Broken Arrow (2)
Just one arrow. That single shot splintered several trees into oblivion. If I'd fired a portable rocket launcher, I could understand it. But it was an arrow.
At first, I wondered if I'd infused too much aura into it, so I tried again, this time using less. BOOM!! It still exploded. The power was dialed back a bit with less aura—down to rocket-propelled grenade levels. Either way, the raw destructive force was insane.
'Is my aura Chinese-made or something?' Honestly, even Chinese stuff wouldn't blow up like this. At least some of it works normally. But mine explodes every damn time I try to use it.
The most ridiculous part was Ludwig's reaction. Staring at the scene, he grunted:
“#$%%%$.”
[It's like a physical attack in form but magical in power. I couldn't agree more.]
I asked quietly, “There have to be other cases like mine, right?”
“None.”
“You sure?”
“Might as well use magic.”
“……”
A former guardian of the Saint Country spoke with such finality that I had nothing to say.
Most people picture a seasoned archer as a hundred-percent accurate marksman. I can hit that mark too—if you count splash damage. The problem? That splash can hit me.
No matter how I thought about it, a rocket launcher made no sense, so I decided to consult an expert.
[YasaengGrill: Hey. Got a question—cool if I ask?]
[GrowTrees: Sure! What's up?]
[YasaengGrill: You said most elves are crack shots. You too?]
[GrowTrees: Of course! Archery's basic elf education!]
[YasaengGrill: So, if you load an arrow with too much aura and fire, does it explode?]
[GrowTrees: Why not just use magic? Way more efficient.]
Even the elf had a similar reaction. Apparently, it just boosts penetration.
[GrowTrees: Arrow speed depends on the bow's draw strength, not the string. Aura can reinforce that draw.]
[YasaengGrill: So it could shatter rocks?]
[GrowTrees: Not shatter—pierce! Explosions are weird!]
Even an elf testifying like that only deepened the mystery. Why the hell does my aura-loaded arrow explode?
'Is the arrow itself too weak?' But that's dubious too—if so, it should've blown up ages ago. Exploding only after a big impact, like a rocket warhead? That's bizarre. What's the principle here?
If I knew, I could channel it into penetration instead of explosions. I want intact prey, not confetti.
[Don't even think about making arrowheads from Mithoricon.]
“Why not? Maybe it couldn't handle my aura.”
[If you're gonna, head to the river. Anything bigger than that last blast levels this whole area.]
Fair point. I still couldn't pinpoint the explosion cause. I clung to the hope it was just the arrow failing under my aura. Otherwise, I'd have to ditch the bow.
'Or use it for mass destruction.' Tough in tight spaces, though—gotta factor in the shockwave. Still, hoarding such destructive power felt wasteful. Might come in handy later, so I'd pack regular arrows too.
Thwack!
“Hm!”
While I grumbled inwardly, Kkobong was diligently practicing. His crossbow bolt didn't just embed in the tree—it punched clean through. Looked like he'd infused it with aura.
'That's how I wanna be.' I always think it: I just want to get strong normally. Not X-god strong.
Of course, in the Four Seasons Forest, any progress beats stagnation for survival.
'Should I leave hunting to Kkobong?' Or rely purely on the bow's power without aura, saving explosions for emergencies. First up: Mithoricon arrowheads.
I asked the dwarf about crafting.
[PassingDwarf: Nothin' to it. Sharpen 'em decent and whetstone 'em.]
[YasaengGrill: Easiest way?]
[PassingDwarf: Yeah. Like ancient folk grindin' stones. It's more complex usually, but best for you.]
[YasaengGrill: Got it.]
I made the arrowheads per his advice. Not hard—just modding auction arrows was a pain. Unwinding the wire-wrapped tips, rebinding... tedious.
'These are just tests anyway.' I modded five arrowheads with Mithoricon. Time to test.
We headed to the river. Luckily, across it lay a vast desert—perfect testing ground. Even an explosion wouldn't reach here.
“Kkobong. You first.”
“Got it.”
I let him go first. Crossbows don't amplify aura much anyway, like GrowTrees said—less draw efficiency.
Whoosh!
The loaded bolt sliced through the air. I'd only aimed at trees before, but damn, it's fast. Old me couldn't track it with my eyes. Now? Barely blurry.
'Ppareumbo caught one barehanded?' The closer you get, the farther it seems. Realizing the speed made Ppareumbo even more impressive.
Ludwig said straight shots are hard to react to—unlike arrow barrages.
“You'd still catch it barehanded, right?”
“$%%%%@#.”
[In a noisy battlefield, if it's not from outside your sight, he'd catch it.]
Even Cheonma might struggle. Or maybe not.
Kkobong finished; my turn. As I prepped, the group edged back. Worried it'd blow. Kinda hurtful.
'It won't explode in my hand, geez.'
I pursed my lips briefly, then took in the vast desert. Heat haze shimmering under the blazing sun.
'Wait. Sun?'
I looked up at the desert sun beyond the rift. There's one overhead too—two suns. Classic Four Seasons Forest.
'If I were smarter, could I pinpoint my location with this?'
I snapped a photo anyway. Olfather or StarlightPrincess might have hints.
Creak—
I nocked a Mithoricon arrow, aimed at the desert. Back muscles strained a bit, but tolerable.
FWHOOM!!!
The arrow rocketed toward the sand. Faster than Kkobong's—couldn't track it.
Shwoosh!
“Whoa.”
Amazing. A massive hole in a distant dune. No explosion—the arrow's wind carved it. One shot, insane power.
But, 'Not thrilled.' Great power, but still too much needless destruction. Needed penetration, got blast radius. At least no kaboom—progress.
FWHOOM! Boom!
I fired all the test Mithoricon arrows, pondering how to minimize waste. Conclusion? My aura control sucks.
'Can't help that yet.'
I slung the bow to head back—
KABOOM!!!
An explosion roared from afar, making my ears ring. I'd just turned, so I flinched hard.
BOOM!! BOOM!!!
Not once—two, three times in a row.
Looking out, a nightmare unfolded.
BOOM!! BOOM!!
Five blasts total, matching my test shots. Delayed, but inevitable.
'Time-delayed bombs?'
The bland desert turned to sandstorm chaos from the chain explosions. Like an airstrike from my arrows.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Then, faint vibrations—no, the sound reached me. From the desert. The spatial rift blocked vibes, but the noise was vivid enough to gauge the scale.
BOOM rumble rumble!!!
A colossal shadow burst from the dust cloud. Overwhelming even from afar, like "Who woke me?"
Earthworm shape. But size defied perspective—massive.
[RAAAAAWR!!!]
Roaring in fury? Ears rang despite distance.
'I've seen this.'
Desert monster classic: Giant Sand Worm. Matched perfectly.
Shhhk!
Didn't expect janitor duty. It sucked up all the blinding dust—like a sky whale devouring bugs.
[Grrr……]
Desert clear again. The worm scanned around, "Who disturbed my nap?" Then locked eyes here.
Thought I mis-saw. But gaze fixed—definitely us.
Whoosh!
It dove into the sand. Dread hit instantly.
Grooooom!
It charged fast—sand parting like a wake. Perspective ignored, it closed in seconds.
“……”
“……”
We turned and bolted—no words, just flee the worm.
We were at fault, but it wouldn't apologize.
“It won't cross, right?”
[If it does, we're all dead.]
No arguing Cain's blunt truth. It'd wipe us.
Luckily, no crossing catastrophe.
SPLOOOSH!
Instead, it spat the sand back—protest? Not just dust.
WHOOOOSH!!!
Sandstorm. One beast rivaling a disaster.
Good thing we sheltered in the cave early. Warned Daramjwi and Mamut too.
WHOOOOSH!
Storm raged half a day. We hunkered down.
Even after, sand piled everywhere—worm's regurgitate, mountains of it.
Sweep—sweep—
“Still here. You do it.”
“Yes……”
“Here too.”
I ended up broom duty. Words failed.
[I get the gist. Explodes after leaving your hand.]
“Ludwig gets no boom—why me?”
[Your mana volume. He's a cup, you're a barrel. Even 1% differs absolutely.]
Time passed; I got the aura-explosion explanation.
Solid, but still confusing—until more details.
[Above all, your mana matches the Four Seasons Forest's intense pressure. Fine held—circulating. But released? Items can't take it, boom.]
“So, huge volume and high pressure—overloads stuff?”
[Spot on.]
“What do I do?”
[What do you do?]
Cain eyed me like duh.
[Figure it out yourself.]
“Fuck.”
I'm screwed.