I Enslaved The Goddess Who Summoned Me

Chapter 353: Desert

Nathan barely had time to process the explosion that had engulfed him before he felt himself being transported. This was no ordinary place—he knew it instinctively. The air, the atmosphere, the very sensation in his bones told him he had been pulled somewhere far removed from the battlefield where he last stood.

For what felt like an eternity, he drifted through an unseen void, weightless and disoriented. Then, abruptly, he landed with a harsh thud.

The ground beneath him was not solid stone nor cool earth, but something coarse and scorching. Sand. Burning sand. The heat seared through his clothing, and as he instinctively turned onto his back, his vision was assaulted by an unforgiving, blinding light. A relentless sun blazed above, its golden fury scorching everything beneath it.

Nathan groaned, lifting a hand to shield his eyes as he struggled to sit up. Sweat already beaded on his forehead, the sweltering air making it difficult to breathe.

”Where... am I?” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

As his vision adjusted, he took in the vast expanse around him. An endless desert stretched in every direction, dunes rolling like frozen waves beneath the oppressive heat. There was nothing but sand, sky, and a distant shimmer on the horizon where the air itself seemed to ripple from the heat.

One thing was certain—he was nowhere near Ameriah or Auria anymore. He had no doubt that he was still on the same world, but the portal had clearly malfunctioned, flinging him to some unknown region. Had it been an accident? Or had someone tampered with the teleportation magic?

Pushing himself to his feet, Nathan winced as the scorching sand threatened to burn through his boots. He took a slow, steadying breath before choosing a direction at random. Staying put would accomplish nothing—he needed to find civilization, people, anything that could tell him where he had landed.

However, something felt off.

Khione.

He couldnʼt sense her.

His bond with the goddess, one that should have been unbreakable, was eerily silent. No whisper of her presence, no distant connection lingering in the back of his mind. It was as if their link had been severed entirely.

Why?

Nathan frowned, a sense of unease settling in his chest. Was it the location itself disrupting their connection? Or was something far more sinister at play?

Brushing aside his growing concern, he pressed on, his feet sinking slightly into the sand with each step. The landscape was monotonous, unchanging, and oppressive. The sun was merciless, draining his strength faster than expected. He was beginning to wonder how long he could last in this heat when, finally, he saw movement in the distance.

A group of people.

Relief flooded through him, but he hesitated as he took a closer look. Something about the sight made him stop his steps..

The men before him were shirtless, their skin deeply tanned from exposure to the sun. They wore only simple white cloths wrapped around their lower bodies, and they moved with slow, agonized steps. Eight of them struggled beneath the weight of an enormous chariot, their backs bowed as they carried it through the desert. Their bodies glistened with sweat, muscles straining with each labored movement.

Accompanying them were several soldiers clad in shimmering golden armor, intricate patterns and embellishments marking them as something beyond mere foot soldiers. Their posture was rigid, their presence exuding an air of superiority as they marched alongside the struggling men.

Nathanʼs gaze flickered to the grand chariot being carried upon their shoulders. It was opulent, its frame adorned with gold and precious stones that caught the sunlight. Whoever was inside was no ordinary traveler—this was the transport of someone with wealth, power, and unquestioned authority.

A noble? A ruler?

The sight before him was unmistakable—this was slavery. And from the way the soldiers carried themselves, it was not an uncommon practice here.

This world continued to surprise him, but this? This was something he had not yet seen.

Nathan, however, found himself utterly indifferent to the scene before him. The harsh realities of this world were not his concern—not right now. His sole priority was gathering information. These people, regardless of their status, were potential sources of knowledge. And so, without hesitation, he strode toward them.

As he drew closer, the group finally took notice of him. The soldiers, ever-vigilant, reacted instantly. In a synchronized motion, they formed a defensive line between him and the chariot, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords.

”Who are you?!” one of them barked, his voice edged with suspicion.

Behind them, the burdened men seized the unexpected distraction as an opportunity to collapse onto their knees, gasping for breath. Their exhaustion was evident, their bodies trembling from strain, but their gazes remained fixed on Nathan, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Unlike them, Nathanʼs presence was an anomaly. His skin was pale, untouched by the relentless sun that had darkened theirs. His posture was unbothered, his demeanor unshaken by the heat. The fine fabric of his black clothing, unmarred by the elements, only reinforced the impression that he was of noble blood. The soldiers, though wary, exercised caution—he could be someone of importance, and they dared not act recklessly.

”What is happening out there?!”

A sharp, irritated voice rang out from within the grand chariot. Moments later, the curtains were thrown aside, revealing the man within.

His tanned skin and elaborate garments, adorned with shimmering gold and fine embroidery, immediately set him apart from the soldiers. Bracelets of silver and necklaces of polished gems dangled from his wrists and neck, and his expression—one of initial irritation—shifted to scrutiny the moment his eyes landed on Nathan.

His frown deepened. A stranger. An obvious outsider.

Then, as if struck by inspiration, his lips curled into a smirk.

”Capture him,” he ordered without hesitation, his voice laced with amusement. ”He looks... valuable.”

Nathanʼs features were unlike anything the noble had ever seen. Even among high-born lords, none bore such striking looks. And if his attire was any indication, he was no mere commoner. A rare find indeed. If he managed to seize him, the profit he could gain from selling him off would be astronomical.

At his command, the soldiers exchanged knowing glances. Grins tugged at their lips as they stepped forward, their predatory eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Nathan remained unfazed. Instead, he met their approach with a cold, piercing gaze.

”Tell me where I am,” he demanded, his voice devoid of warmth. ”Do so, and I will let you live.”

He had no desire to waste time. Until he determined his exact location and reunited with Ameriah and Auria, unnecessary conflict was best avoided.

Yet, his words were met with nothing but amusement. The noble chuckled under his breath, and his men openly sneered. There was no intention of answering him, no inclination to entertain his demand.

They advanced with smug confidence, certain of their dominance.

Nathan exhaled, his patience dissipating like sand in the wind.

”I warned you.”

In an instant, he vanished.

Before they could react, a sudden, biting cold filled the air. A violent frost spread in a flash, enveloping the armored soldiers where they stood. The laughter, the mockery, the arrogance—all of it ceased in a heartbeat.

Nathan reappeared at the very center of their formation, unscathed, untouched.

The soldiers remained motionless. Their bodies, their weapons, their very breaths—everything was frozen solid.

The nobleʼs smirk crumbled, his expression twisting into sheer horror as he realized the terrifying truth.

He had gravely underestimated his prey.

Nathanʼs voice was cold as he took a deliberate step forward. ”I am going to ask you one last time now.”

The noble recoiled instinctively, his body trembling with fear. Beads of sweat dripped down his tanned face as he realized the futility of resistance. His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto his knees, hands raised in desperate supplication.

”P-Please!” he stammered, his voice quivering with terror. ”Spare me!”

Nathan merely stared down at him, his expression devoid of emotion. ”In which country am I?”

For a moment, the noble was utterly dumbfounded. Was this man seriously asking such a question? He didnʼt even know where he was?

Nathanʼs gaze darkened. Sensing the growing impatience in those piercing eyes, the noble hastily sputtered out an answer.

”T..The Sun Empire! The Empire of Amun Ra!”

Silence followed. Nathan did not react immediately, his cold gaze betraying nothing of the storm that raged within.

The Empire of Amun Ra?

”How the hell is that possible?” he muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing deeply.

He had been transported this far?

More importantly, why had that man sent him here? Why had Ameriah and Auria been taken to this specific empire? The sheer improbability of it left Nathan with more questions than answers. Nothing about this situation made sense.

”P…Please leave! I beg you—!” The nobleʼs plea was cut short by a sharp gasp.

A crystalline blade of ice had pierced his chest, its glacial surface glinting under the relentless sun. The nobleʼs mouth hung open, a gurgled breath escaping as his body trembled violently. Then, with a final shudder, he collapsed, lifeless.

Nathan withdrew his sword without hesitation, allowing the corpse to crumple into the sand. He did not spare it another glance. The man had been scum—his existence meant nothing to him.

A collective gasp erupted from the gathered slaves. Their eyes widened in horror, their bodies shaking as they instinctively stepped back. The raw fear in their expressions was palpable, but Nathan remained unmoved.

”Leave.” His voice carried a chilling finality.

For a brief moment, the slaves exchanged uncertain glances before turning on their heels and bolting into the vast desert, their feet kicking up the golden sand as they fled.

Nathan then turned his attention to the frozen soldiers, his gaze devoid of mercy. With a flick of his wrist, the ice encasing their bodies shattered, releasing them from their frozen prison.

The soldiers collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, their faces ashen with terror.

”The nearest city,” Nathan demanded, his voice cutting through their trembling silence. ”Where is it?”

One of the soldiers, barely able to form words, stammered, ”A...Alexandria! The capital!”

Nathan was silent.

Alexandria. The heart of the Amun Ra Empire.

His expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, his mind was racing. This was bad. This was worse than bad.

He was deep within enemy territory.

The Amun Ra Empire was openly hostile toward Tenebria, and by now, his face was far too recognizable. If he were caught, he would not be given the luxury of negotiation.

Without hesitation, Nathanʼs appearance began to shift. His signature white hair darkened into a deep, raven black, and his piercing eyes turned a striking shade of blue. Within moments, his features had altered entirely, now resembling that of Heiron.

He turned toward the now-abandoned chariot, his new identity seamlessly in place. Without a word, he climbed inside, settling into the cushioned interior.

His cold gaze drifted to the soldiers, who still knelt in the sand, barely able to meet his eyes.

”Take me there.”