And then…

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung!

The ground began to shake violently from side to side.

Priasis, who had lost her footing, was caught by Jenna.

“Be careful.”

“…Thank you.”

“Oppa, what should we do?”

The ground continued to shake in a regular rhythm.

“What can we do?”

I brought my hand to my ear.

Click.

I ended the communication.

“We need to leave this city.”

Ku-gung!

A part of the building in the square collapsed.

“Neryssa, where’s the nearest way out?”

“To the southwest. I’ll guide you.”

“Run!”

Neryssa sprinted ahead.

I ran while placing my hand on the scabbard, ready to draw at any moment. Members of the 1st party followed me.

“Kid!”

“I’m running too!”

Klick. Kli-ri-ri-ri-ck.

Mechanical sounds echoed under our feet.

‘What’s that sound?’

I had no time to think.

I sprinted down the street. Other parties followed closely behind.

I turned at an intersection.

The vibrations continued. Debris from the sand-covered buildings scattered in all directions.

Crash!

A crumbling pillar collapsed in front of me.

The entire city was crumbling.

“I’m not your nanny!”

Each time it shook, buildings toppled like dominoes.

“Behind, behind! Look at that!”

Eolka screamed in a voice almost like a shriek.

“It’s really happening.”

Velkist chuckled.

The height was about 20 meters, and the end was nowhere in sight.

A colossal wave of sand was engulfing everything.

“Don’t bark, we don’t want to hear it.”

Sizzle.

“The 1st party will take the lead. Follow me.”

The sandstorm, as if it would obscure the sky, drew closer.

Shadows fell on the street.

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung!

The ground shook violently.

Debris from the buildings covered the area on both sides.

I ran forward.

The collapsed roof of a building hit the spot where I had been standing.

“Ugh!”

Priasis stumbled, missing a step.

“Jenna, take care of the kid. Don’t leave her even if you die.”

“Got it!”

“The rest, keep running!”

“It’s 5 minutes to the exit.”

Neryssa lightly jumped over the debris blocking the path ahead.

Then I kicked off the wall and leaped over it. Jenna supported Priasis and followed. Velkist lifted Eolka, who was frantically running ahead.

[‘Jedy (★★★)’ has returned to the goddess’s embrace! Her determination will forever be remembered.]

‘Is she dead already?’

I turned left at the intersection.

To the right again. The vibrations were becoming increasingly intense.

Looking back, some of the heroes with poor balance were stumbling. Beyond them, a lifeless body clung to the ground like gum. It seemed to be the deceased woman, maybe Jedy.

Click.

“Those with spare energy, support those who are struggling. It’ll be troublesome if anyone dies here.”

“Only one minute.”

I ended the communication.

I continued forward, leaping over obstacles and pushing through them.

The door leading outside was getting closer.

‘It’s fortunate there are no monsters.’

In that case, the difficulty must have doubled.

Ignoring the vibrations, I moved. My sense of balance had already transcended human limits. Strong tremors couldn’t knock me over. I passed by collapsing pillars on both sides.

I stepped onto the desert outside the city.

“Don’t stop even if you’re outside of the city. Keep moving.”

I glanced back briefly.

Members of the raid were steadily exiting the city. The massive sand wave grazed the edge of their group. In an instant, the entire city was engulfed in sand.

“Until I say stop. But you can slow down.”

I slowed my pace.

My clothes billowed, and sand poured off my body.

“Is this because of me?”

Priasis spoke in a stiff voice.

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll tire each other out if we start analyzing everything.”

I took out a water pouch and took a sip.

No one was injured. The other members of the 1st party were fine. Priasis was unharmed too. Somehow, we had escaped the city. The vibrations grew distant.

After getting some distance from the city, I stopped.

I immediately sent a stop signal through the communication. The movement of the entire raid came to a halt.

Some heroes slumped down, perhaps exhausted.

“Well, we made it. It was a bit risky though.”

Jenna wiped the sweat from her forehead.

I looked at the city. Its shape was unrecognizable. It had become a mixture of sand and debris. However, the vibrations were still ongoing.

“Oppa, why are you looking at it like that?”

“What does it look like to you?”

I pointed at the city.

The whole city was quaking.

“Uh, so… an earthquake?”

“Is there even an earthquake like this?”

I swallowed a bitter laugh.

‘You really got me.’

I looked around.

Some of them had relieved expressions as if their mission had been accomplished. I put my hand on my ear and opened a channel.

“All units, get ready.”

“That’s funny. This is just the beginning.”

Small waves appeared across the entire desert.

Every grain of sand beneath our feet trembled.

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]

“Grab your weapons. Be prepared.”

“What on earth…”

The ground beneath us shook heavily.

[Now Loading…….]

[Constructing the field.]

Whoosh!

A wall of flames rose on the outskirts of the desert.

The flames formed a wide circle, enclosing us.

And then…

Thud!

I immediately looked at the city.

Large and small buildings were bouncing like toys. From tens to hundreds of meters.

Then, sand rose like a mountain.

10 meters.

50 meters.

100 meters…

I stopped measuring at 300 meters.

One thing was certain.

‘A gigantic monster.’

Not just a few meters or tens of meters.

I tried to estimate its size again.

It was huge. Incredibly huge. Although the creature and I were nearly 100 meters apart, I could barely see its end without bending my neck.

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung!

An object presumed to be one of its legs moved.

The estimated radius of one leg was over tens of meters. It was the size of a large building. A red light flashed from the creature’s head.

[Ancient Stone Statue Lv.???]

I chuckled and said, “Do you usually dream of such things?”

“Oh, no, I’ve never seen anything like this in my dreams…”

[Mission type has changed.]

[Mission Type – Subjugation]

[Objective – Exterminate the enemy!]

[Special Objective – Survival of NPC ‘Priasis Al Raguna’]