Chapter 1: Backed by the Sahara, and you're telling me a system has arrived?
PS: (A disclaimer in advance: this is a pure harem-style wish-fulfillment novel, so leave your brain at the door.)
Beneath the azure sky lay a golden, beautiful sandy expanse. The sand was remarkably flat, and only when a chaotic gust of wind swept across it would it etch out sand ripples, circle after circle, like the preliminary strokes of a painter before a masterpiece... Looking towards the sun, one could see the steep, elongated sand valleys displaying the crimson hue of a scorpion, their magnificent colors adding a touch of mystery to this desert.
The side hidden behind the light, however, was more like a void. The sand ridge served as a perfect dividing line, separating the red dunes from the black valleys into two distinct worlds.
"Rumble rumble rumble rumble~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed from the distant horizon. A young man, with eyes closed and legs crossed, sat deep within the black desert. A large black sandstorm swirled around him, yet he felt no fear.
"Buzz!"
After an unknown period, a deep yellow glow continuously flickered around the young man. Almost simultaneously, he slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with surprise.
"It's finally done!"
"After eighteen years of hardship, I've finally advanced to a High-Level Mage!"
His voice was filled with excitement and joy.
The young man's name was Lu Sha, a transmigrator from Blue Star.
In his previous life, he was an orphan, and even after arriving in the world of full magic, he was still an orphan.
Unlike others, Lu Sha's beginning was rather peculiar. He was swept into the deepest part of the Sahara by an inexplicable sandstorm. Fortunately, at a critical moment, he awakened his golden finger.
This golden finger allowed him to control the desert and cultivate by relying on it, transforming the power of the desert into the purest energy.
Moreover, this ability also allowed him to alter the flow of underground water veins while controlling the desert, forming quicksand that could swallow lives and bury enemies alive.
And so, Lu Sha inexplicably lived in the deepest part of the Sahara for eight years. Due to this special ability, he was recognized by the Sahara Emperor and received its protection.
The first time he saw the Sahara Emperor, it nearly scared him to death.
Anyone who has read 'Full-Time Mage' knows how powerful the Sahara Emperor is! Even if the original text didn't describe this Emperor much, and it never showed its face from beginning to end, this doesn't diminish its power!
If one were to make a ranking, then the Sahara Desert would definitely be among the top three in the world!
The Sahara Desert's ranking is two levels higher than the Amazon Demonic Kingdom, a forbidden zone. Any Emperor casually pulled from within it would be an existence capable of overturning the world!
Not to mention the Sahara Emperor, one of the three great rooftop Emperors of the world!
It can be said that Lu Sha surviving this long in the Sahara definitely broke human history records. If this matter were to get out, jaws would surely drop.
"Little fellow, you've grown stronger again."
Behind Lu Sha, within a half-black, half-red cluster of dunes, a bottomless demonic shadow emerged. The demonic shadow trod upon the red sandstorm, its eyes particularly bright amidst the sand's roar.
Anyone, whether human or demon, who dared to approach this sandstorm would be mercilessly devoured. Even Monarch-level creatures dared not approach easily!
It was the ruler of the Sahara Desert—the Sahara Emperor!
"I just broke through to High-level."
Lu Sha turned around and met those eerie eyes. The aura inadvertently emitted by the Sahara Emperor could cause ordinary Monarch-level beings to faint on the spot.
Good thing Lu Sha could control the desert to act as a shield, otherwise, let alone standing there, he probably would have had two-meter-high grave grass the moment the Sahara Emperor appeared.
Of course, this was also because the Sahara Emperor had not shown any killing intent towards Lu Sha. Otherwise, even with his extraordinary abilities, he would find it difficult to survive.
Let alone a High-Level Mage, even a Forbidden Mage would be no more than a single slap in front of this being.
"Now that you've broken through to a High-Level Mage, what new changes have occurred in your Calamity Talent?"
A soul-stirring voice echoed again amidst the sand's roar, penetrating the rolling yellow sand and reaching deep into Lu Sha's soul.
It had lived for thousands of years and seen countless humans, but it was the first time it had encountered someone like Lu Sha.
Lu Sha's Calamity Talent was very peculiar; he could control the rolling desert on the ground and also spontaneously generate a domain.
Hence, it decided to cultivate this peculiar human.
Of course, Lu Sha's smooth promotion to High-Level Mage was also due to the Sahara Emperor's nurturing. Without it, Lu Sha would have been stuck at the Mid-level for a long time before breaking through.
"Naturalization."
Lu Sha replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
At the same time, his body was visibly changing at a rapid pace, quickly transforming into a small sandstorm. His originally clear human outline gradually blurred, as if merging with the surrounding sand particles.
He formed a natural phenomenon with vitality.
After a moment, he reverted to human form.
"It's just that this ability of mine cannot be maintained for too long. Once the magic power in my Earth Element Star River is depleted, I will revert to human form. It can last for about five minutes."
"Hahaha, interesting! Truly interesting!!" The Sahara Emperor let out a majestic and wild laugh that pierced through the rolling yellow sand, echoing across the vast and boundless desert.
"As expected of my most favored disciple!"
Eight years ago, after witnessing Lu Sha's peculiar ability, it immediately made him choose to become its disciple. Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived this long. Don't forget, this is a human forbidden zone!
Any Commander-level demon could have killed him.
"Hehe, old man, you're joking. Compared to you, I'm not even a hair." Lu Sha chuckled awkwardly, self-aware of his own strength.
Over the past few years, he had gotten along quite well with this peculiar "master." Because of the Sahara's ruler's protection, the surrounding demons dared not approach him rashly.
Of course, the most important point was that it was awesome! Resources and such were just a matter of a word; he didn't have to painstakingly acquire them at all.
The more dangerous the forbidden zone, the more countless rare treasures and resources it contained. At this rate, Lu Sha was confident he could break through to the Super-level within a few years!
However, just as Lu Sha was about to speak, his body seemed to be struck by a petrification spell.
A mechanical voice appeared in his mind:
[Congratulations, Host! The Strongest Mage System has successfully bound.]
[Newbie Gift Pack has been issued. Please check it!]
System?
Lu Sha looked bewildered. I've been stuck in the Sahara for so long, finally made it out, and now the system arrives?
What the heck? Do you think I need your crappy system when I'm backed by the Sahara?
PS: (Some might find the protagonist's Calamity Talent familiar. I derived it from the Sand-Sand Fruit in One Piece. Just wanted to let my friends know.)