"Thank you very much, Supreme Being!"
Candace, the guardian of Aaru Village, bowed deeply and with immense reverence towards the tall skeletal figure.
Her voice trembled slightly with emotion, and her heterochromatic eyes gleamed with unspeakable gratitude and awe.
The hem of her skirt, symbolizing guardianship and vows, swayed gently in the desert's hot wind, as if also saluting the being who had brought forth a miracle.
Just a short while ago, this land was merely a part of endless yellow sand and scorching rocks; drought and barrenness were its eternal themes.
But now, at the edge of the village, a vast and clear lake, like the most brilliant blue sapphire, was suddenly embedded in the golden sand sea!
The lake surface shimmered under the scorching sun, reflecting enchanting light.
By the lake, a vibrant oasis spread at a visible pace: lush green grass, towering palm trees, and even some strange fruit-laden plants whose names she didn't know... A rich scent of life wafted over, completely rewriting the deathly silence of this land.
All of this stemmed from the unimaginable power of the Skeletal Deity before her, who called himself the "Supreme Being."
He merely stood there calmly, not even uttering any incantations; he simply lifted a bony finger, and the earth changed, and laws were reshaped.
Momonga's smooth skull nodded slightly, and the crimson soul fire in his eyes flickered calmly.
He was actually a bit unaccustomed to such overly grand expressions of gratitude... It was this kind of situation again... Would saying 'you're welcome' compromise his dignity?
Would saying 'this is what you deserve' be too arrogant?
Hmm... just nodding is probably fine... Maintaining his aloof and mysterious image, he didn't say another word, his figure seamlessly merging into the shadows, silently disappearing from the spot, leaving behind only a faint, ethereal magical fluctuation belonging to another world.
Candace slowly straightened up, her gaze lingering on the spot where Momonga had vanished, her heart filled with shock and gratitude.
Then, she turned around, casting her gaze upon the new lake and oasis, and a brilliant, hopeful smile finally bloomed unreservedly on her beautiful and resolute face.
"This is wonderful... truly wonderful..."
She murmured to herself, her voice choked.
"With this water, these fertile lands... the villagers can finally cultivate fields and plant crops, no longer having to worry about children crying from thirst or elders fainting from hunger at home... Aaru Village... finally has a future..."
However, as a guardian, her thoughts did not linger solely on joy.
She knew the laws of the desert better than anyone—water sources and oases meant life, and also meant contention.
Such an obvious miracle would inevitably attract the covetous gaze of the greedy Graded Mercenaries, the crazy desperadoes, and even more dangerous existences from the depths of the desert.
But when she shifted her gaze to the edge of the oasis, the trace of worry that had just arisen in her heart instantly vanished, replaced by an incredibly solid sense of security.
There, a four-meter-tall Death Knight, like a moving black iron tower, stood majestically like the most loyal sentinel!
Its heavy armor gleamed with a cold luster under the scorching sun, its door-like greatsword was plunged into the sand beside it, and its hollow eye sockets scanned the distant sea of sand, exuding suffocating deathly pressure and warning.
And behind the Death Knight was a squad (twelve) of equally silent and disciplined Nazarick Skeleton Soldiers.
They wore uniform magic armor, wielded cold-glowing spears and shields, forming a ruthless, cold defensive array.
They needed no rest, no supplies, and would only obey orders absolutely, completely tearing apart any unauthorized approaching threats...
Candace's lips curved into a confident smile.
Come, if you dare... let's see whose desperado's blade is faster... or if these undead guards' blades... are sharper!
With this "gift" and "guardianship" left by the Supreme Being, Aaru Village would no longer be a struggling isolated island in the desert, but would become a true land of hope and safety... a paradise.