Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Land of Ruin - 3
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Two voices echoed across the fog-shrouded lake.
"Manifest, Flare—!"
"Explosion!"
On the stepping stones forged from earth magic.
As our spells rang out, a scorching heat bloomed from the mist, followed by a dazzling blaze. The flames reflected off the damp, hazy air, flashing the surroundings white.
Kuuung—!
A hot gust whipped through,
and dozens of goblins crawling from the water met their end on the spot.
Their tiny corpses were all mangled into mush by the blast pressure. Soon, the goblin bodies turned into mana stones and sank with a gurgle.
A ruthless slaughter that couldn't be used on other battlefields due to the risk to our allies. But right now, it was just Niva and me, so we didn't hold back.
"…."
'It's like lobbing grenades into water during training or illegally electrofishing in a lake.'
Without stopping there,
I unleashed fire magic repeatedly alongside Niva.
Flames shot from her staff and my fingertips.
"Manifest, Flare—!"
"Explosion!"
Kuuung!
"Manifest, Flare—!"
"Explosion!"
Kuuung!
Advanced and intermediate.
The two massive fire explosions mingled, relentlessly pounding the lake's surface.
The water temperature spiked uncontrollably where goblins were swimming out. Even those who miraculously survived the blasts were boiled alive by the scalding steam billowing up.
Chiiik!
-Kyaaaak—!
-Kieeeek—!
It was a massacre.
Bubbles rose with a pop, pop, and silence fell.
"…."
"…."
But what we wanted—the sight of goblins springing up from the water again—didn't appear. Instead, goblin cries echoed from far away.
-Kikikik!
-Kaaak!
"…."
'Flame-searching for the underwater dungeon failed.'
Staff in hand,
Niva wiped sweat from her brow. Even as an archmage specializing in fire, spamming advanced spells dozens of times took its toll.
Niva said,
"Phew... Doesn't seem to be here either."
"…."
I nodded.
"We were blasting fire magic across the lake to find the spawn point, but this method's taking longer than expected."
"The shock radius is maybe ten meters at best. This lake looks at least two kilometers across, even just from peeking beyond the fog."
Niva caught her breath after replying. Sweat trickled down her exposed back in the bunny girl outfit.
She looked pitiful somehow.
Like it was my fault for the bad call.
"…."
'Niva's worn out too.'
I pondered as I watched her.
'At this rate, even if we spam until we can't warp anymore, we won't finish. Plus, I can cast indefinitely, but only up to intermediate spells—it'll take forever.'
To put it in perspective,
it was like filling a whole canvas with pencil dots.
Total waste of time.
'Gotta find a more efficient way.'
I racked my brain, drawing from past life memories too. Methods humans used to slaughter underwater creatures, mainly.
Electric shock?
'Neither of us can do it. Pass.'
Pour boiling water?
'Not enough firepower.'
Poison...
'Unless I shove Hrekal's jaws underwater, it'll take too long either way. Unless I had radioactive material.'
That line of thought hit a wall.
Then a rural vlog popped into mind. A bearded uncle tossing stones into a stream to stun fish.
The uncle hefted a head-sized rock and said,
-Just chuck one this big, and bellies-up fish float all across the stream! Haha!
'What if I drop a massive earth-constructed boulder from mid-air...?'
I looked at Niva, who was catching her breath.
"Niva."
"Yeah?"
"How far can you warp?"
"Time? Distance?"
"Both."
"Ah."
She nodded and rattled off her specialty's specs without hesitation.
"Distance-wise, anywhere I can picture. But I can't go fully airborne—max about 300 meters up. Cast time's like advanced spells: three in a row max. Can move about three meters wide and tall."
"!"
Plenty.
'I can construct the rock in mid-air!'
I pitched my wild idea.
Niva smirked.
"'Earth Fortress' makes structures from the ground. It's not about creating rock per se, just using the result—."
"Hm."
"Uh."
-Right. This guy's got unlimited mana. Her eyes wavered at the unspoken realization.
"H-Hah, but even advanced magic can't conjure elements from dizzying heights on normal mana pools. At least not someone who can spam advanced spells infinitely... ."
"Hm."
"Uh."
-Right. This guy's got unlimited mana. Niva swallowed hard.
"…."
"…."
I proposed it again.
Drop an earth-constructed structure from 300 meters up.
"What do you think? Combining your warp and my earth magic. Way more efficient than spamming fire spells spot by spot."
"Hmm."
"Even if it flops, worth a shot, right?"
"Hmmm."
After a moment's thought,
Niva grinned mischievously and offered her hand, like a friend roped into hilarious stupidity.
"Y-Yeah! Let's try it."
"Please."
"Hold tight."
I gripped her hand firmly.
"Warp!"
Poof!
"!"
Whooo—!
Instant freefall.
Fierce winds battered us as we plummeted toward the distant lake. Amid swirling fog, sky and gray water blurred together.
A floating sensation gripped my body.
'We're already floating, but damn!'
Niva clung tight for balance and yelled,
"Now!"
I thrust my fist out and shouted.
>
"Earth Fortress—!"
The image in mind: a pillar.
A sleeker mass weapon than the city walls. Mana drained from my body—a sensation sharper than usual for my go-to spell.
"!"
'First time feeling mana drain like this while casting...?'
Huge expenditure. Just a dozens-of-meters pillar felt more tiring than kilometers of walls.
'Casting in mid-air doubles the mana cost, huh.'
Meanwhile,
the pillar formed in seconds.
Ten meters wide.
Thirty meters long pure stone pillar.
Basically dropping an apartment building.
'Half the size I imagined—.'
The pillar plummeted toward the lake.
Like a disaster flick.
Gooooooo—!
Air trembled,
fog in its path swept away.
Guuuuung—!
Instinct screamed.
Get out now.
"?!"
Oh, shit.
This close? We're fucked.
'Sounds like a meteor...?'
Prickling premonition.
I felt a chill. I slapped Niva's back urgently. She gaped at the falling pillar too.
"Far! As far as possible—!"
"B-Boss arena?"
"No, like a kilometer away—!"
"Warp!"
Poof!
We warped mid-fall to land diagonally above ground—Niva's trick to soften the landing.
"Kuh!"
"Hya...!"
We tumbled across grass. Before regaining our footing, we looked up, still clinging.
"Lake's that way—."
Then.
A colossal roar hit.
Like self-propelled artillery point-blank—organs shook from the boom. A water plume erupted where the pillar crashed.
Kwaaaaaang—!
The shockwave cleared fog for hundreds of meters.
'Water spout like a skyscraper...'
Earthquake-level quake.
Steam expanded over the impact, triggering chain explosions. Blast pressure toppled sparse trees.
Kwagwagwagwak—!
Secondary steam blasts.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Awful pressure and shock.
Three-story waves churned whirlpools on the lake. Hundreds of nearby goblins vaporized to mana stones without a scream.
Finally, the apartment-sized pillar crumbled.
Kururung!
Debris drops sent
multi-meter water jets skyward.
Kung!
Kung!
Kung!
Like kids watching a gas explosion.
Niva and I clutched each other, awed by the destruction. Pure physics felt life-threatening.
"…."
"…."
Hands trembled.
Hearts pounded.
Only Niva's panicked warmth grounded me. Sweat-soaked, but we didn't care.
"…."
"…."
'Wondered why disaster flicks have folks huddling. Instinct.'
Soon,
the ravaged lake calmed beyond the fog. Returning mist blanketed the marshy surroundings littered with mana stones.
'Like a missile strike.'
And...
black smoke rose from somewhere in the lake.
Paassss—
Niva pointed.
"Hey! Th-That—Dungeon busted...? M-Maybe?"
"…."
'Not just missile—a bunker buster.'
Our combo move.
Beyond imagination.
'Insane. Just spitballing.'
Shivering,
I nodded.
"Yeah, looks like it. No more goblins respawning."
"D-Did we get it...?"
"Let's not jinx it."
Niva flinched.
"Ah, yeah. Sorry. Can't let our guard down."
"No, you did amazing, Niva."
"!"
Niva patted my back hearing that.
Pat pat
"Yeah...! Y-You too, Lucius. Incredible."
"Thanks... N-No idea it'd be this big."
Pat pat
"A-Anyway. Yeah. Amazing. Good job."
"You too, Niva. Good job."
Pat pat
Like shaking off the shakes. We patted backs, hyping each other up. Hearts calming, we stood.
The lake lay in total silence. Marching goblin hordes and cackles vanished into thick fog.
We fell quiet.
"…."
"…."
Niva said,
"So. Rear gimmick cleared, mission done?"
"Yeah, head back."
"Boss fight?"
"Yeah, gotta help if they're fighting Hrekal."
"…."
Niva nodded. As she reached for my hand, she glanced beyond the fog.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"What's beyond that fog?"
"…."
I shook my head.
"No idea. No reason or spare time to cross it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. For us, the mountains and forest around the walls, and this foggy lake beyond—that's the 'land's boundary.' No reason, time, or power to go further."
"…."
Niva said,
"...Got it. Let's go."
"Yes."
We clasped hands tight.
*
-Kuuwaaaaa—!
A massive cry, and the giant eel—Hrekal—rammed the platform. Sword Empress's sharp command cut through as she tracked it.
"Brace for impact—!"
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
Including the Hundred Swords Three Ghosts, spare defenders from both flanks joined—twenty raiders leaped back in sync.
Hrekal's ram hit.
Sinister electricity crackled,
steam evaporated thick below the platform.
Kwaaang—!
Pazik!
Pajak!
Platform shook, last pillars teetered and collapsed. Ears rang with rushing water again.
Kwakwakwa—!
"Hup!"
Sword Empress charged the eel's head.
Hrekal reeled from the impact. Distance closed in a flash. Sword light flashed endlessly from her hand.
Sukak!
Sukak!
Sukak!
Along fluid sword path,
blood scattered like Peace Lily petals.
Screaming under moonlight gleam.
-Kaaaaak—!
Hundred Swords disciples struck too, sensing the opening. Weapons gleamed; lead Three Ghosts attacked.
"Chaat!"
Sword Ghost swung nonstop, raining crescent sword qi like arrows. Dozens of wounds on thick hide, pierced by Bow Ghost's shafts.
"Junior Sister Rel! Now!"
"Yes!"
Blade Ghost's blade slashed a sharp line, shadow tearing wounds long. She dashed far.
"Haat—!"
Splat—!
As long as the strike.
Massive blood gushed.
"Poison in the blood—watch it!"
"No gills from behind! Electrified!"
Hundred Swords exchanged intel on the fly.
Under venom-oozing hide, red flesh showed. Gills gulped frantically, bloodied eyes glared resentful.
-Kurrrr...!
And.
Red flames exploded on Hrekal's head.
Kwaaang—!
From above.
Bunny-eared archmage and the lord's magic.
"Manifest, Flare!"
"Explosion—!"
They kept attacking.
Sword Empress nodded.
'They did it.' She regripped her sword, dodging searing wounds, and dashed forward. Black uniform billowed like clouds.
Tatat!
Sword Empress stabbed Hrekal's upturned eye. The eel thrashed wildly, radiating eerie currents.
-Kraaaaa—!
Pazik!
Pazik!
Wuuung—!
"!"
'Hold on and I'll get shocked.'
Sword Empress released in a split-second, leaped lightly airborne, and kicked the embedded sword hard.
Kkaang!
Clear ring echoed.
Her sword pierced the eye, through skull, out the other side—bloodied blade flew straight to opposite cliff.
Pusht—!
"…."
"…."
Brief silence.
Black-clad woman floated mid-air.
Giant eel froze, mouth agape.
"…."
"…."
Moments later.
The eel flopped backward, mouth gaping. Massive body hit water, birthing huge waves.
Kuuung—!
Sword Empress landed gracefully on the platform, hands behind back.
"…."
'Cliff sword later.'
Then.
Glowing text appeared before her eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【World Quest completed.】 【Quest reward: Treasure-grade relic 'Heart of the Mist'.】 "!"
All gathered climbers saw it.
*
We'd landed on the platform.
Niva shook my shoulder beaming.
"We did it! Cleared this bullshit quest with zero deaths! Huge deal, Lucius!"
"…."
But.
I couldn't join the joy. A layer ruler-only message hovered.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【Floor 51, 'Walled City Baran'—all quests completed.】 【Layer fate altered confirmed.】 【Main quests up to Floor 60 updated.】 【Merging layers for smooth progression.】 The world expanded.
Mana quivered,
unseen lands connected.
This world's edge...
grew.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【Floor 52, connected.】 【Floor 53, connected.】 【Floor 54, connected.】 【Floor 55, connected.】 ... ... ... Kung
Kung
Kung
'What... is this sensation?'
I shuddered at the endless expansion.
Notifications raced to the end.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【Floor 59, connected.】 Climbers around murmured.
-Huh? Fog's clearing?
-For real. Boss fight effect...?
-Something over there...?
"…."
Fog unshifting for centuries beyond the lake.
It parted to reveal—
endless smoke rising from land.
"Ashes...?"
Boundless wasteland.
Every horizon charred black. Gray and red, ominous aura flowing. Eerie contrast to vibrant Walled City Baran.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【World expansion confirmed.】 【Integrated Main Quest begins.】 "!"
📜 MAIN QUEST 📜 Land of Ruin: Save Midgard
📍 Progress: 4.7%
"Save Midgard...?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【May the light guide Layer Ruler 'Lucius Baran'.】 "…."
I was speechless.