Walking across the desert dunes, Thoren watched the endless mirages in the distance with a calm expression.

With his plan almost completed, he was at peace.

He watched the desert wind lift waves of sand into the air, allowing them to drift across the crimson landscape like flowing rivers.

In the distance, he saw the Bleeding Desert shifting as something fed upon fallen bodies.

Half-buried corpses slowly disappeared beneath the moving sand.

To any ordinary awakener, such a scene would have been terrifying.

But now, It did not cause the slightest ripple in his heart.

After watching the scene for a moment, he shook his head and continued his journey.

’Why hasn’t Solenne sent a message?’

He frowned inwardly.

According to the plan, with the aid of the Horn Lizard Soldiers, they would pressure the Scorpion Clan into submission.

With their army gone, he did not think the Scorpion Clan could continue acting as high and mighty as they usually did.

Against their archenemies and the Crimson Arc Guild they would have no choice but surrender.

And if they refused to surrender, they could launch an attack on them while sending him a message.

As long as he received the message, he could also launch another attack from behind.

Against such a pincer attack, the Scorpion Clan would have no choice but to flee or surrender to them.

That was the plan.

But now he had been waiting for Solenne’s message.

Yet nothing had come.

Thus, he had no choice but to personally visit Horn Lizard Town to find out what was going on.

Climbing a small dune, the scene before him opened up. A flat, endless desert plain stretched as far as the eye could see.

The crimson sand shimmered beneath the light of the three moons, while waves of hot air continuously distorted the distant horizon.

Thoren merely observed the scenery for a brief moment before continuing forward.

He could have summoned his mount and raced toward Horn Lizard Town.

But he decided against it.

Since arriving in the Bleeding Desert, he had never truly experienced traveling through the desert.

Now, before ascending to the third floor, he wanted to experience it at least once. There was no urgency in his steps.

He simply walked quietly through the vast desert, occasionally watching desert beasts emerge from beneath the sand before disappearing again.

Halfway across the flat desert, his perception detected numerous humans running in every direction.

Some were alone.

Others traveled in groups.

Many looked terrified.

’What is going on?’

He frowned in puzzlement.

Their movements were chaotic, as though they were desperately fleeing from something.

Still, his steps did not falter as he continued walking forward. His powerful perception continued expanding, carefully observing every movement occurring several kilometers away.

The more he observed, the deeper the crease between his brows became.

Ten minutes later, he encountered the first group. They consisted of three people.

Two men and one woman.

Their faces were riddled with panic and fear.

When they saw Thoren, they halted their steps and stared at him warily.

Anyone who could journey through the Crimson Dunes alone was by no means an ordinary person.

Just as the three people prepared to walk in another direction, they noticed the silver-haired young man walking toward them.

"Stay away!" one of them shouted as he unsheathed his sword.

Thoren creased his brow and halted his steps.

Not because he was scared. But because he wondered why the three were so frightened.

The strongest among them was merely a Level 33 Swordsman.

To him, He was simply too weak.

Even though the three were weak, they were the first humans he had encountered since beginning his journey toward Horn Lizard Town.

"I mean no harm."

"I just want to ask for some information," Thoren said calmly.

The three did not respond immediately.

They continued staring at him warily, while their eyes repeatedly shifted left and right as if searching for an escape route.

"If I meant you harm..."

"You would already be dead."

He spoke as though he were merely stating an obvious fact.

"Just tell me some information, and I’ll be on my way."

Staring at him, the three looked at each other, their hearts racing.

They tried to determine Thoren’s level.

But they couldn’t. Everything about him appeared completely ordinary. Yet only a fool would mistake him for an ordinary human. So, this could only mean one thing.

His level was simply too high for them to perceive.

"Hmm... Hmm..."

The swordsman cleared his throat before speaking.

"The Horn Lizard Soldiers betrayed the Crimson Arc Guild and attacked them."

"Half of the guild members were killed, and it was only with the help of the Twins’ Party that they managed to escape."

"Right now, both the Horn Lizard Soldiers and the Scorpion Clan guards are hunting them down."

"To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, everyone is fleeing."

"This is all we know."

"Can we go now?"

Thoren did not respond immediately.

His calm expression remained unchanged. Only the faint narrowing of his eyes revealed that he was carefully processing every word.

After a brief silence, he nodded. Seeing this, the three humans did not hesitate.

They immediately fled at their greatest speed, disappearing deeper into the desert without daring to look back.

As for Thoren, a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

"So that’s why..." He whispered softly.

His thoughts quickly connected every missing piece. Everything finally made sense.

"Now..."

"I wonder what gave the Horn Lizard King the courage to betray us." A smile that wasn’t a smile appeared on his face.

It carried neither amusement nor anger, only coldness.

An invisible chill seemed to spread from his body as the surrounding desert breeze suddenly grew eerily quiet.

His silver hair fluttered gently in the wind while his deep blue eyes stared toward the distant Horn Lizard Town.

The Horn Lizard King had made his choice.

Now, it was his turn to respond.

Without another word, he resumed his journey toward Horn Lizard Town.