The Strongest Human

Chapter 4: Desert of Death

The dry air of the Deadlands stung the lungs with the scent of copper and dust. A reddish wind roared, lashing sharp grains of sand against the black walls at the mouth of the Abyssal Chasm. Behind Alden Vance, dozens of former human slaves stepped out, their bodies trembling, barely believing they were breathing surface air again.

"This desert... it really is the Deadlands," Cael whispered. He stared at the desolate horizon stretching infinitely, his sunken eyes reflecting a mixture of terror and hope. "I thought we were just moving from one hell to another."

Alden stood at the front. The tattered black cloak he’d scavenged from a Daemonicus soldier whipped in the harsh wind. His sharp eyes scanned the giant rock formations and barren hills. Inside him, his Somatic Resonance devoured the raw Aetherium flowing thinly through the desert air, constantly fortifying his muscle fibers and bone density.

"How far is the territory to the west, near Ironclad Fortress?" Alden asked without turning. His voice was flat, cutting through the desert wind.

Eli, the young man holding the tattered map scavenged from Commander Vorgan, stepped forward. "If we walk across the Blood-Cleft Desert, it will take at least two days. But this region is a primary patrol route for the Ironclad Fortress Sentinels."

"Sentinels?" Alden raised an eyebrow.

"The Sovereign Concord's hunting squads," Cael replied quickly, his face paling. "They ride magical beasts and use hover-skiffs. If they spot a group of humans this large outside the Chasm, they’ll slaughter us without a second thought."

"Let them come," Alden replied coldly. He balled his fist, feeling the pulse of power vibrating beneath his skin. "I need more accurate directions, and those hunting soldiers will provide them for me."

A piercing roar tore through the night air. Three massive shadows plummeted from behind the rock hills: Aetheric Skiffs, iron-plated magical warships propelled by blue crystals.

On the deck of the lead ship stood a dozen silver-armored soldiers bearing the symbol of crossed swords and a single eye—the official mark of the Sovereign Concord Enforcement Guard. At the front, an Alvari officer with long, pointed ears and golden eyes peered down at the human group with utter disgust.

"Look what crawled out of the sewer," the Alvari officer bellowed, his voice amplified by wind magic. The nameplate on his chest glowed: Commander Vrak. "Human filth managed to kill Vorgan and drag themselves out? What a sickening joke!"

The slaves behind Alden shrieked in terror; some collapsed to their knees, wailing. The myths of the Concord Enforcement Guard's cruelty were etched too deeply into their minds.

"Master Alden... that’s Captain Vrak! He’s a high-level wind and metal mage from Ironclad Fortress!" Eli screamed in panic, trying to hide behind a rock.

Alden didn't flinch. He stepped forward, distancing himself from the group, and looked up at Vrak on the hover-ship.

"You talk a lot for a dog kept on a flying plate," Alden said calmly, though the resonance of his voice carried a raw intimidation that seemed to still the wind.

The Alvari officer’s eyes widened in shock. "You arrogant bastard! Do you think because you survived the massacre at the bottom of the Chasm, you can talk to me like that? How dare a ground rat show its face before the ruling race!"

"I’m not just showing my face, you piece of shit," Alden retorted with a cruel grin. "I’m here to break your neck."

"You arrogant prick! Magic arrows, fire! Annihilate this filth!" Vrak shrieked, his face turning red with rage.

Eight soldiers drew their magic bows. Arrows made of solidified Aetherium energy streaked through the air, emitting a lethal green glow.

"Master Alden, watch out!" Cael yelled.

Alden didn't dodge. He leaped forward, meeting the volley of magical arrows with an open chest. As the projectiles struck his skin, the Somatic Resonance inside him surged violently. Instead of exploding, the deadly magical energy was absorbed instantly, transformed into a burst of pure kinetic power that strained the veins in Alden's arms.

BOOM!

The arid earth cracked violently as he triggered Apex Arts: Burst Step. In the blink of an eye, Alden launched into the air like a cannonball, landing directly on the deck of Vrak's warship.

"WHAT?!" Vrak’s eyes bulged in shock, his grip on the magic helm slipping. "How can Aetherium arrows not hurt you?!"

"Your magic is too weak to feed my muscles, bastard!" Alden growled.

A soldier in heavy armor tried to spear Alden’s chest from the side. Without looking, Alden caught the magic spearhead with his bare hand. With one squeeze, the high-grade magic iron shattered into fine dust!

Before the soldier could scream, Alden’s left hand struck like lightning, seizing the soldier’s throat and slamming him into the deck until the skiff’s iron floor buckled. The soldier’s skull shattered instantly.

"Kill him! Slaughter this monster!" Vrak shrieked hysterically, retreating to the back of the deck.

The remaining soldiers attacked simultaneously. Protective spells and sword slashes wreathed in fire and lightning surrounded Alden from all sides. However, to Alden, who was utilizing Apex Arts, their movements were agonizingly slow.

Alden spun, triggering Apex Arts: Iron Devourer. Every bare-handed strike shattered the enemies’ magical barriers into pieces. Alden’s close-range punch landed on the second soldier's chest, piercing his armor and crushing his internal organs, sending him vomiting fresh blood as he was hurled off the ship.

BAM! BAM! CRASH!

Within ten seconds, seven elite Concord soldiers lay dead. Fresh blood soaked the magnificent magic-crystal carvings. The two other hunting ships hovered in stunned silence, their crews trembling as they watched the brutal massacre.

Vrak was cornered on the bridge, his eyes wide with horror. His prized defensive magic barrier had been shattered by nothing more than the air pressure from Alden's bare-fisted punch.

"You... you aren't human! What kind of monster are you?!" Vrak screeched, his voice raspy.

Alden walked toward him casually, stepping over the corpses. Black blood splattered his face and chest, making him look like a demon crawling out from the abyss.

"I am purely human, you Concord dog," Alden answered coldly. He gripped Vrak’s neck and lifted the Alvari officer high into the air. "And the human you call filth is the one who will destroy your rotten magical empire."

"Argh... mercy... don't..." Vrak clawed at Alden’s steel-hard arms, his breath cut off instantly. His wind magic dissipated the moment it touched Alden’s skin.

"Answer my question if you want to die quickly," Alden said flatly. "Where exactly is the secret base of the Ashen Vanguard in this western territory?"

"At... the Valley of the Iron Skull... south of Ironclad Fortress..." Vrak stuttered with his remaining strength. "They’re underground... please... don't kill me..."

"Thanks for the info," Alden said dryly.

CRACK!

With one squeeze, Alden snapped Vrak’s neck without a shred of hesitation. He tossed the officer’s corpse to the ground, where it landed before the dozens of slaves who watched with mouths agape.

Alden looked at the other two ships. The soldiers panicked, turned their bows, and fled north at full speed.

"Run along, report to your master," Alden muttered coldly before leaping off the now-uncontrollable ship, which crashed into a rock cliff and exploded.

Alden landed smoothly. Cael and Eli rushed over, awe and respect in their eyes.

"Master Alden... you destroyed an elite squad by yourself... without a drop of magic!" Eli shouted, his voice trembling.

"That was nothing," Alden replied, wiping blood from his hands. "We have our direction. Valley of the Iron Skull, south of Ironclad Fortress. We move now before their main force arrives."

However, before the group could leave, dozens of gray-hooded figures emerged from behind the rock hills, riding horned desert wolves. They held mechanical bows and ancient iron-tipped spears.

A stout man with a half-face iron mask jumped off his mount, stared at the scattered Concord bodies, then turned his gaze to Alden.

"Who are you, stranger?" the masked man asked, his voice heavy and wary. "It’s rare to find someone who can slaughter Concord Enforcement Guards with their bare hands in this death trap."

Alden stared back sharply, recognizing the gray dragon symbol engraved on the man’s chest armor. The same symbol described by the prisoners in the Chasm.

"My name is Alden Vance," Alden answered firmly. "And I’m looking for Garrick Ironwill."

The masked man slowly lowered his weapon, his eyes widening behind the mask’s slit. "You... are looking for the Leader of the Ashen Vanguard?"