This Is True Power
Tatatadak—!
Halfway up the snow-blanketed Snowy Mountains, a single black shadow whipped up a white storm as it charged forward at insane speeds. That was me.
I'm crazy. This is ridiculously fast!
I couldn't contain the surging emotions and darted across the snowy expanse in every direction. The moment I thought of heading for that rock ahead, my body was already there. Overwhelming bounce that ignored gravity, a body light as a feather. Was this what it felt like to transcend limits? I didn't need to think about how to plant my feet, keep my balance, or flip in midair. My body knew first. Where I'd land if I jumped this way. The best angle to twist for speed. How to make the next move flow naturally. I was completely intoxicated by the power.
A modern guy who'd spent his life clicking a mouse in his room had gained the ultimate physique—who could blame me for going nuts like this? No one was around in this empty snowy wasteland anyway, so I unleashed every pent-up urge inside me and leaped madly toward the highest cliff.
Kwaaaang—!
Snow exploded from under my feet in all directions, launching my body skyward like a cannonball. Shooting through the clouds with that momentum, I finally landed in the upper reaches of the Snowy Mountains, where the air itself felt different from below.
"Hoo…."
I dramatically let my outer coat flap in the wind as I surveyed my surroundings. Unlike the barren, ugly slopes below, huge, lush conifers stood in majestic glory here—thankfully spared from the territory folk's desperate clear-cutting.
And amid those massive trees loomed an even bigger one, standing all alone.
"……."
It was house-sized—no, as big as a decent four-story building—with thick ash-gray fur and enormous tusks jutting out like utility poles. A mammoth-shaped magic beast that screamed danger at first glance.
But something was off about its state. The mammoth had a half-chewed tree branch dangling from its mouth, staring at me blankly. It must have watched the whole show of some lunatic human hopping up from below in real time. Clear bewilderment and a shocked What the hell is wrong with that idiot? gleamed in its beady eyes.
I cleared my throat awkwardly and slowly straightened up. Then, reclaiming the Grand Duke's dignity, I flashed it a cool, arrogant smile.
"……Busted, huh? My true self…."
Bwooooong—!
Did my line hit a nerve, or did it decide this madman needed to go? The dazed mammoth finally snapped to its senses and bellowed a furious roar.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
It stomped its massive front paws like an earthquake, rearing up ferociously, ready to charge.
I gripped my sword's hilt tight.
"Perfect. That one's enough."
No sooner had I spoken than the ground heaved violently. But I didn't flee—instead, I kicked off toward it.
The super-coward who'd squeezed his eyes shut before the wolf pack an hour ago was gone. Now, that hulking beast ahead looked like nothing but a mountain of prime meat.
The mammoth roared in rage and swung its pole-thick tusk.
Whoosh—!
A strike packed with devastating power. But its massive bulk made the motion slow and clumsy. Despite the lethal whoosh tearing the air, I sidestepped leisurely.
In a flash, I slipped behind it to its blind spot, stomped the ground hard, and leaped into the air. Then, plummeting vertically toward its nape, I swung my sword with all my might.
Kaang—!
Instead of flesh parting, it sounded like striking massive steel—a dull clang.
…What, is its hide iron plating?
The blade did pierce the skin, of course. But unlike the wolves slicing like tofu, thick fur and abnormally tough hide kept the wound shallower than expected.
"Bwooooong—!!"
The mammoth roared in agony and bucked wildly, thrashing to shake off the pest on its neck like an ant.
"Urk!"
I clung desperately with one hand fisted in its coarse fur. Suddenly, I was a rodeo rider on a bull.
Atop the wildly twisting mammoth, I raised my sword again toward that same gash.
Stab! Stab!
Once, twice. If I couldn't pierce the defense, I'd keep slashing till I did.
Slaaash—! Kaang!
Three times, four. Deeper! Deeper inside!
Damn it…!
Craaaack—!
After relentlessly stabbing like a maniac, the blade finally wedged between its thick neck vertebrae, slicing clean through its windpipe. The sensation shot up my arm.
Kuuuung—!
The mammoth finally lost its strength, collapsing in a massive blizzard of snow.
"Haa, haa…."
Panting raggedly, I jumped down from its head. Glancing at my clothes, my brow furrowed.
"……."
From clinging on top and stabbing away, my coat and face were drenched in crimson beast blood.
Ugh, this metallic stench is nasty.
Grumbling inwardly, I couldn't stand the stickiness and flopped into a nearby snowbank, rolling like a dog to scrub it off. It rinsed some, but the thick blood smell lingered.
Whatever, can't be helped. I'll wash up back at the territory. Time to head down.
Resolving to descend without regret, I turned and gazed fondly at my massive trophy.
A mammoth corpse rivaling a four-story building in height. But as I admired the majestic sight, my brain short-circuited.
"……."
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
…How the hell am I supposed to drag this down?
No handy spatial bracelet or magic tool, no cart to load it on. The answer was obvious.
"Don't tell me… I have to do it myself?"
…Should've conserved some strength.
Recalling my wild frolic in the snow, harsh reality hit. Drunk on adrenaline, I'd overdone it.
No more rampaging next time.
I shook my head to clear the thoughts and gripped one massive tusk firmly.
"Hup, hoo."
Deep breath in, ki-yap, and pull. The four-story carcass scraped the snow, inching along heavily.
Crazy heavy, for real.
Digging up memories from my past life—unloading parcels, construction grunt work, you name it—I focused desperately.
Lower body. Pull with legs and core. Mess up posture, tweak your spine, and it's bedridden for life—Grand Duke or not.
Keeping perfect manual-labor form to spare my back, I started descending, using the mammoth as a sled.
Drag, descend, drag, descend. After sweating buckets in the ordeal, I reached the wolf massacre site.
The white snow remained frozen red with blood, wolf corpses scattered in welcome.
Oh, right. Gotta take these too.
I set the mammoth down, gathered the wolves one by one, and tossed them onto its broad back. Meat on meat—bam, it turned into a giant truck.
Gripping the now-heavier tusk, I trudged on silently. Far off, below the clouds, the territory's full panorama came into view.
Oh.
Even from this distance, thick smoke billowed from the plaza. Proof Hans hadn't slacked on my orders, boiling pots furiously.
"Good. Dinner's all set."
Feeling proud, I geared up for a final sprint, squeezing out the last of my strength—when something odd caught my eye at the territory's edge.
"……What's that?"
It connected seamlessly to the main estate, yet that one zone stood out grotesquely lifeless, colors drained.
First to snag my gaze: the wall encircling it. Not fully crumbled, but a hideous, massive hole gaped at the base—like pierced by overwhelming mass.
What the hell? Did a 60-meter giant show up or something?
Silly quip aside, the view beyond was no joke. Half-collapsed stone buildings, roofs caved leaving skeletal frames, streets blanketed in gray dust and abandoned. Not a speck of human warmth.
An abandoned zone…?
Questions bubbled, but the tons on my shoulders left no room for deep thought. Meat delivery first.
I fixed my gaze forward.
Thud, thud. With heavy steps crushing snow, I pressed on.
And finally.
After endless, grueling march, the territory's gates appeared in the distance.