Chapter 162
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: The Jet-Black Ungus
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Swish...
Ungus snatched up the two axes at his feet the moment he sensed their presence and charged at Kang Seol and Jamad, who were sticking out ahead.
It was a highly instinctive and immediate reaction.
Kang Seol and Jamad didn't just stand there either.
A brilliant light erupted from the lantern, scattering into fragments that enveloped Kang Seol's hand.
Whirl-!
Crackle-!
[The sorcerer 'Volcanic Jamad' assumes the Night Raven form.]
[Absorbing 'Volcanic Jamad's' stats.]
[Job: Brawler status.]
Clang-!
Ungus's axe was caught in Jamad's hand before it could even swing.
Screech...
"Roasted to perfection, huh? Ambika must've put in some effort."
Screech...
Drool spilled from Ungus's mouth as he poured strength into the axe. The Night Raven Jamad gazed at him with pitying eyes.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting so long. You were waiting for me, right?"
Jamad reminisced about Ungus's old face in his crazed expression.
It was a memory from when they were very young.
- Why are you so black?
- Black means strong.
- I'm not black and I'm strong.
- Weird? No, you must be getting blacker too.
Jamad chuckled.
"Heh... yeah. In the end, I turned black too. You were right, Ungus."
"Grrr..."
Crackle-!
[Jet-Black Ungus uses Thunder Sorcery: Lightning Demon.]
[All attacks spread faint lightning for a short time.]
"Graaaah!"
Ungus's axe smashed into the Night Raven.
Clang!
Crackle-!
[Jamad uses Volcanic Armor.]
Crack-!
His flame-flickering skin split and crumbled. Naturally, Jamad's counterattack followed.
Whoosh...
Boom-!
"Gahk..."
Ungus flew back from the blow to his gut, crashing into a massive tree.
Crack...
The tree he hit cracked slightly.
"I'll put you out of your misery now."
"Grr..."
In the past, the children destined to lead the next generation of the Troll Alliance had gathered once.
It was during one of the frequent great tribal councils. Back then, Jamad was just a hot-headed kid.
- I'm gonna be king.
- What?
- King, and free the trolls from the Primordial Gods.
- Pfft! Total nonsense. Ungus, let's go.
- Crazy bastard...
Among the five brothers of the Rock Fangs, Jamad was the most anomalous existence.
He was a jagged stone. Naturally, the tribal heirs scoffed at his words.
- Bro, let's bail.
Back then, Ungolla tried to drag Ungus away by the arm. But young Ungus approached Jamad instead and asked,
- ...How?
- Huh?
- How?
He was the only troll to ask Jamad how to achieve his ambitions.
"Now I'll give you that answer, Ungus."
Ungus, who had once dreamed grand dreams alongside Jamad.
Now he stood against him, gripping axes crackling with thunder.
Drip... Drip...
Pour...
The rain grew heavier, and Ungus, pinned against the tree, suddenly sprang up.
"Grrr..."
Flash! His body lit up.
Whoosh-!
[Jet-Black Ungus uses Thunder Sorcery: Flash Step.]
[All speeds increase, but afterimages remain.]
Pop-!
Even cursed and mindless, his skill remained intact. Ungus's form vanished.
Swish...
His afterimages disrupted the plateau, but Jamad focused on the presence without turning his head.
Suddenly, light flashed, and Ungus appeared right in front of him.
Boom-!
But it was blocked all too easily.
Sizzle...
Enveloped in strange heat, Jamad spoke to Ungus.
"That's why... die here."
Rumble-!
"Under my watch."
Meanwhile, Ungus's info appeared in Kang Seol's vision.
[Jet-Black Ungus]
Rank:Legendary
Est. Level:26~37
The hero Ungus of Black Thunder.
Born with thunder's essence, he was fated to become Black Thunder's true chieftain, but challenged Ambika, the Primordial God of lightning, single-handedly.
He lost and was cursed to have his soul bound to Thunder Plateau.
The only way to lift the curse is to kill him. But that won't be easy.
Basic Abilities: [Unknown 2], [Flash Step 3], [Lightning Demon 4], [Unknown 3], [Unknown 2], [Unknown 2], [Unknown 3], [Unknown 1], [Unknown 1], [Unknown 2], [Unknown 3]
Special Abilities: [Unknown 2], [Unknown 3]
Kang Seol watched, having handed body control to Jamad for now.
'A legendary-rank sorcerer... First since Magra?'
Back then, Magra exuded such overwhelming presence that just looking at him made your chest burn.
Yet, despite being the same legendary rank—similar level to Magra, or even higher—no such aura came from Ungus.
'Have I... grown?'
It was partly because Kang Seol's own level had risen incomparably since then, and when he faced the superheated Magra, his level hadn't even reached 20.
A lot of time had passed since.
Now was the time to feel his changed power.
'Though Jamad will confirm it precisely.'
Jamad was the one tuning his body right now.
Pop-!
Sizzle-!
[Jet-Black Ungus uses Thunder Sorcery: Magnetic Field.]
[Thunder power fills the caster's surroundings.]
[Effects of thunder-based abilities greatly increase.]
'...Incoming!'
Slash-!
Whish! The axe grazed Jamad's face.
Jamad bent backward to dodge and kicked up.
Crunch-!
The attack hit Ungus's jaw.
"Guh..."
Jamad pressed the momentum with follow-ups.
[Ruffian's Movement activates.]
[Evasion +10%, Hit Rate +5%.]
His left hand shot forward rapidly.
Ungus tried to block with the axe blade.
'No, that's a feint.'
Jamad swiftly shifted stance and unleashed a technique.
[Sky Kick or Ground Kick activates.]
[One of the two abilities triggers.]
Whish...
Ungus tried to leap back from the unpredictable move, but it was too late. The Night Raven's form dipped low, targeting his legs.
Jamad's foot coiled like a snake.
Crack-!
"Graaaah!"
Stagger...
For a moment, Ungus's legs seemed to twist in an optical illusion.
"Tch!"
Crackle!
Ungus's momentum shifted.
His combat instincts revived.
[Jet-Black Ungus uses Thunder Sorcery: Roar.]
[Sound is absorbed around the caster.]
[Inflicts dizziness status on target.]
Boom-!
Riiiing-
The ringing in Kang Seol's ears made him squint, but Ungus charged again.
[Jet-Black Ungus uses Lightning Sorcery: Thunderbolt.]
[Targets colliding with caster take massive lightning damage.]
Crackle-!
A sphere of thunder surged toward the black shadow.
"Th-that's!"
"Dangerous!"
The Black Thunder trolls paled, and the Alcatron search party gnawed their nails.
Ungus was a lightning-spewing monster.
Watching, Black Thunder's chieftain Ungolla murmured quietly.
"Jamad... face it squarely. Is that the future you wanted? Brother... Brother..."
Ungolla ground his teeth.
Their fight kept stirring childhood memories.
- Okay, I'll be the king.
- Then I'm the general. What about Ungolla?
- ...What's left?
- General's right hand.
- There's a role that long?
- Just made it.
- No way!
- Hey! Demoted to left hand for that.
Crackle-!
Boom-!
But the massive clash cut his thoughts short.
As thunder flashed, everyone felt the plateau shake.
Rumble...
Fizz...
"No!"
"Snowman!"
Everyone thought Kang Seol at the impact couldn't have survived.
But.
Thud-! Thunk-!
Thwack thwack thwack!
The fight continued.
Crack...
Having absorbed the impact with Volcanic Armor, chunks of the patched armor fell off mid-battle.
"W-we have to help..."
Prannan shook his head at Chameli's words.
"No, look closely."
Thwack thwack thwack!
Fierce attacks came mostly from Kang Seol's side; Ungus backpedaled desperately.
"Overwhelming him..."
"That's Snowman's true power!"
"No wonder Prannan took him as a disciple!"
The mages and relic society members admired Kang Seol's prowess.
Prannan nodded.
"I knew there were standout talents among the reincarnators, but... this is a real monster."
Thwack-!
"Guh..."
Thump!
"Urk..."
Kang Seol pressed Ungus expressionlessly, but Jamad's face within twisted gradually.
Jamad roared in anguish.
"Raaaagh!"
- Ungus, don't you feel wronged?
Young Jamad was already disillusioned with life. Ungus took interest.
- About what?
- That the blood in our veins isn't ours.
- ....
- Those Primordial God bastards gave us power but planted the curse of savagery to make us serve them. Intelligence degraded, instincts dominated.
- Doesn't change even if we feel wronged.
Young Jamad was reckless, ambitious.
- It can change, as much as needed. When I, Jamad, rise, I'll overturn it all. Watch. Telling you first, specially.
Ungus looked surprised.
- Ooh... but nah.
- What?
- If you rise, I'll rise too.
- ....
He thumped his young chest.
- This Ungus has no warrior's blood! No need for thunder or lightning. As long as my heart beats, I can fight anytime. I'll lend you my strength!
Pour...
The rain made the battle more brutal.
Back to reality, Jamad asked the staggering Ungus.
"Ungus, why'd it come to this? Why... challenge Ambika so fearlessly?"
Whoosh...
Smack!
Ungus's arm swung limply.
"Tch..."
Jamad took it on purpose and repaid in kind.
Smack-!
"Gaaaah..."
Smack!
"Urgh..."
Kang Seol thought he'd learned much of Jamad's veteran style, but they ended up with entirely different approaches.
Kang Seol pursued flawless combat.
Minimize damage, seize openings for vital hits.
But Jamad fought by offering flesh to take bones.
No—offering flesh to crush every bone, extremely aggressive.
Thus, Ungus shifted to pure defense against Jamad's onslaught at some point.
The overwhelming advantage persisted for Jamad.
"Hraaaagh!"
Flash-!
Sensing it, Ungus tried his final reversal.
[Jet-Black Ungus uses Thunder Sorcery: Form of the Thunder Stag.]
[Physical abilities and sorcery greatly increase.]
[Thunder aura strengthens and turns black.]
Crackle-!
Black thunder coiled around Ungus's body.
He discarded his axes and lunged at Jamad bare-handed.
Sizzle-!
Crackle!
Black lightning swirled with every punch.
Ungus now resembled the Primordial God Ambika: massive stag antlers, fiercer fangs, bulging muscles.
But it was all futile.
Fused with Kang Seol, the current Night Raven was far too strong.
"Damn you!"
Crunch...
Splurt!
"Grk..."
Utterly overwhelming power.
Jamad's fist pierced Ungus's gut and emerged from his back.
"W-we won..."
"B-brother!"
Those stamping anxiously approached Ungus and Jamad.
Crackle...
Grip...
Ungus's arms weakly draped over Jamad's arm protruding from his gut, as if trying to pull it out.
Even with victory certain, Jamad agonized.
"Why... why on earth... challenge Ambika..."
"...Why."
Then, a small voice escaped Ungus's lips—clear and firm, unlike his prior roars.
"That voice... Jamad?"
"U-Ungus?"
"How... are you alive?"
"Dead. Became a shadow to achieve ambitions."
"Pft hahaha... crazy bastard, still on ambitions even in death..."
Ungus's eyes seemed blind.
His murky gaze stared past Jamad, at the world.
"...Why challenge Ambika?"
"Ambika... strong, never touched him once... pft... what was I expecting?"
"Tell me! Why..."
"Feared you'd falter..."
"......"
"Without you... feared I'd lose heart..."
"Ungus."
"Ridiculous, Ambika was. Why didn't you say that much..."
Slight strength returned to Ungus's draped arms. Not recovery—squeezing out his last.
"Come with me, Ungus."
"Become a shadow? Joke..."
Expression formed on Ungus's face.
Forced, to mock his friend.
"Cursed by Ambika. Can't revive my soul."
"Then..."
Jamad bit his lip hard, voice trembling.
"If we can't go together... I'll take your power."
"Ah... that way."
"Hate it?"
"Not at all... take my power."
"......"
Schlup...
Jamad's arm withdrew from Ungus—not by him, but Ungus himself.
"Gahk... cough..."
"Ungus..."
Ungus steadied after staggering.
Swish...
He spread his arms to Jamad.
"Jamad, you're worthy."
Blood poured from his mouth, but he continued.
"Definitely... achieve our ambition."
"Wrong."
"......"
"Our ambition."
Ungus grinned.
"I'm going."
"Go."
Roar!
[Switch to Volcanic Stance.]
[Flames cling to all attacks.]
[Explosions at impact points.]
[Duration: Clinging flames apply.]
[Duration: Heat and warmth apply.]
Crunch crunch crunch-!
[Night Raven: Iron Fist Rule.]
[Shadow Hand duration: affected by clinging flames.]
[Shadow Hand duration: affected by heat and warmth.]
A massive right arm swept over Ungus's body.
Boom-!
Not enough—it smashed a plateau tree.
Craaaack!
The tree tore free and tumbled away.
"Th-the tree... flew."
"Impossible..."
Onlookers felt awe toward the indescribable being—Snowman, or Jamad.
[Current mana below 5%.]
[Mana depletion occurs.]
[Mana recovery -50% for 5 minutes.]
[Excessive mana used at once.]
[Dizziness status for 24 hours.]
[Ability cooldowns +10%.]
The usual mana depletion hit.
And.
[Jet-Black Ungus defeated.]
[Gain Black Thunder's favor as reward.]
[Can use path from Mist Hills to Alcatron.]
"Wait just a bit there, Ungus."
Jamad walked over steadily and reached toward the crushed Ungus's corpse.
Crackle-!
Thunder burst out, wracking him with horrific pain.
"Soon, I'll send Ambika there too."
Crackle!
"With your power."
Messages flooded in.
[Absorbing Ungus's sorcery.]
……
A brilliant yellow thunder flickering black gnashed at Jamad.