Parallel Memory

Chapter 521: To the deserts

Ring…ring. I was snapped back to reality. Seeing the name of the caller made me hesitate before picking up.

It was Eleanore. Just seeing her name gave me goosebumps, as it brought back terrible memories I desperately wanted to forget.

Our families were close, so we had each otherʼs contact details—but this was the first time she had ever called me.

I answered the call after a short pause.

”Hello, Sister Eleanore,” I said, trying to sound formal.

”Itʼs an emergency. You need to come to Command Outpost Omega fast or youʼll regret it,” Eleanore replied, then hung up immediately.

I wasnʼt so sure if I should go or not.

A part of me wanted to head home first, to check on my parents. With all the movement happening across the border, there was no doubt the guilds would be summoned into action soon. My family might be involved in the frontline. I needed to make sure they were safe.

But this was Eleanore.

And knowing her, this wasnʼt just some routine call. She never called, let alone with that tone—cold, clipped, and commanding. Not since the shower incident. A time I try not to think about at all,

”…Omega, huh,” I murmured.

There were three main command towers where the military guarded the border between the human and devil domains:

Alpha in the northern part of the border, Delta in the center, and Omega in the southernmost part, which was filled with rocky hills and desert terrain.

Delta, located in the center, was the one recently attacked and captured by the devils. It also served as the main base for border patrol. Because of the incident, all officials had to leave the party immediately.

The Omega Tower was the farthest from Etheron City, and it would take at least a month for adventurers to reach since there was no direct route or services.

A gust of wind brushed against my face as I stepped outside the city gates. The sky above was clear, stars blinking down like they were waiting to see what would happen next. Etheronʼs lights faded behind me, swallowed by the darkness of the wilderness.

I took a deep breath, channeled mana and activated Frost Wings.

Translucent, icy-blue wings burst out behind me. With a single flap, I launched into the air, the cold mana leaving a thin frost trail behind me as I soared into the night sky.

Flying with Frost Wing wasnʼt easy—it consumed mana rapidly and required precise control. After every few hours of flight, Iʼd switch to using the Mana Base Glide, a more stable but slower form of flight that reduced strain.

Even with both abilities, travel wasnʼt smooth.

It took four full days to reach the outskirts of the Omega sector, and during those days, I faced more resistance than I expected.

***********************************************************

Day 1 – Forest of Whispering Shadows

The first day, I flew above the Forest of Whispering Shadows, a dense woodland that stretched far beyond the mapped regions. I had hoped to avoid conflict by flying at high altitude, but I was already fatigued from the previous mission, and even with my mana reserve being high even among the Mages I had to be careful just in case.

By dusk, a sudden burst of mana surged from the forest and shadow leapt from the trees.

”Magic Beast – Shadow wolf. Rank S.”

It was fast, with a blur of motion and claws coated in dark energy that sliced through air like blades. I barely raised my sword in time, the clang of metal and dark energy sparking against my ice barrier. My mana trembled under the pressure.

”Looks like I canʼt just breeze through this,” I muttered.

The fight was brutal since I was tired after long hours of flight.

Even though it was only one beast, I had to use a shadow cryo bomb and combinations of ice shards and after twenty exhausting minutes, the beast fell with a low growl, its body freezing into the ice floor. The monster here seemed stronger than the other areas even when they were of the same rank something felt off which made them stand out.

***********************************************************

Day 2 – Jagged Pass

The second day took me across the Jagged Pass, a stretch of sharp, rising cliffs and stone peaks where the wind howled so loud it muffled all sound. It was nearly impossible to fly through without risking a crash, so I descended and made my way on foot for several hours.

Thatʼs when the next threat arrived—Razorwing Bats, known for their sonic attacks and flight speed. There were three of them, and theyʼd clearly caught my on my presence using their sonic radar

They didnʼt give me a chance to prepare.

One harpy swooped with a screech that split the air. I ducked, using Ice Embodiment to coat my body and shield against the force. Another came from the side, and I spun, summoning shado spikes of my shadow that pierced its wing. It screamed and spiraled to the ground.

With the third one rushing in, I activated Mana Step, dashing upward, launching myself off a cliff edge, and striking down mid-air with my sword wreathed in cryomancy art with freezing energy.

They were fast but I was faster.

By the time it was over, the pass was littered with feathers and frozen blood. The stench of the bats clinged on for a few hours until I passed by a stream and washed it off.

***********************************************************

Day 3 – Silent Plateau

On the third day, I traveled through the Silent Plateau, an eerie, empty plain where even mana flow felt unstable. It was said to be cursed—something about ancient spirits sealed beneath the ground. I didnʼt believe in ghost stories, but even I could feel the odd pressure in the air.

While gliding low to conserve energy, a tremor rumbled beneath my feet.

Then came the rumble.

A behemoth rose from the ground—massive and heavily armored, with glowing red eyes and a body made of stone and molten rock.

”Earth Titan – Rank S.”

Of course. Why wouldnʼt a dungeon-level beast appear out of nowhere?

I didnʼt have time to waste.

I lured it to a narrow ravine, using the terrain to my advantage. I weaved between rock walls, baiting it into following me. Once it was in position, I rained down a barrage of Dual art Shadow Ice Spears, cracking through its molten armor, exposing its core.

With one final burst of mana, I jumped and drove my sword through the core, unleashing Frost Nova at point-blank range: it was a new skill I learned while training with the ancient dragon Valor, I took the idea from the dark art cataclysmic destruction but this time using cryomancy. The resulting explosion left a crater—and me, lying on my back, panting, my mana nearly drained .

I barely managed to set up a ward and sleep for a few hours.

***********************************************************

Day 4 – Border of Omega Sector

By the fourth day, my flight had grown sluggish. My stamina was recovering slower than usual, and every time I cast a spell, it felt like squeezing water from a dry sponge. I was used to training in the ice room and with my art it was easy but the desert was my enemy.

The sun beat down mercilessly. Heatwaves shimmered across the sand dunes. I had to alternate between short bursts of flying and walking under a mana barrier to block the heat.

But I had finally crossed into the southern desert region—the Omega Sector.

By sunset, the outline of the Omega Outpost came into view.

A jagged fortress built into a series of cliffs, it stood like a lone sentinel against the horizon. Spires of black stone towered above, watchlights flickering like distant stars.

My body was sore. My mana was low. But I made it.

As I landed at the outer gate, soldiers immediately moved to open the barrier. They seemed to have been expecting me.

”Sheʼs waiting for you,” one of them said. ”Captain Eleanore said itʼs urgent.”

I nodded silently and stepped into the fortress, unaware of what waited for me inside.