Chapter 162 - Xerxes, The God Of Sand

The Birdman was waling towards the five of them, and the way he was looking at them sent chills down Zephyr's spine. He was terrified of the strength that was shown, and the Aura exuded by the birdman was something he would never be able to counter.

"I will give you one chance. Leave or perish", he said as he stood with his arms folded across his chest. He took to the skies with one flap of his wings, was looking down on the five of them.

One of the five put his blade back and began to walk away. He sensed something that the others didn't, and he knew it was futile for him to warn them. 

"I'll just wait for them to realize that they are no match for that person in the sky. And seems like the legend is true. I must let the leader know of this", he muttered as he walked away.

The other four readied their weapons and took their stances to fight against the Birdman. He laughed out loud as he looked at the four fools that were beneath him. 

The four of them were mad that someone was laughing at them, and they were about to make their move. One of them teleported right next to the Birdman and was about to cut him when a shield made of sand stopped his attack.

"You dare attack Xerxes! The God Of Sand!", he bellowed as he held his neck with just two of his fingers. The man was choking for his breath, and his eyes were turning red. 

Xerxes looked at the other three and held his hand out. With it, he controlled the sand that was around them and locked them in balls made of sand. 

They tried to break it with all their might, but they couldn't. The more they tried, the more the sand strengthened. 

"It's futile to struggle. Now, Die!", came Xerxes's voice as he pierced their body with sand and killed them instantly. Zephyr and the others witnessed this as they were kneeling and hoped that they would not be next.

The man who withdrew from the fight stood there with his mouth wide open. He expected the person to be powerful, but not someone to be so powerful. 

It was then he realized that Xerxes was someone not to be messed with, and telling this to his leader would mean that the whole of the Shadow Bandits would die. He was smart enough to know what would endanger his group, and he kneeled quickly. 

"Mortal, let this be a lesson for you to not mess with us. Now, GO!', he said with his loud voice, and it was booming for the man to hear. He turned around and left the place quickly.

Xerxes came down and looked at the four of them still kneeling. He smiled with satisfaction and snapped his fingers. 

His armor which was covering his body went away, and he walked past them. "Rise, and follow behind me. I will take you to Her Majesty", he said as he motioned for them to follow behind.

Everyone got up, and Zephyr kept to the front so that the others would stay in line. He knew how important this mission was, and he would do anything to fulfill this for his little brother. 

"Everyone, I want you to remain silent, and I will do all the talking. Just stay silent, and follow my lead", he said. Everyone nodded their heads, especially Vanessa. She understood how much this meant for him, as she had been with him for the past six years.

Zephyr followed behind Xerxes, and the rest of them followed behind him. They were now going underneath the desert, and the stairs were disappearing as they moved forward. The four of them moved forward to keep up with Xerxes, afraid that they might fall.

He laughed heartily and was about to begin to talk with them when a door was in front of them. He opened and a blinding light was emitted.

Zephyr closed his eyes shut, and the next moment he opened, he felt his mouth open along as well. It wasn't just him, it was the same for the rest of them. 

Xerxes looked at their amused faces, and he was holding in his laughter. He was a playful person, and the persona that he showed outside was so that others would not come troubling them. 

He couldn't hold it in anymore and began to laugh. Zephyr and the others were looking at him skeptically, and he turned his head at them.

"Oh, I am sorry about that. It is just, no one has been able to come here for a very long time. I wonder, how were you four able to come here?", he asked. Zephyr looked at Xerxes, and the both of them had a staring contest until he blinked.

"Well, seems like you are quite the brave one, young man. You have spunk, and I am sure Her Majesty would like to welcome you", he said as he began shrinking his body. 

He was now the same size as Zephyr, and his wings were smaller and they were just used as something to move around freely. The world in front of him was something that he had only dreamt of before, but it was much better than what he had dreamt.

There were lush green trees, and buildings made of brick and clay. The way they were placed also indicated that the people loved nature, and thus tried their best to preserve it.

He was looking around and found everything fascinating, to the clean air, and the water that was sparkling. He began to wonder if it was something that should exist under the desert, which was a dry place.

He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that there was water under such a vast desert, and as far as he could see, he couldn't find any flaws with it. He was astonished like many others who had come before him, and he also found humans who were living alongside some Beastmen.

Xerxes took off to the skies, and he commanded the sand to carry the four of them alongside him. They were surfing through the air, and the people who saw him were waving their hands in the air. 

Zephyr found everything unreal, and they reached a palace that was made of sand. It was shimmering in the light that was around, and the sand was glittery. Zephyr assumed that this was the palace, and he was right.

Xerxes now landed the four of them down, and he was looking around before he made his way to the palace. Zephyr took note of this, as he thought something was suspicious. 

"Your Majesty, I have brought them as you have requested. It seems like you were right about them", he said as he knelt. Zephyr followed behind and everyone did the same.

Zephyr was confused about what he was talking about at first, then he remembered who he was facing. He remembered what kind of terrifying person she was, and the rumors about her ruthlessness.

But what he saw was nothing like that. The woman who was on the throne was laughing as she was looking at the GlassPad and she resumed her stoic nature quickly and looked at the four of them.

"Zephyr Heart, Maxine Heart, Vanessa Phoenix, and Jasper Quill. Seems like I got the names correct", she said as she saw the look of astonishment on their faces. She places her hand over her mouth and chuckled slightly.

Xerxes was looking at her, amused at her behavior. She stepped down from the throne, and she looked at them. 

She moved quickly and stood face to face with Zephyr. Their faces were inches away, and he could feel her breath on his face. 

"Seems like you have come here seeking something for someone precious to you, but I can guarantee you that we would not be able to help, for the person's Mana has been awakened. And even if we did, we would be unable to, as the rank of the Mana, is Mystic", she said as she turned around.

"But, I can show you what he has awakened", she said as she snapped her fingers. A crystal ball appeared out of nowhere in her hands, and she began to chant a magic spell. 

Zephyr held his breath as he was not sure what to think of the information he had received. He didn't understand how he could have awakened without anyone's help.

An image was shown on the ball, and she lifted her hands into the air. The image that was playing was visible to everyone now, and they were looking at Lucas fighting off hordes of enemies off on his own.

Zephyr and Maxine instantly recognized the Mana he was using. And his Aura was something they took note of, and Maxine turned to Zephyr with tears on her eyes.

"He has awakened. Finally, no one would look down on him", she said choking on her voice.. Zephyr was much more emotional than her, and he was holding back his happiness as well.