Welcome to Hell!

Chapter 282: Landing

(TN: This marks the start of the 6th volume: Desert.)

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We had been taken on a journey through the skies by the Forest God, yet our time to gaze upon the landscapes of the northern continent was fleeting. This wasnt because we could cross the mountain ranges in the blink of an eye. Rather, it was because the Shumie Mountain Range was so high that we had to ascend above the clouds to get over it.

Our time amidst the clouds was brief. Beyond them lies a different kind of breathtaking view. The pristine white clouds stretched endlessly like a sea, with the peaks of the mountain range jutting out like slender islands.

So, this is what its like above the clouds.

Ah Its been a long time since Ive regretted having poor eyesight so much

Chirik, with his weak eyesight, was unable to enjoy the view from above the clouds, much to his frustration. I patted his head while Lappy hugged him, and Gardenia licked his cheek to comfort him.

Indeed, the view above the clouds was spectacular, but given that clouds are made of water droplets, we were all drenched. If we didnt dry off soon, I might be fine, but Chirik and others might catch a cold.

I will dry you off.

Aaah, that would help.

Perhaps thinking along the same lines, Chris used her spiritual art to gather the moisture clinging to everyones clothes and skin. The amount of water collected for everyone was quite large, and a large ball of water was floating in the air.

However, what goes up must come down. We were likely to plunge through the clouds to the ground once again, but in doing so we would turn into wet rats again. That would have undone all our efforts.

Chris shone once more in this moment. She used the gathered water to create a protective barrier around us, aiming to absorb the droplets from the clouds as we descended.

It seems weve started to descend.

It was as if our fall had awaited Chriss preparations. As we experienced the unique sensation of falling, the clouds drew rapidly closer, and soon we found ourselves plunging into their midst.

Thanks to the barrier Chris had crafted, we remained dry this time. Moreover, instead of the clouds obscuring our view as they did on the ascent, we now had the chance to observe what lay within them.

Look, theres something mixed in with the clouds.

Is that sand?

It appeared that the clouds over the southern part of the mountain range were different. Unlike the northern clouds that merely left us wet, these were mixed with sand.

Having heard beforehand that a desert stretched out in this region, the presence of sand particles amidst the clouds wasnt surprising but did bring a sense of reality to the fact that we were truly in the southern part of the continent.

Weve come out of the clouds already wait!

Hey, whats this situation?

Our descent through the clouds was significantly quicker than the ascent, and soon we were surveying the ground below. The scene that unfolded beneath us bore no resemblance to the northern part, with its endless expanses of loess.

What first caught our eye was the vast desert, filled with the kind of fine sand I often use in spiritual arts. The terrain was marked by its undulations, and the overly soft sand would swallow the feet of anyone walking over it, making each step a drain on ones physical strength. It was far more so than the northern roads or even the animal trails.

There was little to no vegetation or bodies of water such as ponds or lakes that could provide a substantial amount of moisture. Sandstorms were visible in places, marking the area as barely habitable.

As we got closer to the mountains, the deserts character shifted from sandy to gravelly. The ground was no longer sand but dry cracked soil and large rocks everywhere.

In this area, although sparse, vegetation sprouted. It must have been plants adapted to the dry conditions. The presence of plants meant the existence of herbivores, birds, and insects that fed on them, and in turn, carnivores that preyed on these creatures. If one were to hunt, this would be the place.

However, what was surprising was the almost complete absence of vegetation on the mountain slopes. The bare rock faces were a stark contrast to the dense forests of the north.

Its amazing, just crossing one mountain and everything is so different.

Yes, but Reese seems rather pleased, huh?

Tigar was stunned by the stark difference from the north, and Sharl seemed to agree with him, but for some reason Reese who was cradled in Sharls arm, looked at the desert with sparkling eyes. In Reeses eyes, the desert may be a giant sandbox.

However, if it were such an ideal world to live in, the southern part of the continent would have been flooded with people long ago. The reason that hadnt happened wasnt due to the presence of guardians like the Mountain God the Forest God and Woodsorrel and the others. I was half convinced of that.

I had heard from Woodsorrel and the others that there are still those who travel via underground routes. If one were truly intent on migrating, they might have managed to persuade these travelers to share their path. Another possibility could have been to travel by sea. Yet, the fact that migrations did not occur must have a reason.

And I believe the answer lies within my very nature. If I recall the time when I was merely a scorpion, before Georg subjected me to torturous training, the answer becomes clear.

Lets dispel the barr ugh?!

So hot?! The sunlight is intense?!

Its blinding.

The moment Chris dispelled the unnecessary water barrier as we emerged from the clouds, we were assaulted by a scorching sunlight and an extraordinarily high temperature. Yes, this was it. Even when I was just a scorpion, I could withstand high temperatures. It was an essential trait for surviving in the desert environment.

Indeed, while I only find the sunlight slightly dazzling and am otherwise unbothered, my comrades were astounded by the heat and the intensity of the sunlight. This marked the difference between those who were naturally adapted to the desert and those who werent.

However, we had the means to counter the harsh conditions. For starters, I created an umbrella out of sand to block the sunlight, which Chris then dampened with water. And with Sharl inducing a gentle breeze, this could create a comfortable environment for everyone.

Its so hot! I didnt expect it to be this intense!

Chris, could you please sprinkle some water on my subordinates too? With this fur, everyone feels like theyre about to collapse.

Sure, leave it to me.

Tigar smiled as he wiped the sweat from his brow, perhaps now that the weather had cooled down a bit. Meanwhile, Asumi was looking a little unsteady on her feet and begged Chris to use water spiritual art on her and her subordinates.

This highlighted the difference between the demons who could switch between two forms and those that couldnt. It seemed that those in their human form could mitigate the impact of the temperature with spiritual art and endure it, but demons like Asumi, who couldnt transform into a complete human form, couldnt escape the effects of the heat.

At that moment, those who were proficient in water, wind, and ice spiritual arts, including Tuhru, were cooling the surroundings. Without such measures, the heat was unbearable.

Chris obviously didnt refuse Asumis request and headed towards our comrades who couldnt transform. Our altitude steadily decreased as we dealt with the temperature and finally, the massive lump of earth carrying us landed on the ground.

Then the giant bird made of trees that was carrying us suddenly stopped moving and withered away in an instant. It appeared that the giant bird was merely a creation of the Forest God.

I wanted to express our gratitude properly.

Hmm, that might be difficult. Weve never spoken to the Forest God ourselves.

It seemed that the Forest God, who didnt have a physical body and was a colony of trees in that vast forest, didnt like communication very much. I had hoped to at least understand how it perceived us, but it seemed even that was beyond our reach.

We landed and the giant bird disappeared, so our journey would begin again from here. But now we would be relying solely on our own efforts. With the addition of new members, Woodsorrel and Gardenia, this was the first time we would proceed without the help of people other than ourselves.

Our journey to until the southern edge of the Harlasia Kingdom in the central part of the continent was protected by the Kings authority until we reached the mountains. And from then to this point, we had been continuously helped by two gods.

However, from this point forward, we must carve our path solely with our own strength. The true essence of our journey begins here.

Boss, youve noticed, havent you?

Yes. Something is approaching.

Before we even had a chance to land and unload the carriages, I felt a presence approaching us rapidly. It was still at a distance, but moving across the ground at considerable speed. I was aware of it without needing Tigar to point it out, and those of us with keen senses had noticed it as well.

However, our comrades who couldnt transform, including Asumi, didnt seem to notice the approaching entity. It seemed like it was too hot for that. Despite their typically sharp senses, the daylight rendered them practically useless. It seemed wise to let them rest during the day and assign them to the night watch. This would have to be discussed with Asumi and Tigar.

Friend or foe, whats your bet?

It wouldnt be much of a bet.

Shaaaah!!!

While we were making light remarks, the creature had come close enough for even the most exhausted among us to notice. It moved silently over the dry, hard ground as if it was gliding, and then, with a leap, it jumped at us from above.

The creature turned out to be a huge snake with a head characterized by a particularly broad base with eye-like patterns. Its scales were mostly black and marked by a yellow line that ran from the corners of its bright red eyes to the tip of its tail. Its appearance was both impressive and venomous.

As soon as we landed, we were baptized by the desert or so my comrades might have thought. However, I was overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia. This was because I recognized the snake that appeared before us.

Hey, isnt that

Yes, you remember it too, Woodsorrel? Its name was what was it again? It doesnt matter much anyway.

The giant snake that emerged was of the same race as the one I had once fought in the Rookies Battle Tournament. I had forgotten its name, but the eye-like patterns were deeply imprinted in my memory.

Woodsorrel seemed to remember it well too. She had once seen through its illusion spiritual arts that forced its opponents to let their guard down. Not only had I fought it once, but thanks to her, I was also familiar with its tricks. I heightened my fighting spirit and strengthened my body, created footholds in the air with sand spiritual art, and closed the distance in an instant. Then, with my twin swords, I mercilessly decapitated it.

Well then shall we go? Mika, this is precious food.

Ill take care of the processing.

While I was sheathing my twin swords after wiping off the blood, Mika had already begun processing the giant snake. Given its size, we wouldnt have to worry about meat for several days.

But to think that we would be facing a battle before we even took our first step forward. It speaks volumes about the harsh desert environment we were about to take on. It was a reminder that this journey would not be easy.