Chapter 130
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Vicious Scheme
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Halberd.
A poleaxe that combines the advantages of an axe and a spear.
Its usefulness is unparalleled, as it can be wielded as both a long weapon and a heavy weapon depending on the need.
However, like any weapon, it has its drawbacks as well as its strengths.
It is more vulnerable at close range than an axe, less effective at long range than a spear, and difficult to use with a shield.
Furthermore, it is too heavy for those without exceptional strength, and its versatility makes it tricky to handle. As such, the races that actually wield halberds are few and far between.
*CRASH!!!*
But in this moment, the halberd brandished in Urk's hands showed none of those weaknesses.
He thrust like lightning.
He brought it down with crushing weight.
He skillfully hooked and pulled.
He spun it like a tempest.
Rapidly changing his grip on the shaft as needed, he wielded the halberd in every conceivable way. It was less a technique and more an art form.
It was a feat possible only for a battle-hardened veteran who had spent a lifetime on the battlefield, something unbelievable for a brutish orc.
Moreover, a bluish aura rippled like waves in time with the halberd's movements, maximizing the power of his techniques.
Even high-ranking Awakened warriors with a natural talent for weaponry could only watch in awe.
*Thwump.*
But the halberd was stopped.
Before it could strike Larr Argar, a large crystal emblazoned with the crest of a shield materialized between them, blocking the blow.
Though his halberd, wreathed in blue aura, possessed the destructive power to tear through armor like paper, the red-cursed-energy-clad crystal remained unscathed.
As if alive, it circled Larr Argar, continuously blocking and deflecting the incoming halberd strikes.
“Kuhuhu, looks like you came well-prepared this time, senior.”
“Don’t get cocky, whelp. I won’t make the same mistake as last time.”
He had been careless before.
His knight order hadn't been with him.
He had merely fled because he was outnumbered.
Now that he was properly prepared, he shouldn't think he could overwhelm him one-sidedly as before.
Urk did not deny the words Larr Argar spat out.
Indeed, from the crystal floating in the air to the silver vambraces, the necklace strung with a large tusk, and the belt made of scales, Larr Argar was armed with all sorts of extraordinary items, making him a much tougher opponent than before.
A troll’s resilient body and regenerative power.
Dual-thought processing with two heads.
Sorcery activated through tattoos.
On top of all that, armed with treasures collected over a long life as the master of the Dogwi-ryeon, he was a formidable foe with few equals even among the Transcendent Awakened.
However…
“Still, your body’s a wreck.”
No matter how much he reinforced it with items, he couldn't hide his weakened state.
Watching Urk swing his halberd with a savage grin, Larr Argar’s eyes burned with fury.
“Don’t bluff, whelp.”
“You’re not, in peak, condition. Either!”
It wasn't untrue.
From the start of the war until Pandora's intervention, Urk had to rush about single-handedly to overcome their numerical inferiority against the Dogwi-ryeon.
The minor injuries he had accumulated while traversing the battlefields had steadily taken their toll, gnawing away at his body.
In other words, neither Larr Argar nor Urk was in perfect condition.
Despite this, Urk’s smile only deepened.
“Kuhu, don’t you worry. Even if I’m a bit low on stamina, it’s more than enough to snuff out your life, senior.”
*Clang!*
As if to prove his own words, the halberd deflected the crystal and flew forward.
Though Larr Argar blocked it with an arm clad in an enchanted vambrace, the impact still rocked his massive frame.
It was proof that no matter how much he enhanced himself with sorcery or reinforced himself with items, he was no match for Urk—a Transcendent-level aura user and a warrior seasoned to the bone—in close combat.
Nevertheless, Larr Argar sneered as he threw a low kick.
“You foolish bastard. Do you really think it will all be over, even if by some miracle you manage to defeat me?”
“You’re just a, frog, in a well.”
“It’s a pity I can’t tell you just how stupid a mistake you’ve made.”
“A stupid mistake…”
*Crackle!*
Lightning struck as he dodged the kick.
Following it was a shockwave that tore through the air and a fist that could shatter boulders.
Blocking, dodging, or cleaving through the flurry of kicks, punches, and spells that flew at him each time a tattoo glowed, Urk twisted his lips.
“You mean like, for instance, rushing in without knowing who’s behind you, senior?”
“…?!”
“You’re slow on the uptake, senior. Why do you think I dragged that whelp, the Young Master of Valor, into this?”
“You whelp…?”
“Don’t, tell me!”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t know who the true master of the Dogwi-ryeon is?”
“…!!!”
*Swish!*
Perhaps because he was so agitated, his movements grew sluggish. Seizing the opening, Urk sliced off one of Larr Argar’s legs entirely.
Normally, it would have been a fatal wound.
But like the Transcendent troll he was, Larr Argar instantly regenerated his leg and stomped his foot down hard.
“How dare you, you ignorant usurper!”
“You must really, really, want to die.”
“Fine, if you’re so eager to die, I shall grant your wish!”
*BOOM!*
With a great stomp, the ground heaved like a massive wave, accompanied by a tremendous tremor.
Urk stomped his own foot to counter the wave, but…
It was only a diversion to buy time.
Using that brief moment, Larr Argar brought his hands together, forming a complex series of hand seals.
『Unleashing Transcendent Ability』
*Thrum.*
*Thrum. Thrum.*
*Thrum. Thrum. Thrum. Thrum.*
Each time the Twin-Headed Troll’s thick fingers intertwined, the red cursed energy shimmering around him collided, creating a strange drumbeat.
The hand seals grew more complex.
The drumming grew louder.
The cursed energy grew denser.
And when it all reached its zenith, a transformation began.
『Cursed Energy Engraving — Eight-Gate Cursed Carving Image』
*Rumble!*
The red cursed energy condensed, forming a massive carving.
No, it was a crest in the shape of a carving.
The partially materialized cursed energy created the shadow of a two-headed, six-armed figure behind Larr Argar.
But even seeing this, Urk did not flinch.
Instead, a ferocious smile graced his lips as he, too, pushed his aura beyond its limits.
“Kuhuhu, finally getting serious, are we? Then I shall face you in kind.”
『Aura Awakening — Raging Wolf’s Explosive Fangs』
*Wooooong.*
The blue aura condensed.
The halberd vibrated as if it would burst.
What remained were afterimages of aura fangs.
Materialized aura, jutting out from the halberd like saw teeth, vibrated violently, emitting a sound like the growl of a beast.
An ability.
The source of all supernatural powers.
A force that can be seen but does not truly exist.
But that was a story for those who had not yet surpassed the wall.
Those who had perfectly mastered their abilities could modify the ability itself, temporarily materializing it to manifest a special power.
That was a Transcendent Ability.
The fruit borne from a new branch, grown at the end of the tree called ‘ability.’
Proof of having surpassed the Transcendent wall.
The symbol of a Transcendent Awakened.
It was a power beyond comprehension.
And so, the two superhumans, having manifested their respective Transcendent Abilities, began to unleash their full power upon each other, as if the real fight had just begun.
*BOOM, KABOOM, KRA-KA-KA-KA-BOOM!!!*
Chanting with two heads.
Forming hand seals with six hands.
The Eight-Gate Cursed Carving Image created eight crests on its own.
Because of this, Larr Argar’s already fast spellcasting went into a veritable frenzy.
Lightning struck before the previous bolt had faded, and enhancements stacked upon enhancements, doubling his power and speed.
It was truly the ideal for a sorcerer.
The ultimate form for a caster, not only overcoming the weakness of casting time but also amplifying the power through spell-stacking.
*KRRRRRRRRRRRRUNCH!!!*
But those spells were all blocked.
No, they were torn to shreds.
The materialized aura raged from Urk’s halberd.
Its savage fangs vibrated fiercely, tearing apart everything they touched.
It was truly the pinnacle for a warrior.
The epitome of a fighter who, by radically enhancing only destructive power, could cleave through anything with his weapon alone.
*BOOM, CRUNCH, RUMBLE!*
And so, a battle of contradictions unfolded.
Flawless perfection that erased all weaknesses.
The finishing touch that reached the apex of one extreme.
It was the embodiment of the ultimate strength pursued for a lifetime by two superhumans who had surpassed the Transcendent wall by honing their abilities in different directions.
A spear that could pierce anything.
A shield that could block anything.
It was impossible to say which was superior.
And for that reason, the clash was all the more fierce and precarious.
As the battle intensified, its aftershocks swept through the surroundings with greater and more lethal force, but…
*CRASH!*
“So that’s a Transcendent Ability…!”
“…Is it even possible to train aura to that extent?”
Buildings crumbled.
Soldiers died.
Yet the high-ranking Awakened of both forces could only stare, transfixed at the sight.
Cursed energy that could handle close-range, mid-range, offense, defense, and support with the same speed as a warrior’s weapon.
Aura that held destructive power rivaling a sorcerer’s spell, tearing everything apart with pure force.
A transcendent realm that even high-ranking Awakened dared not dream of made them forget even to flee as they watched.
They wished they could watch this fight forever.
So much so that they momentarily forgot they were in the middle of a war, a raw desire welling up inside them.
“You persistent whelp!”
“This time, I’ll end you!”
“Kuhuhu, that’s my line.”
But unfortunately, their wish would not be granted.
Transcendent Abilities were powerful, but they consumed an immense amount of energy.
Just maintaining them for a short time was draining, and both Larr Argar and Urk were rapidly tiring with each clash.
Finally, as Larr Argar gathered his cursed energy to settle the score, Urk matched him by focusing his aura into his halberd.
…Or rather, he was about to.
*Chill!*
“…!!!”
If not for the sudden, chilling sensation, as if an ice blade had been thrust into his back.
He released his focus on his aura.
He spun around like lightning.
He swung his halberd behind him.
To do all this in a single instant was a reaction speed that was astonishing even by the standards of a Transcendent Awakened, possible only for Urk, who had spent his entire life on the battlefield.
Thanks to this, Urk was able to block the fangs that had stealthily approached from behind, but…
Larr Argar did not miss the opening that was revealed.
『Lar-Style Eight-Gate Cursed Carving Ultimate Technique: Eight Skies’ Lightning Strike』
*CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE!*
“Kuaaaargh!!!”
A simple yet devastatingly powerful spell, created by overlapping a single crest eight times.
The resulting massive thunderbolt, capable of obliterating a small territory, finally pierced Urk.
He barely managed to offset what would have been a carbonizing attack with his Transcendent Ability, but in its place, he suffered grievous injuries. Steam rose from his entire body as he gritted his teeth.
“A sneak attack during a duel, what a cowardly piece of trash…!”
“The power of my vassal is my power, you foolish whelp.”
“Don’t give me that nonsense! You think I don’t know that this 4-star vassal has another master?”
Hiding in the shadows, the culprit behind the surprise attack on him—a [Shadow Leopard]☆☆☆☆—drew a savage cry from Urk.
A 4-star vassal, with power comparable to a Transcendent Awakened, was a rare existence that even high-ranking nobles seldom saw.
More importantly, there was no way a caster like Larr Argar could freely control a 4-star monster that even a Transcendent-level summoner would struggle with.
Ultimately, this vassal was being controlled by someone else.
This duel had been a two-on-one fight from the very beginning.
“Babble all you want, you foolish whelp. In the end, justice is written by the victor.”
“You will, die, here.”
Was it because he was certain of his victory?
Urk’s eyes shot sparks at Larr Argar’s chilling smile.
[—That will not happen.]
*Flutter.*
Just as a swarm of crows suddenly flew in from all directions, gathering between Urk and Larr Argar, they vanished in unison. In their place, a single shadow emerged from the fluttering feathers.
“This duel is void. Do not take another reckless step.”
“Pandora, I can still…!”
“Now is the time to retreat.”
“Kugh…!”
As ominous as a crow, and just as beautiful, the witch spoke.
With one hand on her eyepatch, ready to remove it at any moment, Pandora’s words made Urk clench his jaw.
It was shameful to be outwitted in a duel, and even more so to need his daughter's help, but… he knew, better than anyone, that Pandora was right.
The problem was, Urk wasn't the only one who rejected Pandora's words.
“How amusing. You think you can just retreat now because you want to?”
“I’ll kill you!”
“…!”
Larr Argar charged without hesitation.
Perhaps she hadn't expected him to continue the fight even with her intervention, despite the 4-star vassal.
Though she flinched slightly, Pandora reacted immediately.
She removed her eyepatch, fixing her two eyes on Larr Argar.
Even though she suppressed it as much as possible for Urk's sake, her curse was truly powerful and vicious.
Just a look should have been enough to stop Larr Argar.
…Or rather, it should have been.
“Foolish, thing.”
“I’ll teach you the price of carelessly using a curse on a sorcerer.”
Larr Argar smiled chillingly.
The eight pillars hidden within Giam Fortress activated, and the eight crests that rose from the Eight-Gate Cursed Carving Image with an explosive light formed a massive mirror.
『Lar-Style Eight-Gate Cursed Carving Barrier Technique: Curse Reversal』
“…!!!”
And so, the mirror of sorcery reflected Pandora’s image.
The moment her wide-open eyes saw her own reflection, dripping with a foul curse, the lips of her reflection in the mirror split wide to her ears…
—and it grinned.
***
‘To think they believed I wouldn’t have prepared for the Calamity Princess. Fools.’
Larr Argar was an ancient being who had lived for over 300 years, one who called even Urk a whelp.
Thus, he knew.
He knew that once the war began, the one to be most wary of was not Urk, but the Calamity Princess.
It wasn't just because he had already investigated the curse she used to defeat even the former lord of Nakrang Fortress.
The Eight Evils and Six Demons.
That name carried that much weight and terror.
So, while he had procured the [Shadow Leopard] to deal with Urk, he had also diligently prepared to face Pandora.
That preparation was ‘Curse Reversal.’
A barrier installed in Giam Fortress, created by pouring in treasures collected over centuries and an immense amount of magic stones, all to block Pandora’s curse.
He had prepared so thoroughly against curses, a type of magic notorious for its volatile side effects despite its power.
As if that wasn't enough, he had continuously thrown the Dogwi-ryeon as fodder to wear down Pandora and Urk’s stamina and morale.
No matter how powerful the Calamity Princess was, the moment she used her curse, it would be over.
She would be destroyed by her own curse.
All that remained was to take the head of the heavily injured Urk and crush the Anti-Bandit Alliance.
Larr Argar was certain of it.
“…Ah.”
Even when the Calamity Princess froze stiff after looking at the mirror, her eyes trembling as if she had witnessed something that should never have happened.
“Hgh, ugh! Ahhh…!”
As if suddenly struck, or perhaps suppressing something, she wrapped her arms around herself.
Even as a strangled moan escaped the Calamity Princess, and her fingernails dug into her forearms, her moans gradually turning more into sobs than screams.
But…
*Crack, shatter!*
“Krrk?!”
“My barrier…?!”
As the Curse Reversal mirror he had prepared with such effort began to crack, and even the Eight-Gate Cursed Carving Image fractured, Larr Argar coughed up a mouthful of blood from the backlash of his cursed energy.
But that was only the beginning.
*ROOOOOOOOAR!*
A deafening roar echoed through the Labyrinth.
No, it was a pure cry of agony.
It was the scream of the Divine Beast Rockeater, which carried Giam Fortress on its back.
A giant earthworm made of rock, with power rivaling a Transcendent Awakened.
The potent curse, flowing back through the barrier installed on its back, was causing its purification water to boil away, making even a 4-star Divine Beast writhe in agony.
“This is impossible…!”
Countless treasures.
The divine power of the Rockeater.
And his own cursed energy.
The power of the barrier, combining all of these, surpassed the 4-star level. In terms of curse resistance, it could even be considered 5-star.
Larr Argar was horrified to see his barrier crumble so easily.
“La-Larr! Run! Run!”
While Larr was frozen, Argar’s instincts screamed at him, his face turning deathly pale as he tried to flee.
But he couldn't move.
It wasn't just because the backlash of cursed energy had twisted his insides.
The chilling sensation he had felt since the barrier began to crumble had frozen his body solid.
“Pandora!”
“Father…”
Perhaps feeling the same chill as Larr Argar, Pandora did not look back at the old orc who called her name with a hardened face.
She simply moved her lips a few times, before finally speaking as if in resignation.
“…Please, run.”
*Shatter!*
And so, the mirror finally broke.
The Eight-Gate Cursed Carving Image collapsed.
And the moment the barrier vanished.
*KRA-KA-KA-KA-KA-BOOM!*
—A foul curse erupted explosively from Pandora, consuming everything.
***
“…Wow.”
“…”
“I never knew you could put that much effort into trolling…”