SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

Chapter 643 Tq @GodTierMechanic [Bonus Chapter]

The bustling entrance to the Desolate Desert was alive with voices shouting, arguing, and planning. Adventurers of all kinds—mercenaries, treasure hunters, and mages—were assembling in groups, shouting for others to join them."Form a group with us! We're heading deep into the dunes!"

"We need a water mage to survive the blazing heat—any takers?"

Others approached Kent directly. A burly warrior, his armor glinting in the sun, stepped into Kent's path. "Hey, stranger. You've got the look of someone capable. Join our group. We're after the treasures buried in the sand- treasures, relics, maybe even loads of soju!"

Kent didn't even bother to respond, simply walking past the man with a shake of his head.

He wasn't here for treasure. While the groups around him were motivated by greed and ambition, Kent had a singular goal: the Shrine of Eternal Sands. Ignira's words had brought him this far, but the shrine's location remained a mystery, even among the seasoned adventurers gathered here.

He moved through the stalls and groups, keeping his ears open. He overheard snippets of conversation.

"I heard the shrine lies beneath the southern dunes!"

"Fool, the shrine moves every day—it's impossible to pinpoint!"

"They say the God Race sealed it off, only allowing their kin to enter. Waste of time for the likes of us."

Kent frowned. The more he listened, the more it became clear—nobody knew anything for certain. They were all chasing rumors.

But then, something caught his eye.

In a quiet corner near the edge of the desert, an old man sat cross-legged in silence. His long gray beard swayed slightly in the warm breeze, and a tattered cloak covered his thin frame. Before him was a simple wooden board with crude writing that read:

"I know the path to the Shrine of Eternal Sands."

Kent stopped at a distance, narrowing his eyes. The old man was calm, detached, and unlike the frantic crowds around him. Was he a fraud, preying on the desperate?

Kent leaned against a nearby post, observing him carefully. Several young adventurers approached the man one by one.

A tall mage with glowing runes etched on his arms walked up first. "Old man, you claim to know the way. Tell me, and I'll reward you handsomely."

The old man opened one eye, his expression unreadable. "Stretch out your hand."

The mage hesitated but complied. The old man pulled out a pouch of fine white powder and sprinkled it over the mage's open palm. Within seconds, the mage's hand turned bright red.

The old man grinned, showing yellowed teeth. "Simple. I want half the treasures you find inside. You see, I'm a dwarf demon with a filthy bloodline—cursed to be forever barred from sacred places. But you... you can enter. You can take the risks. I'll guide you there, and in return, you give me half of what you find. A fair deal, don't you think?"

Kent narrowed his eyes. "And how do I know I can trust you?"

The old man shrugged. "You don't. But consider this—without me, you'll wander these dunes for months, chasing false leads. With me, you'll find the shrine within a day."

Kent stared at him for a long moment, weighing his options. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But if you betray me, I'll bury you in this desert."

The old man chuckled. "Fair enough. Now, swear it—on your life."

Kent sighed but extended his hand again. "I swear. Half the treasures are yours. Except for things which can't be decided."

The old man clapped his hands together, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Excellent! Now, let's not waste time. Follow me. The shrine moves at every dawn, and we need to reach its location before it moves too far away.."

As they walked into the desert, Kent kept a close eye on the old man. The dwarf demon's enthusiasm was almost infectious, but Kent wasn't about to lower his guard.

"So," Kent said after a while, "what's your name?"

"Names are meaningless," the old man replied. "But you can call me Grizzak."

"Alright, Grizzak. What's in this shrine that's worth all this trouble?"

Grizzak's eyes gleamed. "Artifacts of unimaginable power. Soju of the highest purity. And the Heart of Eternity—a relic said to grant its wielder mastery over time itself."

Kent raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like more trouble than it's worth."

Grizzak cackled. "Oh, it'll be trouble, alright. But for someone like you—someone with a connection to the gods—it's a chance to ascend beyond the Spirit World itself."

Kent said nothing, his mind already calculating the risks.

As the dunes stretched endlessly before them, the old-man moved, guiding Kent toward the shifting location of the Shrine of Eternal Sands.

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Tq @GodTierMechanic for precious gifts!