SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

The battlefield was silent, the once-mighty seven demon generals now scattered lifelessly across the sand like broken dolls. Their twisted forms bore the marks of the devastating demon intent unleashed by the old man, Grizzak.

Kent stood among the wreckage, his chest heaving as he struggled to steady his breath. His body was battered, his clothes torn, and blood seeped from numerous wounds. Yet, his sharp eyes remained fixed on Grizzak, who had collapsed onto the sand, gasping for air.

Grizzak's staff lay beside him, the glow of its power now extinguished. The old man's shoulders rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath, his face pale and sweat-drenched. For all his bravado, it was clear the spell had taken a heavy toll on him.

Kent, still wincing from the pain in his own body, began channeling his healing aura, a soft golden glow emanating from his hands. He approached Grizzak cautiously, kneeling beside him.

"Hold still, old man," Kent said, his voice laced with both exhaustion and command. "You're not dying on me after that performance."

Grizzak chuckled weakly, his laughter turning into a ragged cough. "Heh… a little boy's concern for an old beggar like me. How touching."

Kent ignored the remark, placing his glowing hands over Grizzak's chest. The golden light flowed into the old man's body, knitting torn muscles and stabilizing his frayed energy pathways.

"You've drained yourself completely," Kent muttered, reaching into his spirit ring and pulling out a series of small vials. He held them up, inspecting their contents before handing the most potent one to Grizzak. "Drink this. It'll help."

Grizzak took the vial with a trembling hand, downing its contents in one swift gulp. Almost immediately, some color returned to his face, though his breathing remained labored.

Kent leaned back, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That was… quite the show. You used demon intent, didn't you? Three drops, at least."

Grizzak's eyes glinted with a mischievous light as he sat up slightly, resting his back against a sand dune. "Hahaha… The way those fools fell like insects… that was worthy to remember. Did you see the way I handled them?"

"More like you obliterated them entirely," Kent replied, narrowing his eyes. "You're no ordinary old man. How does someone like you wield demon intent?"

Grizzak grinned, placing a hand over his heart. "Boy, don't forget—this 'old beggar' is also half-demon. I was once the chief of the largest tribe of dwarf demons this spirit world had ever seen. My power was unmatched, my name feared across the sands. But…" He trailed off, his smile fading. "Fate has a way of humbling even the mighty. Now, here I am. A beggar, a wanderer."

Kent stared at him, his mind racing. The revelation was both shocking and oddly fitting. "A chief of dwarf demons, reduced to this…" he murmured. "Why would someone like you risk your life to protect me? Noe, the demon race will also target you."

Grizzak's laughter returned, though weaker this time. "Protect you? Don't flatter yourself, boy. Those insects would have killed me after they finished you off. I had no choice but to act. Besides," he added with a sly grin, "I need you alive. You're my ticket to the Shrine of Eternal Sands, and the treasures it holds."

Kent raised an eyebrow, suspicion flickering in his gaze. "You're risking your life for treasure? That doesn't seem like the kind of thing an old man on his last legs should care about."

Grizzak sighed, his expression growing somber. He turned his gaze to the horizon, the golden dunes stretching endlessly before them. "What can an old man do with treasures, indeed? My life is almost over. My cultivation is disoriented, and my lifespan is running out. Even if I survive this journey, I know I won't see another decade."

"Then why?" Kent pressed. "Why put yourself through this madness? Is there something in the shrine that can extend your life?"

For a long moment, Grizzak said nothing. His hands tightened around his staff, and his weathered face seemed to age even further. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy with emotion.

"I'm doing this for my daughter."

Kent blinked, caught off guard. "Your daughter?"

Grizzak nodded, his gaze distant. "I don't know where she is now or how she's living. But a few years ago, I heard she had made it to the God of Music Realm. That's when I learned… she bears the mark of the demon race on her forehead." His voice broke slightly, but he continued.

"I don't want to reach her empty-handed, boy. I need to give her something—something that proves I'm not just the ragged idiot who abandoned his kin. These treasures… they're for her."

Kent was silent, the weight of Grizzak's words settling over him like a heavy responsibility. The old man, who he had suspected of being a con artist, now stood revealed as a father driven by guilt and love, willing to sacrifice everything for a daughter he hadn't seen in years.

"Is that why you want to do this?" Kent asked softly. "Because of her?"

Grizzak nodded. "Yes, My daughter… I neglected her. I saw her as a stain on our bloodline, a weakness. I couldn't protect her, so I left. Now, all I have left is this mission—to find her, to give her a life better than the one I had."

Kent took a deep breath, his suspicions of Grizzak evaporating completely. "I see now. Those treasures mean more to you than just riches. They're your way of redeeming yourself."

Grizzak gave a faint smile. "Redemption… maybe. Or maybe it's just a fool's dream."

The two sat in silence for a while, the desert wind picking up around them. Finally, Grizzak turned to Kent, his sharp eyes gleaming once more.

"Enough about me, boy. Now it's your turn. Why were those demons hunting you so fiercely? They spoke of the Demon Emperor's wrath. What did you do to earn it?" Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

Kent's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "I killed his son. The Demon Prince."

Grizzak's eyes widened in surprise and soon a loud laugh erupted from his chest. "You killed the Demon Prince? Ha! Not bad, boy. Not bad at all! That takes guts. Or stupidity."

"It wasn't a choice. He almost killed my pet, and I took my revenge. The Demon Emperor has been after my head ever since." Kent's tone was serious.

Grizzak shook his head, still chuckling. "Well, boy, I'll say this—you've got fire. And you've got power. I like that. You might just be crazy enough to survive this journey."

Kent smirked faintly, despite himself. "And you might just be crazy enough to make me trust you."

Grizzak grinned, slapping Kent on the back as he stood. "Then let's stop wasting time. The Shrine of Eternal Sands isn't going to find itself."

The two set off once more, their footsteps crunching against the yellow sands. For the first time, a sense of mutual respect had formed between them—a bond forged not by trust, but by understanding.

As the sun rose higher, casting long shadows across the dunes, both men carried the weight of their secrets, their pasts intertwining as they marched toward an uncertain future.