s hair as if comforting him to sleep.

At the other end of the bonfire was a Flame Lion, constantly maintain the fire. Due to their current location, the Desert, the coldness at the night was certainly completely different than usual. Normal people including Godkins would surely shiver in cold without a fire to heat their bodies up.

Although Allen doesn’t really need it with his miraculously tough body but Dakna and Xinghong would never allow even a hint of cold to hurt their master's body when he was sleeping.

Dakna gaze stared intently at the cold, stern, young face that had gained an additional maturity compared to the first time they had met.

Seriously, she had never expected she would follow someone, much less Allen at that time.

Now that she thinks about it… just how is her sister right now…?

Originally, it was her sister that had first met Allen but due to the former’s high pride and attitude, she never allowed herself to steep low and become a servant to someone. Of course, she never expected it as well to become like this… still, she never regretted it.

For her right now… Allen was her everything.

"Master….." Dakna softly murmured as she gently caressed Allen’s face.

Her voice full of love and affection. She didn’t regret her decision of leaving the Dragon Island, or that world, and instead at this moment, she felt very lucky she could be with her master.

To her, Allen was her everything. And she would do anything for him… even if he asked her life or her heart… Many said that a Dragon’s Heart was a precious thing and to her, she would give it to her master without any hesitation –Though she knows that Allen would never ask something like that to her.

And this made her very happy.

Dakna lovingly caressed Allen’s sleeping face. She looked at the delicate, handsome, young face from close proximity. A gentleness surfaced within her eyes. There were a little less tenderness and more maturity within it compared to the first time they had met.

Suddenly, her brows furrowed.

Her magic power erupted and spread throughout the entire place. And yet, she could find anything.

But why does she felt as if someone was watching them just now…?

Dakna frowned and immediately her aura slowly enveloped Allen as if protecting him inside a cocoon. With this, no matter what it was, nothing can hurt Allen even if it’s a small bug that came flying…

Later that night, Dakna and Xinghong didn’t dare to sleep as they guard Allen.

There was a strong fluctuation in the air.

The moment morning came the next day, Dakna and Xinghong had already turned into lioness protecting their cub; Allen. Their countenance and behavior turned serious as they felt the sudden surge of fluctuation in the air around the Oasis.

A moment later, the gradual ripples of the energy swirl finally began to slowly scatter.

Allen’s unmoving body trembled slightly with the scattering of the energy swirl. His tightly shut eyes were suddenly opened!

Allen opened both of his eyes.

“What is happening…?”