Sand exploded into the sky.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A colossal storm formed above the Sahara.
It wasn't merely wind—
but a wall of dust as tall as a mountain, swallowing the sun.
The entire desert trembled.
Cracks in the crater spread in every direction.
The pillars of the ancient city collapsed one after another.
Guardian statues shattered into golden fragments.
And from deep beneath the earth—
something rose.
An eye opened.
Golden.
Colossal.
Bright like a sun that had been buried for thousands of years.
Bimo took half a step backward.
"Okay…"
His hoarse voice was almost swallowed by the storm.
"…I officially regret coming here."
Dika, who was usually so relaxed, couldn't even force a smile.
"That isn't a monster."
He stared at the widening fissure.
"That's a disaster."
The ground split apart completely.
CRAAAAAAAAACK!
A colossal head emerged from beneath the earth.
Its body was long, like an ancient desert dragon.
Its scales were formed from ancient sandstone.
Golden symbols glowed along its body like rivers of light.
Every movement sent a pulse through the Sahara.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Kai stared at it, his face pale.
"Aurelion Siroth…"
Rani swallowed hard.
"What is that?"
Kai answered in a low voice.
"The true Guardian of the Heart of the Sahara."
Nearby—
the Desert Colossus lowered its massive body.
The guardian that had seemed so terrifying moments ago now looked like nothing more than a small sentry standing before its king.
Farhan stared at the readings on his laptop.
His hands trembled.
"Energy levels are up five hundred percent!"
Lila stared at the numbers climbing beyond the limits of the screen.
"He's not just a Guardian…"
Her voice tightened.
"…he's a living Core."
On the other side of the desert—
the Dominion reactor began to collapse.
Cables exploded.
Metal panels tore loose.
Drones fell from the sky.
The operator shouted in panic.
"We've lost capacity!"
For the first time, the Dominion Leader's smile disappeared.
"Pull the troops back! Now!"
But it was already too late.
Aurelion Siroth raised its colossal head.
Its mouth opened.
Golden light gathered deep within its throat.
WHOOMMMMMMMMM!
A massive beam swept across the desert.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The Dominion reactor vanished in an explosion.
Vehicles were tossed aside like toys.
Dominion soldiers were hurled through the air along with the raging sandstorm.
Bimo stared in awe.
"Okay…"
"…I like him."
But Kai wasn't smiling.
"It's not over."
Aurelion Siroth hadn't stopped.
Its energy was still rising.
The sandstorm spun even more violently.
The sky turned dark crimson.
The desert felt as though it were about to tear itself apart.
Farhan's face went pale.
"Energy levels are still climbing!"
Lila stared at the data.
"He's unstable!"
Kai clenched his jaw.
"A Guardian awakened after sleeping for too long…"
His eyes remained fixed on the creature.
"…may no longer be able to tell friend from foe."
Aurelion Siroth roared.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
The sound ripped through the air.
A shockwave slammed into everyone.
Bimo was thrown against a rock.
Dika was dragged dozens of meters across the sand.
Rani and Nisa tumbled across the ground.
Farhan's laptop was ripped from his hands.
Sinta drove her knife into the ground to keep herself from being swept away.
"EVERYONE, HOLD ON TO SOMETHING!"
In the middle of the storm—
Arga was still standing.
Or trying to.
His entire body trembled violently.
Blood had dried at the corner of his mouth.
His breathing came in ragged gasps.
The MBG Lunchbox in his hand was glowing wildly.
Twenty-five glowing rice grains spun far too quickly inside.
Kai shouted through the storm.
"ARGA! STOP!"
Arga shook his head.
If this Guardian lost control—
the entire Sahara would die.
He stepped forward.
One step.
His knee nearly buckled.
A second step.
His vision began to blur.
A third step—
THUD!
He dropped to one knee.
Bimo shouted,
"ARGA!"
But Arga forced himself back up.
He looked into the colossal golden eyes before him.
"I…"
He coughed up blood.
"…didn't come here to fight you."
The MBG Lunchbox opened.
Golden light spread through the storm.
The swirling sand transformed into tiny fragments of light.
"I came…"
He gripped the Lunchbox with what little strength remained in his body.
"…to protect this world with you."
Silence.
The storm began to slow.
Aurelion Siroth slowly lowered its head.
Its enormous golden eyes stared at Arga from only a few meters away.
Kai held his breath.
"He's listening…"
Bimo whispered,
"Don't attack… please don't attack…"
Seconds stretched into what felt like hours.
Then—
Aurelion Siroth released a low growl.
It wasn't anger.
It sounded more like an ancient mountain acknowledging something.
The storm stopped.
Sand drifted gently back to the ground.
The Sahara fell silent.
Lila nearly cried with relief.
"He's calm…"
But at that exact moment—
Farhan stared at his cracked laptop.
His face turned completely pale.
"N-no…"
Sinta turned sharply.
"What now?!"
Farhan pointed toward the sky.
"The second signal…"
His voice trembled.
"…has entered the atmosphere!"
Everyone looked up.
Above the fading dust storm—
the clouds split apart.
A colossal shadow descended from the sky.
Larger than the Abyss Devourer.
Darker than night.
Its wings covered half the sun.
Aurelion Siroth immediately raised its head.
For the first time—
the Desert Guardian looked wary.
Kai whispered, his voice trembling.
"No…"
"This isn't an ordinary hunter."
The shadow opened its eyes.
Two violet eyes burned across the Sahara sky.
Arga looked upward—
and finally, his body gave out.
THUD.
He collapsed unconscious into the sand.
And the creature from the sky—
began descending directly above the ancient city.