Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Mountain's Origin Awakens
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As soon as Kang Seol placed the Rock Giant's core in his hand, the changes began.
[The Rock Giant's core fully charges the mountain's origin.]
[The mountain's energy contained in the Rock Giant's core is 'Abundance.']
[Cannot fully absorb the mountain's origin.]
[The overflowing power of the origin strengthens the sorcerer's abilities.]
[Volcanic Armor persists: Enhanced to Armor of the Earth.]
[All persistent abilities of Thunderbolt Stance are simultaneously enhanced.]
[Immune to status ailment: Petrification.]
[Origin Force: Mountain is fully charged.]
Rumble...
"Wh-what the hell is that?"
"What's going on?"
"The giant... it's disappearing."
Kukung-i's body crumbled into dust, getting sucked into the orb clutched in Kang Seol's hand. And that orb was now being absorbed into Kang Seol himself.
Whoosh...
Once Kukung-i's body had vanished completely—along with the Rock Giant's core that Kang Seol had placed in his hand—a man stood there clad in sturdy rock armor.
'This is... Origin Force.'
It was his first time seeing it in person, but the power felt utterly different from magic.
Until now, activating Volcanic Armor had required intense focus. But no more tedious rituals were needed.
Kang Seol nodded as he checked the changes.
'Looks like it's set to activate automatically now.'
Activation speed would matter, but he could test that later.
Buying Origin Force, never used it once.
Something tugs at the heartstrings;;
What is it? Thought it was a total loss, but we gained something!
Origin Force, but how do you even use that thing?
Gets it and doesn't even use it;
There were a few reasons Kang Seol had never used Origin Force until now.
The biggest was that to wield it, he first had to build up an empty origin from scratch.
This was what people called training or cultivation.
The natural forces handled by grand sorcerers weren't like water gushing endlessly from a faucet. If you wanted to use it that way, you had to fill the tank first, step by step.
And now, that first button had been fastened.
- Hey, you feel that?
Mountain Sorcerer Jamad asked Kang Seol.
'You mean this power?'
- Yeah. I've seen monsters from the Tribal Federation use it a few times, but... I never expected you'd gain it this quickly.
Another reason Origin Force was hard to use was that at their current level, neither Kang Seol nor Jamad could wield it as naturally as breathing.
Even a power rivaling combat prowess required warmup time.
'Well, that'll improve with time. More importantly...'
According to the info that had popped up earlier, slaying Kukung-i had netted him a first achievement too.
[First Title: Superhuman]
Related Achievement: Path of the Superhuman (Adventure: Doorkeeper Kukung-i)
Special Ability: Once per hour, a random stat or skill is enhanced for 5 minutes with a certain probability.
'Hard to get a read on it. Gotta see it trigger for real.'
Good stuff?
Hmm... 5-min boost every hour feels kinda meh?
Need to see the boost values during those 5 mins.
Fr, this could swing from trash to god-tier depending on how it applies.
Kang Seol's thoughts aligned with theirs.
The title's value would depend on the enhancement amount or method, so he'd hold off judging it for now.
Kang Seol finished his quick ability check.
Less than a minute had passed.
It was just a skim—normally he'd be more thorough, but this wasn't the time to relax.
As Kang Seol approached the expedition party, they eyed him sidelong.
"You see that? His body went all pitch black."
"That dog thing grew to house size too."
"He's really Frannan's disciple?"
"Frannan doesn't have a disciple, does he?"
Frannan, who'd been listening nearby, walked up to Kang Seol.
"Ahem... Noisy bunch. So, just how much are you hiding? That power crushing that rock lump was unlike anything I've ever seen."
"This is everything."
"We'll see... Anyway, let's head over there quick."
"Why's everyone gathered?"
"Lots of people died. And... there's someone about to."
Kang Seol recalled the wounded man the Iron Lion had carried on his back.
"No way... Yohimba?"
"Yeah, looks like treatment's not working."
Feed him Origin Blood, won't he live?
Newbie? Snowman tested that first thing when he got the blood.
Failed;
Yeah, maybe cuz it's diluted room temp
They approached the expedition members circling Yohimba.
Beside him lay many comrades who'd lost their lives to the fragments, sleeping peacefully.
Yohimba's face was pale.
"Cough... cough..."
"Yohimba! Let me—"
"Quit yelling in my ear."
His Relic Society comrades wailed and shed tears.
"Don't die, Yohimba! You're still conscious! Bishop, please... our friend Yohimba..."
"......"
Yohimba chuckled dryly.
"You idiots... don't ask the impossible. Even if you dragged Baranoa's head here... cough... this is hopeless. Look at their faces. Hey, miss. Got one favor to ask?"
"Anything, Yohimba."
"Words to leave behind. Can you... record them?"
"Understood."
Whoosh...
A breeze swirled, etching a radiant inscription on Yohimba's bloodstained forehead.
[Carmeli uses Recollection.]
[Target gains immunity to all damage and attacks.]
[Target feels no pain.]
[Target cannot use any abilities.]
[Shortly after, the target will surely perish.]
The death mark upon Yohimba.
It bought time, but snuffed out any hope.
"Why... why..."
"Much better now... Move those grim mugs, boys. And you, Mael—come closer."
Mael approached, his feral face still not fully settled.
"What're you scared of? Mael, you damn troll bastard."
"Yohimba..."
"Shoulders back! Why the funeral face?"
"I'm sorry."
The hulking troll bowing to the dwarf in agony was a bizarre sight.
"You've been like this since day one. Too soft for that massive build and savage nature..."
"No law says you gotta live like you look."
"Right you are. You're the smart one... kid."
"...Yohimba. Leave your words. I'm ready to record."
Yohimba cleared his throat and addressed the remaining Relic Society members.
"You brainless fools of the Relic Society, your boss Yohimba faces the happiest death. Dying in ancient ruins that still breathe life—just what I always dreamed of... But one regret: not seeing beyond that door. So if you call me friend..."
He smiled and continued.
"Go see it for me. I'll leave the dwarves' door open after I go. Much later... come find me and tell me what's there."
Mael chuckled back.
"Door'll be tight for a troll like me."
"Crawl if you have to, Mael! You're annoying enough to suffer a bit."
"Hahaha..."
Click...
"This gun... you take it. You know the workshop I deal with?"
"Thank you, Yohimba."
"And listen up, Relic Society scum. We're in a place no one's reached. We're relic maniacs who thirst more for ruins' secrets than blood ties or lovers."
His eyes scanned the survivors one by one.
"I doubt you'll all make it out. But if a miracle lets one escape... tell the world what happened here. Proclaim it."
"......"
"That we peeked at the secrets! That we fought here! Now, I'm done—get lost."
Mael grasped Yohimba's hand.
"Yohimba, your life will be recorded and stored on the edge of the Relic Society's dusty archives."
"Till dust gathers?"
"Of course."
"Haha... Born of blood and flesh, die as a book... that's... killer..."
Drip.
And so, Relic Society executive Yohimba passed away.
"Alright, open the door."
The massive key left where Kukung-i had vanished.
The Iron Lion picked it up and approached the keyhole.
Before inserting it, he hesitated and spoke to Mael.
"Sorry, troll. ...I apologize for my rudeness so far."
Seemed Mael's desperate efforts for him and Yohimba had changed his heart.
Click—
Groooan...
The door creaked open noisily, as if it hadn't budged in ages.
"If you're mad, punch me."
"Hit you, and you'll be the first through the dwarves' door."
"......"
Lmao
One shot to Yohimba's side.
Mael rubbed his bulging upper body self-consciously.
"When we get out, buy everyone a round."
"What?"
Mael's words perfectly eased the tension. The Iron Lion laughed.
"Sure, I'll splurge big—just give me the chance."
As the mood lightened, they descended.
Halt.
But Kang Seol, trailing at the rear, suddenly hesitated.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
Before the door opened, Kang Seol had stared long at the inscription on it.
'What is it?'
The same odd familiarity from the Lantern Oracle hit him again.
Kang Seol had excellent recall. He remembered past events in detail, rarely forgetting unless it was trivial.
That was why the occasional memory lapses since arriving puzzled him.
'Reclaiming my words restored memories... But this feeling's different... It's... altered.'
The sensation from the inscription.
He didn't know it, yet he did.
Memories from his words felt like reading a book with torn pages. This was like reading a pristine book whose contents had changed.
A revised edition, perhaps.
"Solitary cell."
"Pardon?"
"No, it... looked like it said that."
"What? Really..."
Kang Seol followed the party down.
After they left, one remained before the door.
It was Tori.
"Sorry, this is as far as I go..."
Shimmer...
Tori vanished.
Drip...
Drip...
Alcatron Underground Level 5.
"I feel it... This is... incredible."
"That aura... everyone, stay back!"
"The homeowner must be quite refined. This strong, yet watching us barge into the master bedroom."
A dreadful energy prickled Kang Seol's skin.
The 5th underground wasn't pitch black. Mysteriously, faint lights floated in the air.
Kang Seol said,
"Not a welcome, I assume?"
"Obviously. Just a whim."
"Whatever it is, show up soon..."
Then, a voice echoed.
"Frannan! It's Frannan! Ohohoho."
Frannan's face hardened.
"That voice... Damn it, wasn't expecting this..."
The voice rang again.
"It's me. Bornuil."
Bornuil.
The expedition's goal here—or at least, to recover his corpse.
The Scales, Bornuil.
Shimmer...
Fwoosh... fwoosh... fwoosh...
Fireballs manifested in midair, linking like a path.
At its end stood a hunched old man, back turned.
A mage shouted,
"Bornuil! Lord Bornuil!"
"Tower Lord! It's us! Are you safe?!"
Frannan raised a hand to silence them.
"You idiots... why ask that?"
"Huh?"
"That's not the Scales."
The old man grinned slyly.
"Ohohoho... Frannan, you noticed?"
"Where's Bornuil?"
"Inside... here."
"Who... are you?"
"I'm... over there."
Bornuil looked up.
Fwoosh... fwoosh...
New flames ignited.
There floated a figure bound in chains like a straitjacket from an asylum, limbs sealed, face masked.
"...Can't tell from that alone?"
The old man's form twitched.
A terrifying, fearful voice leaked from him.
"Stay still! Still..."
Bornuil's body seemed to house more than one soul.
Frannan scowled and demanded,
"Hey, you ballsy bastard possessing the Scales."
"Talking to me?"
"Yeah, you."
The one who'd lured them here and stolen the Scales' body.
"What... are you?"
The evil with crimson eyes smiled on Bornuil's face.
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