"This… what is this?" Jason couldn't help asking as he noticed something that seemed like a shadow pass beside him.

Recalling the shadows they had been encountering all the way here, a brief terror flickered in his heart.

The first wave was manageable…

The second wave almost cost them their lives, and they were certain of one thing.

The third wave would definitely lead to their deaths as long as they weren't at the wasteland yet!

Glancing around, he noticed that there were no other shadows, and the thought alone caused him to sigh in relief.

Aella seemed to finally realize the danger of the situation, and Nephis, who had been a little skeptical before, immediately left the top of the horse with some grievance in her heart.

She glared at her surroundings, searching for whatever was hidden there, having been forced to part from her lovely time with Arthur.

Arthur also took out his sword from his system space and glanced at the mission once more through the corner of his eyes.

Just as tension settled in everyone's hearts, there was a ripple as Titan moved as swift as lightning.

His massive golden sword, which weighed tons, drifted through the air like a light cloth and came crashing down like heavenly thunder onto a slight ripple not too far away.

The ripple seemed to freeze in fear the moment Titan's sword descended, claiming its life.

Everyone stared in astonishment as Titan's sword left a deep mark on the ground with a resounding bang.

Something that looked like an illusory humanoid animal collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

It stared at Titan with horror in its eyes before slowly vanishing like dispersing mist.

Titan stared at the dispersing wisp, and the golden eyes beneath his helmet seemed to narrow slightly.

"What's that?" Jason asked curiously, walking forward to stand beside Aella as they noticed the vanishing traces of the spirit.

A confused expression also appeared on Aella's face as she stared in that direction.

Arthur stared intently and realized it was similar to the blurry shadow he had been seeing.

'Only Titan is fast enough to keep up with its speed?' Arthur guessed silently in his heart, the image of how Titan had so effortlessly destroyed the spirit still fresh in his mind.

With Titan beside him, Arthur felt a measure of safety and confidence.

Still staying atop the horse, Arthur glanced around and didn't notice any more blurry shadows.

"Let's keep going for now. Titan can handle any danger we encounter, but everyone should stay alert as well in case of anythi—"

The moment Arthur finished speaking, there was a slight ripple, and he noticed a spirit briefly appear on Aella's body.

Her eyes widened slightly as she realized her body was no longer under her control.

Subconsciously, she froze herself completely so she wouldn't be abruptly killed.

Everything happened so fast that Arthur and Jason didn't have time to react.

Only after seeing the danger unfold did they widen their eyes in shock and stare at Aella, who had become a frozen sculpture.

"What just happened?" Arthur muttered softly as he noticed a figure struggling to get out from the frozen encirclement.

The creature looked no different from an illusory being as it tried to take over Aella's body, while also struggling to escape, as if afraid of being frozen.

"Titan!" Arthur called out, but Titan had already moved.

His massive golden sword swiftly brushed through the spirit that was trying to emerge.

Feeling the surroundings close in on them, and just as Jason thought they would be submerged by the sand storm, there was a slight ripple.

To his astonishment, he realized the sands had paused once again.

Immediately, he turned to Aella, only to see that she was still frozen.

That left only one possible explanation.

Jason didn't possess the ability to control wind, and the control displayed was even more precise than Arthur's.

Immediately, Jason was gobsmacked.

Without hesitation, he turned toward Titan and noticed his slightly outstretched hand.

At his command, the wind ceased.

"Wind element as well?" Jason was silently shocked.

He had seen Titan use fire, lightning, space, and now wind.

This completely defied common sense.

His heart filled with bitterness as he realized Arthur was truly lucky to have obtained such a monster as his summon.

Nodding in Titan's direction, Arthur turned back to Aella's frozen body.

In an instant, he appeared in front of her.

He scrutinized her closely, admiration flickering in his eyes.

Freezing herself without hesitation the moment she was possessed required immense willpower.

Arthur raised his hand, and a small flame appeared, which he brought close to the ice.

It lingered briefly before liquid began running down the frozen surface.

Arthur's eyes lit up instantly.

This was something he had tried on a whim, and it actually worked!

That meant Aella could be saved.

Toward this companion of his, Arthur felt a hint of leniency.

He stared at her frozen form for a few seconds before carefully bringing the flames closer.

In this fashion, time slowly dragged on.

Just as Arthur was thawing Aella, a strange ripple appeared.

Before Arthur or any of his calamities could react, a shadow crept behind him and, without hesitation, attempted to destroy his body and take over his consciousness.

Arthur's eyes widened in horror as the system flashed before him.

[Detected infiltration in the Calamity Heir.]

[Activating defense mechanism.]

Arthur barely had time to wonder what the system's defense mechanism was when a wave of lightheadedness washed over him.

The next moment, it felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted.

Whatever had been possessing him vanished instantly.

A shocked expression crossed his face as he heard a piercing scream fade from his mind.

Jason, who had been stunned to see Arthur get possessed, was about to confirm what he saw when another ripple made his expression change drastically.

The spirit had vanished without Arthur doing anything.

A thoughtful look appeared on Arthur's face as he glanced at Jason, whose mouth hung slightly agape.

"It was most likely weaker than the others," Arthur chuckled lightly.

Jason's lips twitched repeatedly as he stared at Arthur with a look that seemed ready to kill at any moment.

Arthur glanced at the surroundings and spoke without hesitation.

"Why the hesitation? Don't you want to possess me? Come on, possess me!"

His voice echoed through the sand storm, leaving Jason utterly bewildered as he stared at Arthur like he was insane.

Arthur gave him a fleeting glance, and when none of the spirits responded, he sighed in mild regret and focused once more on restoring Aella.

…

Within a few hours, Arthur had thawed parts of Aella's body, including her hands and face.

She took a brief moment to recollect herself before waving her hand, causing the remaining ice on her body to vanish.

"Thank you," she mouthed with a faint smile.

Arthur shrugged and replied, "It's nothing."

Aella stared at the desert storm with a serious expression.

"This is far from ordinary."

At her words, shock flashed across Jason's face as he turned toward them.

"What day did the merchant say these desert storms started forming from?"

Aella thought for a moment before answering accurately.

Instantly, a dumbfounded look appeared on Jason's face, his eyes narrowing solemnly.

"Just as I guessed… it's the same day that…"

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