Chapter 392 – The Ovak in the Desert

Desert winds howled, camel bells jingled.

The vast desert, a lifeless sea of sand, stood majestic and solemn, its face forever stern. The world of yellow sand offered only monotonous hues—yellow, yellow, eternally scorching yellow. It was as if nature had frozen raging waves and towering billows here in an instant, rendering them eternally still. Undulating sand dunes were fixed across the desert landscape, and whenever violent winds swept across the sands, this desolate world would erupt in swirling dust, darkening the skies.

This was a world of sand, offering no foothold—a realm of yellow sand, an ocean of golden grains stretching seamlessly to the horizon, with no end in sight.

On a small dune within this boundless sea of sand, a slightly gaunt figure staggered upward, climbing the towering slope.

This was a youth clad in a thin, ornate robe. Though covered in dust and grime, his features remained strikingly handsome. His short, tousled black hair danced in the wind, and while his sturdy frame appeared lean, his resolute posture seemed capable of bearing the weight of a mountain.

This was the Raging Wave Sand Sea, located south of the Hoth Mountains. As an immense desert, this yellow-sand world remained perpetually devoid of human presence. At this moment, the only one who would venture here alone without supplies was undoubtedly a single individual—or rather, a dragon—Ovakain.

Yes, this black-haired youth was none other than Ovakain Acidmaw, who had narrowly escaped with his life. His current human form was the result of a “Greater Polymorph” enchantment on the Ovakain Necklace. This magical item, originally designed to help Ovakain operate delicate alchemical instruments, had unexpectedly become a life-saving talisman for the dragon.

Though Ovakain, as a dragon, found this human form deeply uncomfortable—the frail body, the inability to fly without wings, the entirely different throat structure preventing breath attacks, recovery capabilities reduced tenfold, and the loss of sturdy dragon scales making him feel as exposed as if stripped bare—he had no choice but to endure it.

His injuries were too severe. The eruption of the Sleeping Dragon Volcano had brought his soul to the brink of collapse. Even with the automatic protection of his Legendary Equipment keeping him alive, Ovakain remained in a critically weakened state. His wildly unstable soul prevented him, a Level 19 Caster, from constructing even the simplest spell models. Roaming about in his dragon form under such circumstances would be tantamount to suicide.

After all, while this vast desert appeared barren and uninhabited, the powerful beings residing here were not to be underestimated. Ovakain was certain—if he dared release even a hint of his now-feeble draconic aura, a horde of Master-Level experts would immediately swarm to “eradicate the evil dragon”!

Moreover…

Sensing the location of his enemy through the Soul Mark he had placed on Punk, Ovakain couldn’t help but let out a bitter, hate-filled smile.Just as he could sense Punk’s approximate location through the “Soul Mark” cast on Punk, Punk could also perceive his position through the “Soul Mark” he had cast. While precise pinpointing might be vague, the general directional perception would not be wrong. And now, Ovakain could confirm that Punk was pursuing him at top speed.

“This is truly the end. Though I anticipated the severity of my injuries, I never imagined it would be this bad. Before the first wound could heal, I suffered even greater harm. When already on the brink of death, I overdrew my soul to flee rapidly… Now, I, Ovakain, cannot even cast an Apprentice Rank spell… And the most unbearable part is that this state will last for at least one or two months…”

Licking his parched lips and shaking his head helplessly, Ovakain felt another piercing agony deep in his soul—a reminder from his tattered spirit: Ovakain, you are perpetually teetering on the edge of life and death!

The black dragon had no clear destination now. He was entirely unfamiliar with the desert beyond the Hoth Mountains. His stubborn advance was merely a desperate flight in the opposite direction of Punk. Even at his wit’s end, Ovakain could not accept dying at Punk’s hands. The mere thought of that cold-eyed, mad mage ignited a fury that fueled his determination.

But… rage could not substitute for resources. Even a Master-Level powerhouse, before reaching Legendary status, needed to eat and drink at least once a month. For a massive magical creature like a dragon, a substantial daily water intake was essential.

Yet as Ovakain scanned the horizon, the endless desert offered only waves of heat shimmering under the scorching sun. In the arid air, dense earth element particles had nearly displaced all traces of water elements. Even with a dragon’s keen sense of smell, he could detect no sign of moisture.

This was becoming unbearable for Ovakain. While his all-dissolving stomach acid allowed him to swallow sand for sustenance, the absence of water… was intolerable for any being. The predicament grew more despairing as he lacked the ability to use Divination Spells to locate an oasis or town.

By now, Ovakain had exhausted every ounce of his strength. Not even a Master-Level dragon could endure a week without water, and he had already gone five days without a single drop.

Though his Legendary Equipment worked tirelessly to repair his soul, such spiritual wounds would take years to heal even with its aid. Ovakain’s estimate of regaining minimal spellcasting ability in one or two months was the most optimistic projection.

But… how could spells from one or two months later save the Ovakain of today?At this moment, the great dragon who had always prided himself as a wise mage regretted for the first time not having specially prepared a storage ring filled with ordinary drinking water and divination scrolls. Even if he had just one apprentice-rank divination spell available, Ovakain wouldn’t feel as desperate as he did now.

“No water, not a single drop of water. Could it be that I, the master of the Hoth Mountains—Ovakain Acidmaw—will ultimately meet my end by dying of thirst in the desert? A dragon on the verge of reaching Legendary status ending up like this… I’m afraid even Tiamat Five-Colored Dragon Mother wouldn’t be able to hold back her laughter.”

Muttering quietly to himself, Ovakain struggled to lift his heavy legs. Even though continuing forward might be meaningless, the determined black dragon refused to give up.

As noon slowly arrived, the desert sun, having just entered the tender season, already displayed its scorching intensity. With the infusion of high-temperature fire elements, even the last traces of water elements in the air completely vanished and transformed. Staring at the seemingly endless desert and feeling the soul-searing pain as if hot iron had been thrust into his very being, Ovakain’s vision gradually began to blur.

Finally, without knowing where he had reached, the black dragon’s consciousness completely faded into darkness…

However, not long after the powerful Ovakain closed his eyes and fell unconscious, as a cloud of dust scattered with the wind, a caravan riding camels appeared on the distant horizon.

(End of Chapter)