Alvaric sat inside the Ant Bee's nest. He had done everything he could. But the results didn't always turn out the way he hoped. It was almost noon, but there was still no mission completion notification.
[0D : 0H : 10M]
He only had a little time left. Alvaric just waited while tending to the Queen Ant Bee. He looked so calm. There was no sign of fear even though death would come to him shortly.
Niva stood in the corner, watching her master with a worried face. Her heart had been pounding for the past few hours. She didn't want her master to die, but killing the Giant Sandworm was not something she could do.
"Master…" Niva looked sad. She gave a bitter smile. "I don't know what I'll do once you're gone."
Niva felt lost. She wasn't like the Prince of Ant Bee who had ambitions to conquer something. Niva was different, she was born because of Alvaric. Her purpose in life was simply Alvaric, her master.
"Come here!" Alvaric said, motioning with his hand.
Niva nodded. She walked toward her master. She sat in front of Alvaric, head bowed in sadness. At that moment, Alvaric placed his hand on her head. It startled her.
Alvaric reached out and pulled Niva's head onto his lap.
"M-Master, this isn't proper—" She was surprised and tried to sit up quickly, but Alvaric stopped her.
"Be quiet! I want to tell a story," Alvaric said firmly.
Niva nodded. Alvaric looked at her with a smile. Then, he began to tell a story about how he was once an ordinary man who dreamed of becoming an awakened after seeing his childhood friend who was admired by so many. Alvaric was envious, and that made him determined.
He trained at home so that when the call came, he would be ready. He wanted to be like that childhood friend.
He wanted to change his life. Before coming to this place, he was just societal trash who locked himself in his room for five years. He lived alone, eating only instant noodles and drinking water. Life was miserable, with no stable income.
He was merely an unknown online novel writer. Each month, he earned just enough to pay rent and eat. He couldn't even afford proper clothes.
"…I arrived in this place wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals not because I was unprepared. It's because I didn't have many choices."
Niva nodded. She listened carefully. Not a single word from Alvaric slipped past her. These were her last memories with her master. She wanted to remember every bit of them.
"I'm just the child of a filthy woman who worked to please men, but my mother was amazing. She was the best. She always gave me everything she could. She put me in a good school, bought me everything I needed, but when…" Alvaric paused for a few seconds. Tears rolled down his cheeks. "When I was ten, she was murdered on her way home. Since then, I lived with my uncle, and my life fell apart. I was beaten every day, cursed, and eventually sold. I was lucky to escape back then. I believe it was thanks to my mother watching over me from heaven. She must have protected me."
Alvaric stroked Niva's head gently, as if she were his precious little sister.
"I've made it this far because of my mother. She must be the one protecting me. I'll do the same for you. So stay alive. I want to see you…"
Suddenly, his voice stopped. Niva covered her eyes with her arm. She stayed silent as tears continued to stream down her face. She held back her sobs.
"I will stay alive, Master. I will stay alive."
At that moment, Niva's cries broke out. She cried so loudly that it frightened the Ant Bees around. The aura radiating from her body was overwhelming and wild.
"I will stay alive."
Niva and the Ant Bees gathered in front of the nest entrance. They laid Alvaric's lifeless body on a large stone. Placing his body to rest there.
As Alvaric had requested, he wanted to be cremated when he died. Niva would fulfill that request. She had prepared everything.
"Thank you, my master. The time we spent together was short, but you will always be in our hearts."
Niva stepped forward to burn Alvaric's body. As she brought the fire and was about to light it, the ground suddenly shook. The sand trembled violently.
The Ant Bees quickly ran, retreating back into the nest. Niva wanted to do the same, but it was too late.
The Giant Sandworm had appeared before her. Towering high. Its entire body was almost covered with purple patches, the poison from the Vappers Dagger.
Niva's eyes were sharp, filled with hatred and vengeance. "What do you want? My master is already dead. Isn't that enough?" she cried.
The Giant Sandworm moved closer. Niva was ready to fight. She knew she wouldn't win, but she would protect her master's body no matter what.
"I can bring him back," said the Giant Sandworm.
Niva was shocked to hear those words. She looked at the giant monster with suspicion. Of course, she wouldn't believe the creature that caused her master's death.
"But with one condition."
"Stop lying. I've already lost my master, and now you mock me like this," Niva protested.
"I'm not lying."
The Giant Sandworm then did what it claimed. A light emerged from the Giant Sandworm's body. Particles of light moved toward Alvaric. Entering his body.
Niva, seeing this, tried to stop it. She thought it was something harmful.
"Stay still! I'm exchanging my life for that young man's," the Giant Sandworm scolded.
Moments later, the light particles multiplied and entered Alvaric's body like raindrops falling to the ground. It continued for 10 minutes.
Gradually, the light dimmed, and the Giant Sandworm's body turned pale. Its body became limp.
"When this process ends, that young man will come back to life. But afterward, you must head east. Please save the demon girl imprisoned in the underground dungeon there. I have great hope in you," said the Giant Sandworm.
Slowly, the Giant Sandworm's body transformed into light, all of which entered Alvaric's body. Niva, watching this, was dumbfounded. She couldn't believe what she saw.
"Is this real?" She looked at Alvaric's body. His pale skin suddenly regained color. Niva couldn't help but smile. "He really brought my master back to life."
Slowly, Alvaric opened his eyes. He sat up, but his face was full of confusion. He looked to his left. Niva was smiling widely, tears still falling.
"What happened?" Alvaric asked.