The Honorable Wanderer: Mushoku Tensei

The Begaritt Continent, a land rife with danger and mystery, was a place where only the brave or desperate dared to tread. Endless, scorching deserts stretched as far as the eye could see, with dry winds whipping up clouds of sand into the air. Amidst the barren expanse, a peculiar vehicle sped across the dunes, its enchanted wheels grinding through the parched sands and leaving a long trail behind.

This vehicle, powered by a magical stone engine, was a marvel rarely seen in this world. Its rugged frame was clearly built to endure such extreme conditions. But today, it wasn't the desert alone that posed a challenge.

Behind the vehicle, a monstrous sandworm pursued them at terrifying speed. Its massive, dragon-like body was armored with steel-like scales, slithering through the sand with deadly precision. Its small, glowing red eyes reflected an insatiable hunger.

Inside the vehicle, Billy, a teenager with perpetually messy hair and a tendency to stay relaxed in even the worst situations, clutched the wheel with trembling hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool air circulating in the cabin.

"Damn it! Why'd Alex have to disappear now?!" he yelled, his eyes darting between the uneven dunes ahead and the predator behind.

Levi, seated calmly in the passenger seat, remained composed despite the growing peril. His black hair swayed slightly with the vehicle's violent jerks, but his sharp eyes stayed locked on the sandworm. "Complaining won't help," he replied flatly. "Just focus on driving. I'll handle this."

Before Billy could protest, Levi opened the door and leapt onto the roof of the speeding vehicle with practiced ease.

Standing atop the swaying vehicle, Levi braced himself against the powerful desert winds. He took a deep breath, calculating the distance between the vehicle and the approaching sandworm. The beast opened its massive jaws, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth capable of crushing their vehicle in a single bite.

"Hey! Don't fall, or you're on your own!" Billy shouted from the driver's seat, half-panicked.

Levi didn't look back, but a faint smirk played on his lips. "Just drive, Billy. I don't plan on falling."

The sandworm surged closer, its immense bulk creating tidal waves of sand that threatened to engulf the vehicle. Levi raised his arm, summoning a long blade from the magical bracelet on his wrist. The sword gleamed blue in the unforgiving sun, crackling faintly with energy.

"Let's see how tough this thing really is," Levi muttered, his sharp gaze meeting the monster's glowing eyes.

The sandworm lunged with terrifying speed, its massive form diving toward Levi. In a single, fluid motion, he leapt into the air, his blade slashing down in an arc that collided with the beast's armored hide.

The impact produced a shower of sparks, accompanied by a burst of energy that lit up the desert. Levi landed back on the vehicle's roof, his expression tightening.

"Too tough," he murmured.

Inside the vehicle, Billy caught the scene through the windshield. "Levi! That didn't even scratch it! What now?!"

Levi ignored Billy's shouting, his mind racing for an alternative. The sandworm growled, a low, resonant sound that sent tremors through the desert and caused the vehicle to jolt violently.

"This thing's too big to fight head-on," Levi thought, his eyes scanning the landscape. He caught sight of something—a cluster of shimmering magical stones embedded in the dunes ahead. These stones, a natural resource unique to the Begaritt desert, radiated raw energy.

"Billy, head for that hill with the magic stones!" Levi yelled, pointing forward.

Billy glanced at the direction Levi indicated and paled. "Are you insane?! That hill's full of sharp rocks! If we crash, we're toast!"

"Just trust me," Levi replied, his voice calm but commanding.

Billy groaned but gritted his teeth, yanking the steering wheel hard. The vehicle veered sharply toward the hill, its wheels kicking up a storm of sand as it accelerated. On the roof, Levi gripped the edges tightly, his eyes locked on the pursuing sandworm.

As they neared the hill, Levi steadied himself, focusing his energy. He channeled his blade's magic into the largest of the glowing stones, preparing for a single decisive strike.

"This is it," he muttered. Then, with an explosive leap, he launched himself off the vehicle.

Levi's blade struck the stone, releasing a blinding surge of energy that rippled outward like a shockwave. The explosion tore through the sand and rock, creating a massive detonation.

The sandworm, unable to avoid the wave of destruction, was caught in its wake. The beast's massive body was hurled into the air before crashing into the dunes with a thunderous impact, leaving a crater in its wake.

The vehicle skidded to a halt, and Billy stumbled out, panting heavily. "Levi! Are you alive?!"

Amidst the settling dust, Levi emerged, his blade still in hand. His clothes were covered in sand and debris, but his expression was as calm as ever. "Of course. You thought I'd die that easily?"

Billy let out a shaky laugh, still catching his breath. "You're going to give me a heart attack one day, you know that?"

Levi shrugged, sheathing his blade and heading back to the vehicle. "Let's get moving before something worse shows up."

With the sandworm defeated, the vehicle cruised at a steadier pace under the vast, unending blue sky.

Billy sat behind the wheel, his enthusiasm rekindled despite the lingering tremors in his hands. Levi occupied the passenger seat, silent as usual. Tied securely in the back of the vehicle were materials harvested from the sandworm's carcass.

Breaking the quiet, Levi finally spoke. "You never explained this contraption." He nodded toward the glowing magical stones embedded in the dashboard. "What exactly is this thing?"

Billy grinned, pride lighting up his face. "Ah, you mean my baby? This is my masterpiece! A product of my genius as an alchemist—Transmute."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "Transmute? That's it? It seems far more complex than it sounds."

Billy chuckled, pulling a small rod from his jacket pocket and twirling it between his fingers. "You're not wrong. Transmute is just the foundation. I use it to reshape materials to my liking. But the inspiration for this beauty? That came from someone special."

Levi turned to him, intrigued. "Who?"

Billy pointed his thumb at himself with a wide grin. "Our master, Ash, of course! He gave me tons of books on science and engineering. He always said that technology could surpass the limits of magic if we're smart enough to use it. This car? It's proof of that."

Levi nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "So Master Ash is the reason you were able to create something like this. I'll admit, it's impressive."

After a moment of silence, Levi asked, "So, where are we headed now?"

Billy's gaze drifted to the horizon, where the spire of a distant tower rose faintly into view. "The Labyrinth City of Lapan. A place full of adventure, danger, and—most importantly—rare materials for my experiments!"

Levi rolled his eyes. "Of course that's your priority. You're more interested in resources than survival."

Billy burst into laughter, patting the dashboard fondly. "Hey, don't be so cynical! Materials are how we create bigger and better things. Besides, aren't you curious about what treasures lie in the labyrinth? Maybe you'll find something to enhance your combat techniques."

Levi glanced at Billy, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I suppose there's no harm in seeing what we might discover."