Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Fallen Leaf Arbor Assault
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ged Mountains.
The largest and most treacherous range in the north.
A diverse array of minority races gathered here to make their homes.
Leyzon's slave, Hanok, was one such minority—a member of the Sword-Tooth Clan.
Deep in the forests at the heart of these northern mountains.
A black wolf streaked through at blinding speed.
Forged from pure shadow, the wolf gave off almost no presence at all.
Mountain wildlife could only startle at its sudden appearance.
They hadn't a hope of mounting any defense.
Inside that shadow wolf rode three passengers.
Leyzon, Hanok, and Syria.
Syria lounged in Leyzon's arms, her head against his chest, legs kicking playfully this way and that.
Leyzon gently straightened her tousled hair.
Whenever she was by his side, Syria turned into the sweetest child in the world.
It feels like having a daughter.
Speaking of daughters, it reminded him of the one from next door back home.
Hope she's doing well.
Not sure if time flows the same there as it does here.
"Leyzon, no, that's not it. Shadow magic requires focus on your spatial awareness."
Leyzon was receiving a lesson in shadow magic from Syria.
Unlike bloodflow magic, which resembled poison arts.
Shadow magic operated on an entirely different dimensional principle, making mastery a challenge.
The attribute fusion I tried last time.
It was just a concept he'd toyed with in his mind.
Yet it had unleashed far more power than expected.
Which means I need to master it.
The more tools at his disposal, the better.
So Leyzon mulled over Syria's teachings, again and again.
"Hm hm hmm~"
Just then, a humming tune drifted from behind—Hanok.
Since that last dungeon, he'd finally filled his ascension EXP bar.
On the way, they'd stopped by a Pioneer Station.
Hanok had claimed his own ascension quest.
It was the same as Leyzon's.
Ever since, he'd been grooming his tail and humming merrily.
Seemed he was thrilled to finally hit that long-awaited ascension EXP milestone.
I want to ascend too.
Leyzon had already cleared two mid-tier dungeons en route.
Like Hanok, he had just one left.
Should be a breeze.
In the meantime, the scenery shifted several more times.
Leyzon realized they'd passed the mountainside.
"Hanok, there's a Pioneer Station at the Ged Mountains' mid-level, right?"
"Yeah, there is."
Hanok paused his tail-grooming to reply.
The Ged Mountains were vast.
Dungeons of every difficulty dotted the range evenly.
Naturally, Pioneer Stations were scattered throughout.
Not thrilled about them being an arm of the Empire, but...
Ascension required going through a Pioneer Station.
The real issue starts at 15th ascension.
Once you hit Hero-tier at 15th ascension.
From there, no more Pioneer Stations—you had to go straight to the Imperial Palace.
He'd shrugged it off at first.
But after learning the truth recently, the whole process reeked of suspicion.
Is there a way to ascend without the Empire's involvement?
Leyzon crossed his arms, lost in thought for a moment.
But he soon shook his head and dismissed it.
"Hanok, before the Pioneer Station, let's hit one more mid-tier dungeon."
"Sounds good!"
Hanok brimmed with enthusiasm.
He was clearly eager to grow.
Leyzon unrolled his map.
He pointed to a spot for Syria.
"Syria, head that way?"
"Sure!"
Syria beamed innocently from his arms and shifted course.
Soon, a massive tree loomed into view.
It towered over the others, stabbing toward the sky.
And strangely, a pitch-black hole gaped in its trunk.
Leyzon knew exactly what this tree was.
Mid-tier Dungeon: Fallen Leaf Arbor.
Home to the harlok species.
He stepped out of Syria's shadow.
They'd come to the Ged Mountains hunting undead.
But mid-tier dungeons were plentiful here too.
He planned to clear every one he could.
My own ascension EXP could use a boost too.
Leyzon intended to snag every scrap of first-clear EXP.
"Leyzon, let's go already!"
Hanok, hyped since claiming his quest, urged him on.
Leyzon understood the kid's excitement.
"Right. In we go."
He ducked into the hole.
A swirling leaf drifted down onto his head.
Leyzon looked up to see leaves fluttering everywhere.
Towering trees packed the area.
Their withered leaves rained down endlessly.
The ground was buried deep in fallen foliage—feet sank right in.
"Hanok."
Hanok, leading with one-handed spear and shield, glanced back.
"Watch your step."
His tail twitched upright as he leaped aside.
A root burst up right where he'd stood.
Frustrated at missing its prey, the root thrashed about.
"In here, the leaves are harlok traps."
Harloks were indistinguishable from regular trees unless you were an expert.
That made Fallen Leaf Arbor a notoriously tricky dungeon.
But Leyzon had a cheat for this place.
He raised the Staff of Abundance.
"Shadow Realm."
Shadow unfurled from his feet, seeping into the ground.
Manipulating it was still tricky, but he'd learned directly from the master, Syria.
No more excuses.
Proficiency builds with practice.
Even the same skill varied wildly based on the user's mastery.
Thanks to Syria, he'd gained two new ones.
He'd wring every ounce of potential from them.
The moment the shadow fully permeated the depths.
Leyzon opened his closed eyes.
Fierce poison bled into the shadows.
Syria and Hanok watched in silence.
Boom!
The ground quaked violently.
Hanok's head snapped up.
Roots tore free from the earth before his eyes.
The connected tree twisted in agony.
Leaves showered down with every spasm.
But it wasn't just one.
Trees everywhere writhed in torment.
Hanok's eyes went wide.
No mistaking them for normal trees now—not even for fellow harloks.
"You infused the roots with shadow, then spread the fierce poison!"
Syria cried out, piecing it together with admiration.
Leyzon spun the staff deftly.
"Harloks blend perfectly with trees, but they won't move until they can guarantee a catch."
To him, that made them sitting ducks.
He flashed Hanok a grin.
"What do you think, Hanok?"
"Perfect."
The instant their talk ended, Hanok kicked off the ground.
He rocketed through the forest like a bullet.
Afflicted harloks whipped their roots in panic.
But Hanok twisted his small frame, dodging every one.
His spear lanced out through the gaps.
Crack!
It plunged deep into a harlok.
Hanok didn't stop—he twisted the spear viciously.
Crunch crunch crunch!
The tree's innards shattered with the sound.
Harloks were Phantasmal Beasts from mid-tier dungeons.
They stood no chance against Hanok, now a seasoned mid-tier pioneer.
Thud!
One harlok collapsed.
Leyzon slammed his staff into the ground—a signal.
Hanok withdrew.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Harloks shattered and erupted everywhere.
Their roots had soaked up shadow-laced poison.
Fierce Poison Explosion hit them like nothing else.
Crack!
Hanok pounced on a barely surviving harlok amid the blasts.
In battle, his eyes gleamed differently as he pulverized them all.
"Let's move, Syria."
"Okay!"
Syria grinned and trotted after Leyzon.
To her, a mid-tier dungeon was just a stroll.
Which let Leyzon test all sorts of things.
In Fallen Leaf Arbor.
Max out his shadow magic proficiency.
Harloks waited endlessly for prey to wander into their grasp.
Their hunting method seemed dumb at a glance.
But in their domain, they reigned supreme.
Roots blanketing the ground could strike from anywhere, anytime.
They never lost here.
Until today.
Their perfect counter appeared.
One colossal harlok, scraping the sky, convulsed.
Shadow poison raced through its roots, surging with sap straight to its core.
As it shuddered in pain.
Kaboom!
A merciful explosion ended its torment.
The giant toppled.
Even then, as if to prove its size wasn't for show.
Roots and branches lashed out for the kill.
Crunch!
But a Sword-Tooth Clan boy, Hanok, blocked their path.
Eyes unflinching, he held firm.
Hanok solidly fulfilled his frontline duty.
Kraka-boom!
Another explosion ripped through the harlok's body.
Unable to endure, it blackened and died.
"A total rout."
Hanok brushed crushed branches from his shield.
As he'd said, Fallen Leaf Arbor was a cakewalk.
Syria was even doodling on the ground with a twig.
"Leyzon, look! I drew you!"
Unfortunately, her artistic skills left much to be desired.
"Boss should be showing up soon."
Leyzon scanned the area as he spoke.
Low visibility—nothing in sight.
"Syria, lift me up that tree?"
"Sure!"
Thrilled for something to do, she ditched her drawing and rushed over.
She hoisted him up via shadow.
Perched atop the tree, Leyzon peered at the sky.
Soon, he spotted one tree gleaming differently—golden.
His eyes sharpened.
Right on cue.
The Goldenwood's leaves began to rustle.
"Oh, it noticed us."
Shhh—
Golden leaves rode the wind straight at them.
Like a flock of birds in formation.
Surging en masse.
Unlike regular trees, Goldenwood's attack range was vast.
The moment it sensed them, it struck.
"Syria."
Leyzon called to her, perched beside him via shadow.
She stood tall.
"Yes, Leyzon? What's the plan?"
Leyzon had places to be.
"Devour every single one of those incoming leaves."
No time to chip away at the boss conventionally.
This was their ultimate cheat.
Syria's lips curled into a wicked grin.
A chilling killing intent radiated from her.
Shadow and blood surged behind her.
"Got it."
Disaster had come to Fallen Leaf Arbor.