Chapter 330: The Oasis in the Desert
As Helena issued her warning, the black crystal atop the distant Magic Light Tower began to glow.
A black beam of light shot through the air, heading straight for the group.
Just as the beam flashed, a surge of white ice mist erupted from Li Meng's body, rolling forward in a wave.
A massive ice wall rose from the ground with a thunderous roar.
The moment the wall formed, the black beam struck it. The light refracted off the wall and blasted into the desert.
"This is... ice magic?"
The sight of the towering ice wall startled everyone.
Though ice and water elements share a common origin, they cannot coexist in a single mage due to their elemental spirits' competitive nature.
Everyone knew that Silver Mask was a water-element mage. Yet, here he was, using ice magic.
"Silver Mask, we need to conserve our magic until we reach the target location. Please, lend us your aid!" Helena asked him earnestly.
The Magic Light Tower was a significant challenge, even for divine-level adventurers. Though rare, encountering one was always perilous.
The tower continuously bombarded the ice wall with black beams, which refracted away, but cracks began to spiderweb across the ice.
Sitting atop his dodo bird, Li Meng gazed at the distant tower.
Water-blue magical energy surged from his body. Without a staff or chant, a colossal phantom of a centaur gradually materialized above the group.
The overwhelming magic caused the grand mages and sages to pale. They could even feel their own magical energy being drawn toward him.
At that moment, they realized why Helena hadn't even been able to join the fight during their earlier clash with Silver Mask. Such an immense power—it was hard to believe a human could possess it.
Li Meng extended his right hand, pointing toward the Magic Light Tower. The centaur phantom mirrored his motion, drawing back its bowstring.
An arrow of concentrated magical energy formed on the bow, glowing water-blue.
With a sharp whistle, the arrow streaked through the air, leaving a shockwave in its wake.
In an instant, it struck the tower.
"Boom!"
A burst of water-blue magic erupted, slicing the tower in half.
Its remains crumbled into the desert, creating a rolling cloud of dust and sand.
This was a smaller-scale version of the "Margarita Arrow," less powerful than the one Li Meng had used at the Garrison Fort but still devastating.
"Is Silver Mask some kind of hero chosen by a divine race?" Helena murmured, awed by the sheer power of his attack.
Though not as grand in scale as the Cumulus Thunderstorm, it was far deadlier against a single target. Even a divine-level being would struggle to withstand such an attack.
The mention of heroes caught the attention of the others.
Heroes were rare and revered figures, chosen by divine beings to lead their races to glory.
"I'm not a hero. Let's move on," Li Meng replied curtly.
He hadn't forgotten Helena's earlier warning—defeating a Magic Light Tower could attract others.
Though the odds of encountering another one were slim, any non-zero chance warranted caution.
Realizing the urgency, Helena straightened her posture. "Everyone, let's keep moving!"
The team sped across the desert on their mounts, covering tens of kilometers before finally stopping among a cluster of sand dunes.
"We'll rest here for the night," Helena declared.
Surrounded by dunes, the spot was well-hidden and safe from the towers, which couldn't attack what they couldn't see.
As for Wraith Knights, the team was more than capable of handling them.
---
"Silver Mask, we have a long way to go before reaching the teleportation circle. We need to eat well to keep up our strength."
The group sat cross-legged in the makeshift camp, eating dried meat.
Helena handed Li Meng a strip of jerky, but he declined.
"You eat. I can go months without food or drink and be fine."
"Months without eating or drinking?" Helena stared at him, baffled.
She couldn't hide her curiosity about Silver Mask's true nature. Aside from monsters or dragons, no race could survive that long without sustenance.
In this world, there were no spatial storage rings, so everything the team carried was stored in backpacks strapped to their dodo birds.
After eating their fill, the group retreated to their tents for rest.
---
Though Li Meng carried no provisions, Helena had prepared everything for him.
The next morning, the team resumed their journey.
Over the following days, they continued their trek through the desert. Their supplies dwindled visibly as they traveled.
Occasionally, they encountered scattered Wraith Knights, but these posed no real threat. When possible, they avoided conflict; otherwise, they dealt with the knights quickly.
After five days of travel, the group finally stopped atop a sand dune.
"We've arrived!"
Before them lay a lush, green forest—a desert oasis.
In the center of the greenery sparkled a shimmering lake.
"This oasis is the only supply point before the teleportation circle," Helena explained, turning to Li Meng.
"Though sunlight doesn't reach this area, the oasis is full of strange fruits. They look odd, but they're edible and filling. Some even taste like meat. These fruits are called Mirage Fruits."
"The name doesn't mean they cause hallucinations but refers to the fact that they vanish like labyrinth creatures if removed from the maze, turning to ash. The fruits come in bizarre shapes and colors, some containing mild toxins that make you feel euphoric without harm."
"Interestingly, the effects of the same fruit vary from person to person."