Swoosh…
A field that stretched out to the horizon; the landscape was alive with a sense of vitality.
When did he last yearn for this scenery?
That was probably since… Yes…
Another nightmare? Was this a trick trying to shake him?
"Tancreed…"
The Earth Dragon, Tancreed, sat on the ground and gazed at the same scenery as Jamad.
Jamad looked up at her.
'Again…?'
He had turned into a young troll. His heart and emotions from back then returned to him."Tancreed, do trolls really have no choice but to be ruled by the Old Gods?"
- Child, why do you think that?
"The adults said so. Trolls are foolish and must be ruled by the Old Gods. In the end, we can never escape them."
- I see…
"Can't you stop them, Tancreed?"
- …
"Can't you scold the Old Gods?"
WHOOM…
The Earth Dragon Tancreed lowered her head to the ground and said.
- Climb up.
"No… I'll get scolded again…"
- It's alright.
"Then…"
As Jamad climbed onto Tancreed's head, she slowly lifted her head.
"I-I'm scared…"
- That's because it's your first time.
"Huh…?"
- Anyone would be afraid of something they're doing for the first time. Even a Dragon with wings is afraid of flying before its first flight.
Jamad confusedly tilted his head.
What Tancreed said was a bit puzzling.
- You trolls are the same. You fear the Old Gods because none of you have ever stood against them.
"Then are we cowards?"
- Didn't I say everyone is afraid at first? It isn't an easy path, but…
Tancreed said while gazing at the sunset.
- It's the greater path.
"How much greater?"
- I'm not sure… but why are you asking that?
"Is it as great as Tancreed?"
- What do you mean…?
"If I walk that great path… Does that mean I could talk with Tancreed at any moment?"
Tancreed smiled.
- Of course.
"Then will we finally become friends?"
- Child…
She seemed to find the little one sitting on her head cute.
- I already consider you a friend.
"I don't want that!"
- …
"Friends must be equals! We have to see the world from the same height!"
- Hmm…
"That's why—wait a second. I… I'll definitely… Huh?"
Swoosh…
In an instant, the child grew into an adult.
As if the world had frozen, Tancreed didn't move anymore.
"Tancreed…"
A grown-up Jamad said while on top of Tancreed's head, "You're still far away."
While standing on the great path, Jamad thought of her.
[You have used the Forbidden Shamanic Spell: Tectonic Shift]
[Tectonic shift’s damage will greatly increase in mountainous terrain.]
[Enemies hit by Tectonic Shift will deal 25% reduced damage. Reduced damage output from Tectonic Shift can go up to 50%.]
[The caster is not affected by Tectonic Shift.]
[The caster is immune to Tectonic Shift's damage.]
[The caster cannot use any abilities while Tectonic Shift is active.]
[After casting Tectonic Shift, Mountain Shamanic Spells cannot be used for a while.]
[The Forbidden Shamanic Spell uses the caster's Energy of Life as a sacrifice.]
Crack!
Crack!
After this message appeared before Seol, Jamad briefly lost consciousness.
Only after everything was almost over was Jamad able to regain consciousness.
"Ugh…"
"Jamad!"
Jamad shook his head at the overwhelming pain.
"My sight… I can't see properly… What happened?"
"Are you okay?"
"I must have blacked out for a moment. Seeing how I'm still alive."
The two of them were one. If one collapses, the other could provide support.
"Thanks, Seol."
"Anyway… Branka resisted it."
"What…?"
Jamad turned his gaze to check the surroundings. His blurred vision gradually returned to normal.
A massive earthquake had stripped the mountains of their Eternal snow, exposing the bare rock beneath. The quake was so intense that it reshaped the mountain’s very form.
WHOOM…
Smaller shocks kept happening.
Yet, Branka was able to withstand the earthquake by encasing himself in a massive block of ice.
"Oof…"
Branka vomited a handful of blood.
Although he hadn't died, his body was in a pitiful state.
"Oof… Oof…"
"H… Haha…"
Jamad, who was laughing, wasn't in a much better shape either. The fight with Branka would probably be decided soon.
'Although I'm recovering with Blood of Origin, this is still dangerous…'
Seol said to Jamad.
Jamad agreed with Seol.
Although Blood of Origin boasted an extraordinary healing ability, the amount of Energy of Life that had been sacrificed for the Forbidden Shamanic Spell far exceeded what the recovery speed could compensate for.
Crack!
It seemed that the entire mountain's foundation had been changed due to the successive Forbidden Shamanic Spells. A massive section of the mountain had been split apart.
As expected of a battle between two Great Shamans, the scale of destruction spread vastly throughout the battlefield.
* * *
"Cough…"
Branka approached while blood dripped from his mouth.
His face had become noticeably gaunt.
"Hi… Hihi… What an impressive power… I couldn't have even imagined it."
"To think you would endure it… What a monster."
"Let me ask you something…"
"Of course."
"My method… What's wrong about it?"
"What?"
"You're talking with a full stomach… Do you think you can escape from this control with such soft ideals like yours?"
"Do you think the freedom gotten through your method is worth it?"
"…"
"You're just trying to become another Old God."
Crunch… Crunch…
Branka continued walking toward the Night Crow.
"If you don't know… Keep your mouth shut! The Primal God is nature itself!"
"…"
"A being far greater than our reason and understanding."
"I know."
Crack…
"That's why I, Jamad, will become someone greater than them."
Jamad's unwavering demeanor reminded Branka of himself.
Branka caught a glimpse of his younger self through Jamad.
"You fool… There was a time when I also thought like you."
"…"
"I was confident I would be able to stand above all things…"
Branka stopped moving.
"That day… The day I fell into the crevasse… The souls of the Ancient Trolls awakened me."
An event tied to the Ancient Shamanic Spells only Branka knew.
His experience had never been shared with others.
- We will give you power.
- Be reborn through our strength.
- Descendant of the waterfall…
That day, Branka walked as if he were in a trance.
Without regard for the cliff, he slowly advanced along the path guided by the spirits.
"At that place, I saw everything. The birth of the trolls and the single stream that has carried our lives… and that's…"
At the place where the Ancient Trolls led Branka—drawn on the walls weren't just preserved Ancient Shamanic Spells but also how their troll ancestors lived.
"A history of subordination!"
Tears streamed down from Branka's eyes.
Whoosh…
But the snowstorm soon turned those tears to ice.
The Ancient Trolls' memories were too painful to accept.
"We're slaves! We never have escaped from the Old Gods! We have collars around our necks and are forced to crawl on the ground! We… We can never…"
"Yes… That's how things have to be…"
Branka became silent.
"That makes my ambition even more worthwhile. Don't you think? An ambition worth risking everything for."
"Young troll, you're talking about something impossible."
Jamad smiled.
"I'm talking about the future, old troll."
"…"
"Remember the name Jamad while you rest in the depths."
An unknown energy surged from his body.
"I will become the first…"
Branka staggered but quickly regained his stance, clearly still intent on continuing the fight.
The Night Crow didn't let his guard down, assuming a fighting stance.
Swoosh…
At that moment, a commotion tore through the howl of the snowstorm.
"The Head of the Library! The Head of the Library is about to wake up!"
Upon hearing that, Jamad and Branka simultaneously turned their gaze.
Both threw punches at each other at the same time.
And at that moment, Jamad and Seol saw it—Branka's hesitant eyes.
It was clear his punch lacked true conviction. He held back his real feelings.
Whoosh…
Paf—!
"Ugh…"
The Night Crow's fist reached its target first.
Branka had already exhausted too much energy, and as a result of the impact, he rolled slowly down the snowfield.
The Night Crow briefly watched him roll down before once again turning upward with renewed strength.
Creak…
Creak…
There was a strange noise.
For some reason, that noise sounded more ominous than the ongoing snowstorm.
"Found it!"
The Head of the Library was finally starting to wake up.
This was essentially the worst possible outcome for Seol and Jamad.
Everything was unfolding just as Branka and the Frostmaw Tribe wanted.
'Where are Joneh and Santio…?'
Seol urgently looked around for the two Magicians.
Why did the Head of the Library wake up?
Why hadn't they been able to stop the Frostmaw Tribe's Shamans?
That question was immediately answered as soon as he looked at the battlefield.
"WOAH!"
"Push the Magicians back!"
"Damn it…"
Joneh and Santio were busy dealing with the trolls pouring out from the fortress.
The trolls didn't fear the snowstorm or death. They were moving to join the fight between the Night Crow and Branka.
"Joneh! Santio!"
"I'm sorry! We couldn't stop them!"
"We have to stop them before they seize the Head of the Library!"
The incoming trolls turned the area around the Head of the Library into chaos.
In reality, they should have all been trapped inside due to the snowstorm. But that was far from the nature of the Frostmaw Tribe. Even in death, they preferred to fight.
"WAAAHHH-!"
"Ugh…"
At that moment, the hunched-over Head of the Library started to straighten its back.
"NO!"
One of the Frostmaw Tribe’s Shamans reached out to the Head of the Library.
"Rise! Head of the Library! I command you to…"
Fwoosh—!
In an instant, the Shaman froze and became nothing more than a frozen lump of flesh. Everyone on the battlefield, including the Night Crow, was shocked at the sight.
"Why… Why won't you… Obey… Listen! You're our…"
Paf!
The Head of the Library grabbed the Shaman by the neck.
"Cough…"
Crack…
The Head of the Library snapped his neck with ease.
All the fights instantly came to a halt.
Clack… Clack…
Beep…
In a voice that everyone could hear and understand, the Head of the Library slowly and clearly announced its next actions.
- A severe anomaly has been detected.
Creak…
- The connection with the lower floors must be restored.
- A leak in the upper floors has been confirmed.
Click…
- The entire 8th floor will be eradicated.
- Life forms detected.
- Eradication. Full obliteration is going to start.
The time lag has been confirmed. Beginning charging for full eradication.
'What…?'
There was no need to deeply analyze the words to understand the situation.
'The Head of the Library intends to kill not just the Frostmaw Tribe but all of us as well.'
Jamad let out a bitter laugh.
- We're in trouble.
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