Whoosh!!!
A fierce wind whipped up the sand, carrying with it tiny specks of glittering gold.
Across the vast, death-filled and perilous Golden Desert, six dire wolves galloped without cease, their massive paws striking the soft sand beneath them.
And on the backs of the dire wolves, several figures sat dimly visible.
"We've arrived! The Golden Oasis is just ahead!" The old leader peered at the map and let out a clear, carrying shout.
"We're finally here?" A cloaked figure atop one of the Lipan dire wolves raised their head slightly, their extraordinary eyesight catching a sliver of green in the far distance.
Ever since their encounter with the golden giant, Leilin and his party had been like birds startled by the twang of a bowstring. They had run without pause for over ten days before finally allowing themselves to relax, yet they reached this place sooner than expected.
This was the Golden Oasis—the only major water source in the entire Golden Desert.
Moreover, it was a necessary stop for crossing the Magerlie Grand Canyon. Every other route through the canyon held dangers far beyond what a first-rank Wizard could endure.
From a distance, Leilin could also make out several large bird-like creatures rising and descending over the oasis.
Those were the Griege Vultures—the very culprits who had claimed this oasis as their own.
Beneath a sand dune not far from the Golden Oasis, the six wizards halted and left their Lipan dire wolves there.
Ordinary Lipan dire wolves could handle the low-level creatures inside the Magerlie Grand Canyon well enough, but against high-energy creatures like the Griege Vultures—whose adults were comparable to Third-rank Apprentices—getting surrounded meant only death.
They would need the wolves for transport later, and besides, they were borrowed. If they died, they would owe the contact on the other side of the canyon a hefty sum of Magic Stones.
"We can't go any further! Griege Vultures are flying creatures—they'll spot us from high above without a doubt!"
The old leader looked around at everyone. "Also, the dire wolves' position must be concealed!"
"On that count, I might be able to help a little." Leilin smiled faintly and swept his hands across the shadow of the dune.
The dark shadows beneath Leilin's hands seemed to take on an eerie vitality, twisting and churning like a lurking beast opening its massive jaws to swallow the dune whole.
"Darkness is the natural ally of concealment." Within the deep shadows, the once-visible dire wolves had vanished entirely.
"Well done!" Lanse praised Leilin.
In her eyes, though Leilin was a newly-awakened wizard, his mind was sharp, and his small spells were remarkably practical.
Of course, this was nothing more than a facade Leilin had deliberately put on.
Hearing Lanse's praise, the big guy let out a dismissive snort. "If it had been me doing it…"
"Alright, alright! We're all on the same team—there's no need for that!"
The old leader sensed the tension and interjected. "What we need to deal with right now is the flock of Griege Vultures and their Vulture King!"
"Lanse, show everyone the situation!"
Lanse stepped into the center of the group and pulled a blue gem from within the folds of her chest.
"This is a Magical Item I created by replicating the Eye of Peering—it can observe images within a ten-kilometer range!"
Lanse gave a brief explanation, held the gem in her palm, let drops of water drip from the water pouch at her waist, and chanted several incantations under her breath.
A haze of pale blue light rose from the gem, warping and stretching until it formed the shape of a mirror-like surface.
On the mirror surface, a beautiful lake was visible, surrounded by green oil palm trees and thickets, with several large red birds rising and alighting among the trees from time to time.
As the image zoomed closer, Leilin finally saw the true appearance of the Griege Vultures.
They were roughly five meters long, covered in crimson feathers, with hard and razor-sharp talons. Their necks were long and bare of feathers, tinged a pinkish color that looked rather nauseating. Atop their curved vulture heads was a bald patch bearing a raised, tumor-like growth.
There were at least a hundred of these vultures in the center of the oasis. If they were all adults, combined with a Vulture King comparable to a full Wizard, most wizards would stand no chance.
"A hundred? That's a bit much! Can you make out the Vulture King?"
The old leader was the first to ask.
"I'll try my best!" Lanse replied uncertainly, but she still pushed the image deeper into the heart of the vulture flock.
There, within a strange cavity on a great tree—like a hollowed-out nest—loomed the vague silhouette of an enormous vulture, perched within.
When Lanse tried to push the image even closer, the colossal bird in the nest seemed to sense that someone was watching and let out a furious roar.
"Kraa-kraa!!!"
A harsh, grating cry—somewhat reminiscent of a Crow yet distinctly different—rang out, and the surrounding flock of vultures suddenly erupted into a frenzy.
Following the cry came waves of terrifying air pressure, sweeping outward in every direction.
"No good! It's detected me!" Lanse's face went pale.
Snap! In the next instant, the blue mirror surface shattered like crystal, breaking apart into scattered motes of blue light that fell to the ground.