Chapter 3: Sunlit Forest

The western border city of Leishardo in the Karanth Empire, though also a fortress city, had a much more peaceful atmosphere compared to the empire's other fortress cities. Although Leishardo was located on the border, it did not directly border the demon tribes, and the dwarves and other races living in the Sunlight Forest to the west had always maintained peaceful coexistence with humans. Therefore, the city was generally populated by magical beast hunters and merchants collecting ores from dwarf tribes, so security here was not particularly strict.

"Boss, there are way too many people entering this city! When are we ever gonna get in?" Rek complained to Mels as they waited in line for inspection, watching the sun gradually sink in the west.

After all, all major continental cities had the same rule: once the sun had completely set, the city gates would close regardless of how many people were waiting to enter or exit. That's why Rek was worried the three of them wouldn't be able to enter the city today.

"Ah... it's just a shame the city guards are all men. Otherwise, with my 'good looks,' we'd be inside by now!" Sol said with a smug flick of his brown hair.

"Drop dead! Last time at the inn, you said you'd use your 'good looks' to get the landlady to lower the price even more. Instead, you ended up head over heels for her daughter and almost paid double! Hell! If we let you try that again today, we'll be sleeping in jail!" Rek punched Sol on the head and snapped.

"That was an accident! An accident! Who knew that girl would be so beautiful? Any man would be smitten except for a 'blockhead' like you! Right, boss?" Sol rubbed his sore head while defending himself.

"Ugh... you guys are so annoying! Bringing you along was my biggest mistake! But Rek is right. At this rate, we really won't get in today. Hmm..." Mels pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands. "Got it! You two, listen up. We'll do this... and this..." He called them closer and whispered a plan to them.

"Haha... Boss is a true genius! Let's do it!" Sol and Rek exclaimed excitedly after hearing Mels' plan.

"Shh... keep it down! Let's start now!" After Mels signaled the two to get ready, he suddenly let out a heavy sigh.

Rek immediately spoke up loudly, "Big brother, don't worry. Mom will definitely hold on until we get back!"

"Ah... it's all our fault for being so slow. If we had arrived an hour earlier, we'd definitely be inside the city today. But now... sigh!" Mels said with a sorrowful expression. Their loud conversation quickly caught the attention of several people waiting ahead.

Seeing that people were starting to notice them, the skinny Sol suddenly burst into loud sobs. "Wah... Dad... Dad said Mom is fading fast. It took us... three days to get here from the countryside! If... if we don't see Mom today, I'm afraid... I'm afraid... Mom! Wah..."

"Little brother, don't cry! Look, everyone is waiting too. I think Mom will definitely hold on until we get back to her side to see her one last time! She definitely will!" Mels said tragically, supporting Sol while squeezing out a few tears.

"Big brother, I really want to see Mom one more time too. Since we were little, Mom worked so hard to raise us three brothers. If we... if we don't even get to see her one last time, then... then... Wah!" Rek's tearful performance and words, delivered with his honest appearance, immediately won over the growing crowd of onlookers.

Suddenly, a voice came from somewhere: "Lads, don't cry! I'll let you go ahead of me!" Instantly, many merchants and travelers expressed their willingness to let the three of them enter first.

Thus, their waiting position went from 200th to 100th, then to 50th, then to 10th. In less than twenty minutes, the three were standing before the guards. Of course, the guards had heard the commotion. Looking at these three "kind, filial" "good boys" before them, the two guards even waived the mandatory "entry fee."

As the three were about to leave, the city gate guard captain pressed three gold coins into Mels' hand and said earnestly, "I don't know if there's still time, but if possible, buy some tonics for your mother." Though feeling they had gone a bit too far, Mels and the others tried hard to refuse the captain's kindness. However, with everyone and the captain insisting, they reluctantly accepted.

Walking on the streets of Leishardo, Mels and the other two stared at the three gold coins tightly clutched in Mels' hand, speechless for a good while. This experience taught the three young lives that conning people out of their pity was not a very amusing act. It left a deep impression on their lives. They believed this incident would be etched in their hearts, influencing their actions for the rest of their lives.

"Boss, forget it. Let's just not play these tricks anymore! You don't need to keep looking so miserable; people might really think your whole family died!" Seeing the grim expressions on Mels and Rek's faces, Sol forced a smile and made a lame joke, trying to ease the uncomfortable feelings in their hearts. Yet, wasn't there also an unpleasant feeling in his own heart?

"Heh, looking miserable? Who said that? I was thinking, since we received their kindness, if we just do something to repay them, wouldn't it even out? We may be thieves, but we are chivalrous thieves. Taking things from others for no reason isn't what we should do! Don't you agree?" Mels suddenly said with a gleam in his eyes. But from his gaze, Rek and Sol detected a slightly different emotion.

"I can't act pathetic now, or I'll lose face as their boss in the future! Hmm... it's strange. Why do I feel so uncomfortable now? Usually, when I steal from this family or take money from that one, I don't feel anything. Why this time..." Mels thought to himself.

"Whatever, I already said we'd do something to repay them. If we really repay them, then it's not taking for free, right?" Thinking this, Mels felt much better. But he never imagined that those few old gold coins would remain with him forever. No matter how destitute he became, he never spent a single one! "That's right! Let's find something to do!" Rek said with renewed vigor.

"Ah... two hot-headed young lads! Ouch..." Sol had just made a helpless gesture when Mels' arms wrapped around his neck.

"Heh, what? You don't want to do it?" Mels said with a wicked grin. His intuition told Sol that if he nodded now, he might very well be saying goodbye to his neck.

Just as the three were laughing and joking, a racket broke out from the street ahead. A hulking merchant with a loud voice was shouting, "What am I supposed to do? My family back home relies on me going to the dwarves to collect ores this season. If they don't let us through, my family will starve this year!"

"Ah... what can we do? Haven't you heard? Four merchant caravans sent out this month, and not a single person has returned alive! They say a giant Sand Worm has appeared near the Sunlight Forest! Sigh... The Royal Knights have been trying to capture it for days but found nothing. If it's not eliminated, I think none of us will be going to the dwarves!" another fellow merchant added with a sigh.

"Uncle, what exactly happened? What's this about a sand worm?" Mels and the other two, who had gradually approached the crowd, couldn't understand the merchants' fragmented conversation, so they went up to ask the first burly merchant who had spoken.

After all, they were young. Driven by curiosity, everything they had been thinking about earlier was thrown to the winds.

"Ah... everyone's saying a giant sand worm has appeared in the Sunlight Forest. The Royal Knights here have sealed the city gates, forbidding merchants from entering or leaving. Look at all of us here—we're all merchants trapped in the city!" The burly merchant sighed again and explained what he knew to Mels.

"Oh, I see. Thank you, uncle!" After thanking the burly merchant, Mels turned and pulled Rek and Sol into a corner.

"Heh, seems pretty interesting. Let's go check out that big sand worm!" Mels said excitedly, pulling at Sol and Rek.

"Boss, are you crazy? That giant sand worm is at least 20 or 30 meters long. Even lying still, it's as tall as the three of us combined. With our strength, how could we possibly kill something like that?" Rek said worriedly.

"Yeah! The three fortress leaders told us to be very careful of magical beasts. We've been lucky so far on this journey, not encountering a single one. But there's no reason to go looking for trouble! Besides, sand worms are impervious to blades and spears. Ordinary magic and Summoned Beasts have little effect on them. Plus, that thing eats everything! I bet before we could kill it, it would eat us first!" Sol also loudly objected in a nervous tone.

"Ugh... you two! When it comes to eating and drinking, you're always the first in line. But now you're scared to death like this. I really don't know what to do with you! We're just going to take a look; nothing will happen! Besides, don't you always think your martial skills are invincible? Meeting that sand worm would be a perfect chance to test how powerful we really are! And weren't we just thinking of a way to repay the people here?

The Sunlight Forest was our destination anyway. It's perfect for us to go deal with that sand worm. That way, we can repay the kindness, practice our skills, and continue our journey—three birds with one stone! If you won't go, I'll go alone! You two cowards can just wait here for my good news!"

Having his enthusiasm doused by the two, Mels decided to go alone after scolding them. However, how could Sol and Rek, with their duty to protect him, possibly let Mels face a dangerous magical beast alone?

Just as Mels turned to leave, the two exchanged a glance, hurried to catch up with him, and shouted, "Boss! We'll go! But we still need to come up with a plan first!"

"Heh, that's more like my good brothers! Share fortune and misfortune alike! Listen, my plan is like this..." So Mels pulled the two back to the corner and explained his newly conceived "sand worm extermination plan" to his two close friends.

After a while, although Sol and Rek still felt Mels' plan was somewhat risky, their expressions showed they had been persuaded by his words. Finally, the three unanimously decided to have a big feast tonight, build up their energy, and prepare to leave the city tomorrow to hunt down that damned magical beast.

Early the next morning, after packing their gear, Mels and the other two left the inn. Taking advantage of the guards' laxness at dawn, they slipped out of Leishardo city through a hole beside the west gate and headed toward the Sunlight Forest. Although the dwarves liked to call their home the "Sunlight Forest," it wasn't entirely composed of trees. Outside Leishardo city lay a vast grassland of about three hundred square kilometers. From here onward, many magical beasts and strange animals uncommon in human-controlled territories would frequently appear. Humans were accustomed to calling this place the "Dina Grassland."

Walking through waist-high weeds, Mels and the other two suddenly realized: how were they supposed to find a single sand worm in such a vast area?

"Boss, your plan is good and all, but how do we find that damned sand worm? Chances are, we won't even see the sand worm and will just starve to death out here!" Rek complained to Mels while pushing aside the weeds and trudging forward with difficulty.

"Yeah. My hair is full of annoying grass pollen, and my body itches all over. I don't even want to know what my face looks like!" Sol, who always paid special attention to his appearance, was currently most concerned not with the sand worm or starvation, but with his "glorious image"!

"Ugh... you guys are so dumb! Do I really need to explain this? We were originally going to the dwarves to ask about the frequent activity areas of pack dragons, and we're already on that path. If the sand worm is unlucky enough to run into us, we'll deal with it. If we're unlucky and don't encounter it, we'll just go to the dwarves first! Besides, didn't we prepare two weeks' worth of rations today? With that much food, it would be strange if we starved to death here!" Mels also trudged through the weeds with difficulty, yet his interest in the sand worm seemed very strong.

"By the way, honestly, I've only seen pictures of sand worms in Second Uncle's books. I've never seen a real one! It's strange. Logically, this kind of magical beast should appear in deserts. So why is it showing up on this damp land?" Mels asked as he walked.

"Hmm, I actually find it strange too! Logically, sand worms can't survive more than a week outside a desert. And although sand worms have hard armor, they are very afraid of fresh water. I've heard that when sand worms encounter fresh water, the hard armor on their bodies softens, preventing them from moving through sand and soil. But from what those uncles said yesterday, the sand worm here is not only much larger than ordinary ones, but it also seems to lack their usual weaknesses. Could it be a mutated, evolved sand worm, or maybe..." Despite his rough and seemingly ignorant appearance, Rek's analysis was quite logical. Clearly, his intelligence and knowledge couldn't be judged by his looks.

"Or maybe what?" Mels, intrigued by Rek's words, stopped walking and turned to ask. Seeing Mels' curious expression, Rek smiled slightly, then frowned and said, "This is just my guess. I'm wondering if this sand worm might be a Summoned Beast owned by a high-level Summon Warrior?"

After hearing Rek's words, Mels and Sol simultaneously stopped in their tracks, dumbfounded. Then the two bent over, laughing uproariously, as if Rek had told the funniest joke in the world.

"Hahaha... you Big Guy, your imagination is really something! Everyone knows Summoned Beasts exist based on their master's life energy. If someone could really turn a several-dozen-meter-long sand worm into a Summoned Beast, they wouldn't be human!" Sol, tears of laughter in his eyes, managed to say while bent over.

"Yeah, yeah. If all magical beasts could become Summoned Beasts, then the 'Eight-part Dragon King' of the Bolt Family wouldn't be such a big deal. If I could just have a 'Dark Armored Dragon,' I'd be invincible!" Mels added, also laughing until his stomach hurt.

"Bah! I said it was just a guess! I didn't even want to say it, but the boss kept pressing. Now you're laughing at me. See how I deal with you!" Rek's face flushed red; he obviously had little confidence in his own theory.

"Wah... Help! The Big Guy is embarrassed and angry, he's going to kill someone!" Amid Mels and Sol's shouts, the three youths chased and played with each other across the grassland.

A gentle breeze swept across the grassland, instantly causing the wild grass connecting heaven and earth to form beautiful waves, like rolling surf.

The sun, newly risen in the east, poured its light and heat unreservedly onto this land. Feeling the slightly chilly morning breeze, bathing in the warm sunlight, the three youths looked up and suddenly felt the insignificance of humans and the greatness of nature.

"It's great to be out! Otherwise, we wouldn't see such beautiful scenery!" Mels said, smoothing his short hair ruffled by the morning breeze while marveling at the grassland's beauty.

However, at that moment, Sol, not far behind Mels, suddenly tripped over something and cried out in pain, "Ugh, boss, you're comfortable! I'm miserable; this is already the fifth time I've tripped over a root today! My bones are almost..." Rubbing his sore ankle and complaining, Sol suddenly fell silent.

"Sol, where are you? I can't see you!" Sol's voice had suddenly cut off, so Rek hurriedly shouted. Since the grassland weeds were generally half Rek's height, and the skinny Sol, having fallen and sat on the ground, was completely covered by the weeds, Rek and Mels couldn't accurately pinpoint his location. "Wah...!! Blood... blood... blood!!" Suddenly, Sol sprang up high from the grass to Mels and Rek's left rear, screaming in shock. Both his hands were covered in crimson blood.

"Sol!" As soon as Sol appeared, Rek and Mels hurried toward him. But when they approached Sol, a bloody scene unfolded before the two youths' eyes.

About ten meters to Sol's left was a huge pit over fifteen meters in diameter. Around the pit's mouth were semi-congealed blood, human bones, broken armor, and weapons. Some of the surrounding weeds looked as if they had been cleanly cut by sharp blades, while others were charred black or frozen solid—clearly the results of magic.

"A battle happened here!" The brave Rek, holding his breath against the pungent stench, approached the huge pit and picked up a dirty emblem from a piece of armor beside it. Wiping away the mud and blood on the emblem, a soaring eagle and a gleaming longsword appeared before Rek's eyes.

After handing his silver badge to Mels, Rek said with a hint of sorrow, "Boss, take a look at this. This is the emblem of the Royal Knights. No wonder everyone says they've been searching for the magical beast—they must have been killed by it!"

"How is that possible? How is that possible? Every member of the Royal Knights possesses at least a mid-tier combat-type Summoned Beast! Judging by the number of deaths here, there are at least thirty dead—a full squad! How could a single Sand Worm annihilate them all? This... this... this is impossible!" Sol, standing beside Mels, stared at the tightly clenched badge in Mels' hand and spoke in a tone of absolute disbelief.

"What worries me most isn't how they died. What worries me most is this hole! If this hole were really caused by the Sand Worm's appearance, then this Sand Worm must be nearly a hundred meters long and over fifteen meters in diameter!" Rek pointed at the large pit in front of him, speaking seriously and with concern.

However, Mels seemed to completely ignore the words of Rek and Sol as he walked alone toward a pile of weeds stained with yellow slime near the edge of the pit. Reaching out to lightly touch the slime, Mels suddenly realized it hadn't even solidified yet!

"Boss, what are you doing?" Sol asked curiously, seeing Mels squatting alone to the side.

"Don't speak. Do you hear anything?" Mels raised a hand to stop their questions, then pricked up his ears like a hound, listening intently.

Seeing Mels' reaction, Rek and Sol knew he must have discovered something, so they did the same and focused on the changes in their surroundings. However, across the vast grassland, aside from the rustling of grass stirred by the breeze, they could hear nothing else.

"Boss, I don't hear any—" Just as the impatient Sol was about to tell Mels he heard nothing, a tremor suddenly shook the ground. Within seconds, the slight tremor made it difficult for the three to stand steadily, their bodies swaying violently.

"Quick, quick! Get away from here! Leave now!" Realizing what was coming, Mels shouted orders to his two companions. The three froze for a moment, but then Rek, understanding the situation, immediately took off running westward. Sol and Mels followed almost instantly, chasing close behind.

On the originally peaceful grassland, accompanied by a tremendous tremor rising from deep within the earth, three figures shot like lightning toward the west, running wildly.

"Run! Run! Faster!" Feeling the increasingly intense shaking beneath his feet, Mels sprinted frantically, yelling in a panic.

"Boom!" When the three were about five hundred meters from the previous pit, a loud roar erupted along with a spray of dirt and weeds shooting into the sky. A giant, earthworm-like magical beast emerged on the grassland. Pitch black, it held its head low, with half its body in the air and half still buried. The part above ground was about thirty meters tall and fifteen meters thick.

Watching the massive black Sand Worm emerge from the ground, the three almost simultaneously stopped and turned to look.

"Oh my god! What... what is this thing?" Sol stared in shock at the enormous creature before him, fear completely seizing him.

"Sand Worm!! Now I finally understand why the Royal Knights were completely wiped out by this thing!" Rek said, his voice also trembling slightly.

No sooner had he spoken than the giant Sand Worm seemed to notice the three and immediately turned its head in their direction. It then let out a deafening roar. Its head, which had seemed completely sealed, now bloomed open like a flower. However, what came from within wasn't fragrance but a foul, unpleasant stench.

Looking at the head composed of five fleshy lips, the pale fangs inside, and the large drops of mucus falling, Mels suddenly stepped back and shouted, "It's spotted us! Quick, run!!" This warning instantly snapped Rek and Sol out of their shock. At this moment, the three had no thoughts of "killing it." They only wished their parents had given them an extra leg, hoping to run as far as possible, far away from this terrifying demon!

"Boom!" With another roar from the magical beast, a huge crashing sound erupted behind the three. Roughly understanding what was happening, Mels glanced back while running desperately. What he saw made his blood run cold!

The giant Sand Worm still held its massive, open head high, but its body had completely emerged from the ground and was now chasing the three in a serpentine manner. Its speed, while not exactly lightning-fast, made Mels realize that if they kept running through these tall weeds, they'd be caught by the Sand Worm in less than ten minutes.

However, the vast grassland spanning over three hundred miles seemed endless. How could Mels find a safe escape route now? In utter desperation, he could only shout with all his might, "Rek, Sol, don't look back! Run, just keep running! That thing is chasing us from behind!"

Even without Mels saying it, Rek and Sol could tell from the constant tremors under their feet that the hateful magical beast was hot on their heels! Already inferior to Mels in skill, why would they look back? At this moment, they didn't even have the energy to respond, only replying to Mels' warning by running even faster.

As the distance between the Sand Worm and the three grew shorter, just as they were about to be swallowed by the creature's massive fleshy lips, the Sand Worm suddenly closed its lips and leaped into the air about twenty meters away from them. Like a "digger," it burrowed back underground, seemingly giving up the chase.

"Ha... ha... B-boss, did that thing run away?" Sol gasped for breath as the ground stopped shaking. He halted and asked.

"I... I... I don't know either! It just burrowed back underground in the blink of an eye! I think we should..." Mels, equally exhausted, tried to steady his ragged breathing before answering.

However, before he could finish, an even stronger tremor suddenly shook the ground! Just as the three prepared to run again, the ground beneath Sol suddenly bulged upward, throwing him and the dirt and weeds beneath him into the air.

"Sol!" Rek and Mels cried out in alarm simultaneously. But before their shouts faded, the giant Sand Worm had already appeared before them.

"Hiss..." The reopened fleshy lips were now only about three meters away from Mels! The foul odor and the Sand Worm's unique mucus sprayed like a fountain, drenching Mels and Rek.

"Boss, I'm okay! But I'm tangled up in these weeds!" Sol, perched atop the Sand Worm's head, struggled to free himself from the chaotic mess of weeds.

"Idiot! Use magic! Use magic!" Mels shouted a curse, then drew the sharp sword at his side. Turning to Rek, he said, "Heh, looks like we really don't need to run anymore!"

Understanding each other perfectly, Rek knew from Mels' tone and seeing Sol's predicament that neither he nor Mels had any reason to flee further. Without another word, he drew his single-edged blade, raised his left hand, and chanted loudly, "In my name, I summon my guardian Summoned Beast—'Soul Mage' Melisde!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the "Blue Summoning Stone" on his left hand released a burst of intense blue light. Within this glow, a creature about the size of a real person appeared before Rek. It was semi-transparent, like a misty fog, with indistinct features and limbs.

Just as Rek summoned his beast, Sol cried out again, "Boss, my hands are tied! I can't form seals to use magic!"

"What an idiot! Rek, have Melisde use Wind Blades to cut through the weeds around Sol! I'll distract the Sand Worm!" Though Mels cursed verbally, his hands didn't hesitate. Without waiting for Rek's agreement, he gripped his longsword in his right hand, dragged it behind him, lowered his stance, and kicked off the ground with both legs, leaping into the air toward the Sand Worm's fleshy lips!

Seeing Mels preparing to attack the Sand Worm head-on, Rek was shocked. Without another word, he just shouted, "Melisde! Go!" The telepathically connected Summoned Beast immediately shot three small Wind Blades from its hands toward Sol on the Sand Worm's head. Meanwhile, Rek gripped his steel blade tightly and sprang into the air, leaping toward Mels' side.

Mels, now completely airborne, aimed his attack at the topmost of the Sand Worm's five fleshy lips. Even though they were just fleshy lips, the spot Mels wanted to hit required him to jump nearly twenty meters high.

Mels concentrated all his strength into his wrist. The slender silver longsword, fueled by Qi energy, emitted a faint silver glow. Raising the sword overhead with both hands tightly gripping the hilt, Mels used no particular technique. He just let out a loud shout, "You dead monster, chasing this Young Master like a dog? Die!" Quick as lightning, the glowing sword traced a beautiful afterimage in the air, striking right into the seam between two of the Sand Worm's fleshy lips.

"Roar...!" Whether from pain caused by Mels' attack or anger that this tiny "breakfast" dared to fight back, the Sand Worm let out a furious roar. It then shook its head and tail, flinging the airborne Mels, who had nothing to push off from, to the side.

Seeing Mels attacked by the Sand Worm, Rek, who had intended to attack alongside him, immediately abandoned his plan. He swiftly moved, catching the falling Mels in mid-air!

"Boss, are you okay?" Rek asked anxiously, looking at Mels in his arms.

"I'm fine! But this bastard is fine too!" The tremendous recoil from the earlier strike made Mels realize that his attack couldn't even leave a scratch on this super-sized creature.

"We can't go on like this; we need to think of a way!" Mels said to Rek while rubbing his numb wrist. Suddenly, Sol, still trapped on the Sand Worm's head, let out another pitiful cry.

"Boss, I know you're brave and all! But could you wait until I'm down before showing off? Just now, your attack and Melisde's Wind Blades came at the same time. Not only did they not hurt this thing, but I almost got my head sliced by a Wind Blade!"

Hearing Sol's miserable cry, Mels and Rek were about to curse a few words, but "Mr. Sand Worm," eager to enjoy its "breakfast," had no time for their chatter.

Once the Sand Worm located Mels and Rek, it raised its giant head high, shook its entire body as if vomiting, and spewed a stream of yellow mucus from its mouth!

"Run!" Ignoring Sol for now, Mels and Rek hurriedly leaped to either side, avoiding the mucus whose threat was unknown.

"Hiss..." After a sizzling sound, the weeds where Mels and Rek had been standing were corroded by the mucus.

"Damn! This thing can secrete corrosive fluid too?" Looking at the mess on the ground, cold sweat broke out on both Mels and Rek's foreheads.

"Boss, this thing isn't something you can kill. Don't worry about me, just run! Remember to bring a few beauties to my memorial tablet every year so I can take a look!" Seeing the situation turning dire, Sol on the Sand Worm's head urgently told Mels and Rek to flee. Though his words were glib, Mels knew Sol genuinely hoped he and Rek could escape in time.

"Shut up! You're nothing but trouble! Stay put up there and watch how this Young Master kills this bastard, putting on a show of 'hero saves idiot'!" After all, they were still youths—full of hot blood and not without a touch of bravado. Even facing a magical beast they couldn't possibly defeat, as long as they were alive, they wouldn't abandon their brother and flee in panic!

"Boss, I think we should first figure out how to rescue Sol! Look, no matter from what angle Melisde fires Wind Blades, they're always blocked by the Sand Worm's fleshy lips. I want to try 'merging' with Melisde!" Rek pointed at the Summoned Beast, which was darting around to distract the Sand Worm, and said to Mels.

Summoned Beasts are very peculiar creatures. They draw power from their master's mind. When the synchronization rate reaches a certain level, they can faithfully execute their master's commands even without explicit orders.

However, "merging" is another stage of using a Summoned Beast. It can only be performed when the master's mind and the Summoned Beast's mind achieve over seventy percent synchronization. This involves transferring the master's consciousness into the Summoned Beast. But merging doesn't mean invincibility. If the synchronization rate drops below fifty percent, or if hit by interference spells from other support-type Summoned Beasts—like confusion, sleep, or mental disruption—that hinder synchronization, the merge between master and beast will be forcibly terminated, causing significant harm to both.

Although Rek was among the best of the younger generation in using Summoned Beasts, due to age limitations and the incomplete evolution of the "Soul Mage" Melisde, their synchronization rate had never exceeded seventy percent. This time, Rek's desire to force a merge was born of desperation, a last resort in a dire situation.

"When did your synchronization with Melisde reach seventy?" Mels asked in surprise.

Rek honestly shook his head slightly. Just as Mels was about to say something, Rek suddenly looked at Sol, swaying left and right in the air, and said, "Boss, I know what you want to say. You don't need to say it; I've made up my mind! The three of us came out together; I absolutely cannot tolerate one of us not returning! I believe if Melisde is truly my, 'Rek Snack's,' Summoned Beast, it will sense my resolve and successfully merge with me, unleashing the Soul Mage's strongest move—the Arrow of Destruction!" Rek declared with unwavering determination.

Looking at Rek's resolute face, Mels, who understood him deeply, knew he couldn't persuade him to abandon this dangerous idea. After a moment, Mels broke into a smile and said, "Heh, since you've decided, I won't oppose it! But remember what you just said! All three of us, not a single one less! Good, give me your blade. Let me test whether my foster father's sword technique is really as amazing as he claims!"

"Boss, you mean..." Rek was about to ask when Mels snatched the single-edged blade from him and said loudly, "Focus your mind on the merge. Leave things here to me!" Without waiting for Rek's reply, he charged back onto the path of battle with the Sand Worm.

Watching Mels sprint away, Rek nodded slightly and murmured, "Boss, I'm counting on you!" He then stopped paying attention to the fight between Mels and the Sand Worm, sat down cross-legged, recalled Melisde to his side, and began concentrating on the merge.

On the other side, although Mels said he'd handle everything, facing such a massive Sand Worm, he had no confidence at all about whether he could buy time. However, he had already made up his mind: even if it meant death, he would hold back this ferocious magical beast!

"Big dumb worm, the Young Master is here! Come and die already!" Mels stood to the left rear of the Sand Worm, slashed at its steel-like body with his blade, and shouted. "Roar!" The Sand Worm, having just shaken off the Summoned Beast, didn't expect this foolish, overconfident human to attack it again! In response to Mels, it spewed a thick stream of corrosive fluid.

Mels, who had been closely monitoring the Sand Worm's movements, was not about to let the monster's slime hit him so easily. With a nimble leap to the right, he dodged the corrosive fluid and then swung his blade at the Sand Worm's hard armor. Though he knew his attack would cause no real harm, his goal now was simply to distract the Sand Worm, preventing it from harassing Rek, who was concentrating on his first fusion attempt.

Thus, the massive Sand Worm and agile Mels engaged in a game of cat and mouse—one slashing and dodging, the other frantically hunting down its annoying "breakfast."

"Go, boss! Hit it! Hit it! Whoa!" Perched on the Sand Worm's head, Sol, despite being tossed around with every movement, kept cheering Mels on.

However, the Sand Worm wasn't as foolish as Mels had imagined. After nearly a minute of pursuit, it suddenly noticed another human sitting cross-legged ahead. No matter how much Mels tried to provoke it, the Sand Worm ignored him and began slowly crawling toward Rek.

"Damn it! It finally noticed! No choice now! Mentor, I hope this blade technique is as amazing as you claimed, or I won't be making it back alive today!" Mels muttered to himself before finally deciding to launch his final attack on the Sand Worm!