Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 296
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Night Raven and Branca clashed for the first time.
Kik...
‘Ugh... As expected, close-quarters combat is tough without Lament awake.’
From that initial collision, Branca ingrained in himself the judgment that he must avoid melee with Kang Seol.
‘So this is the guy who turned the North into a wasteland...’
Paht-!
“Hmph, for someone overflowing with confidence, that was pathetic.”
The one leading this fight wasn’t Kang Seol, but Jamad.
Thus, it was he who responded.
“Close combat is barbaric, isn’t it? Especially charging head-on against a hulking monster like an old geezer—it just proves your foolishness.”
“Your words are fine... but this Branca’s true power lies not in the flesh.”
“We’ll confirm that soon enough.”
At that moment, several sorcerers burst out from the corner of the crumbling castle.
They exuded an extraordinary aura.
“Lord Branca!”
“Go to the sarcophagus! We’re advancing the schedule!”
“Yes!”
The staffs the sorcerers held aloft as they charged forward were artifacts imbued with powerful anti-cold sorcery, parting the blizzard around them.
They raced toward the slumbering sarcophagus of All Things.
It looked like they intended to do something to it.
We couldn’t just stand by.
“We’ll block those guys!”
“Yeah! Hurry! Let’s go!”
The original plan had been for Jone and Santio to assist Kang Seol against Branca, but the sorcerers swarming the sarcophagus gave off an ominous vibe, so they decided to handle that side first.
Branca merely watched them blankly, making no move to stop them.
“No need to block them?”
“A couple of young punk wizards at best—what could they do? I’m more interested in you.”
“Keuk... An old man’s attention is burdensome.”
“First, I’ll teach you some manners.”
Branca, a member of Zodiac, called Jone and Santio young punk wizards.
Kang Seol checked the info on Branca floating before his eyes.
[Frigid Branca]
Rank: Immortal
Estimated Level: Unknown
Frigid Branca is a great troll who became the ruler of the savage glacier ogres without yielding even to the harsh polar environment.
Born with a body larger and tougher-skinned than other glacier ogres, he was already renowned as a warrior before awakening to sorcery.
The glacier ogres, recognizing his potential early, taught him sorcery, and he eventually rose to the position of grand sorcerer.
One day in battle, to cover his tribe’s retreat, Branca stayed behind alone to fight the enemy and fell into a crevasse.
There lay the secret of the ancient northern trolls. Absorbing all that power, Branca wielded cataclysmic destructive sorcery unlike before.
He returned alive from the world beyond the letters.
Basic Abilities: [Ancient Glacier Sorcery: Opacity 2], [Unknown 4], [Unknown 5], [Unknown 4], [Unknown 5], [Unknown 5], [Unknown 5], [Unknown 4], [Unknown 3], [Unknown 1], [Unknown 2], [Unknown 5], [Unknown 5]
Special Abilities: [Unknown], [Unknown], [Unknown], [Unknown.]
[Branca’s Ancient Glacier Sorcery: Opacity activates.]
[Branca maintains the Mysterious state.]
‘The power of Foresight... repelled?’
Branca grinned wickedly.
“I have plenty to ask you, but that can wait.”
Whoooosh...
Branca’s eyes emitted a sharp blue glow.
“For now, a test.”
Clap-!
[Branca uses Ancient Glacier Sorcery: Graupel.]
[Abnormal Status: Hypothermia combines with Abnormal Status: Slow.]
[Abnormal Status: Slow’s effect increases by 1% every second.]
[If Slow reaches 100%, you fall into Abnormal Status: Freeze.]
Whirrrrr...
It felt like the snowfall had intensified.
“Feeling a bit chilly?”
Sss...
Branca’s form vanished into the blizzard.
As soon as the fight began, Jamad seized control of Night Raven.
Slap-!
[Using Multiple Sources.]
[Using two or more source powers.]
[Efficiency of used sources decreases by 10%.]
Snap!
Snap!
Snap!
Skulls serving as artifacts sustaining sorcery floated up.
Mountain and lightning sulfur ones too.
And...
Snap...
Even the skull handling the pitch-black source.
Clap-!
Jamad first infused source power into the sulfur skull to defend against the opponent’s sorcery.
“Chilly...”
Whoooosh...
- Flames... shall devour...
[Sulfur source power activates.]
[Source Power: Inferno used.]
[Boiling flames envelop the caster.]
[Caster is immune to Inferno damage.]
[Inferno has a chance to spread on collision with other targets.]
[Spread Inferno does not extinguish easily and grows stronger by consuming the target’s life force.]
[Inferno deals damage proportional to the target’s lost health.]
Roooarrrrr...
“Hot as hell, you know.”
“Hmph!”
Slap-!
- Lightning shall purify.
[Lightning source power activates.]
[Source Power: Lightning Strike used.]
[Lightning Strikes continue to fall on the battlefield until the lightning source power is cut off.]
[Caster is immune to Lightning Strike damage.]
[Lightning Strikes fall on positions marked with Lightning Seals. Lightning Seals are periodically imprinted on the ground where enemies are located.]
[Lightning Seals require a slight delay to activate.]
Whirrrrr!
Amid the intensifying blizzard, roaring flames and lightning made Branca’s eyebrow twitch.
“Source powers? How quaint.”
“Unlike some, I stick to the basics.”
“Come forth, Longo.”
Slaaap-!
[Branca uses Phantasmal Beast Summon: Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains.]
[Duration: Environmental Adaptation activates.]
[The pure white Longo grows even larger with frost energy.]
Grooooar...
A white bear emerged from the resonator, its roar ominous.
Its size was at least twice Branca’s.
Compared to the phantasmal beast Longo, Jamad looked like a child.
“Hmph!”
Slap-!
[Phantasmal Beast Summon: Shadow Wolf activates.]
[Duration: Surprise Appearance activates.]
[Happy Coco is affected by Jamad’s abilities.]
Kyung-!
What burst out from Jamad’s sorcery was Coco, infinitesimally small compared to Longo.
“Krahaha! Pathetic!”
“Coco, show them.”
Thump-!
Coco devoured the pitch-black skull.
Grrrrr...
Zzzzzzt...
Much smaller than when it devoured the mountain skull, but still gigantifying.
Swish...
Coco’s form blurred, spreading like mist.
[Phantasmal beast attribute temporarily set to Cruel Darkness.]
[Phantasmal beast type temporarily set to Medium Evil Spirit.]
[Phantasmal beast Happy Coco temporarily transforms into Cruel Coco.]
“...Hoh.”
“Now, let’s clash.”
“Good!”
Kwaaaang-!
Branca slammed the ground, sending piled snow exploding upward like an explosive.
Paht-!
The white bear Longo vanished on that signal.
Sss...
Coco also cloaked itself in the blizzard.
As Night Raven took a stance preparing for Branca’s attack, soon after, Branca burst from a blind spot.
“Hup...”
“Where!”
Crunch!
Kwachik!
A rock slab formed, blocking Branca’s fist.
“A fake!”
“Hmph!”
Psssh...
Branca dissolving into snow.
Likely a clone.
Rumble...
The ground Night Raven stood on suddenly surged up.
Kraaaang!
Longo swung its massive forepaw, menacing Night Raven. But.
Paht-!
Sizzle!
Coco slashed claws into Longo’s arm and vanished. Blood dripped from Longo’s arm.
Kraaang!
Kwaaaang!
Kwaaaaang!
The moment Jamad dodged Longo’s increasingly ferocious attacks, perhaps to forget the pain.
[Branca uses Ancient Glacier Sorcery: Snowball Fight.]
[Reinforced snow constructs form, influenced by strength.]
A massive snow arm appeared and swatted Night Raven.
Zzzzzzt...
“Kraaak!”
He generated loads of Shadow Hands to offset the impact, but it was tough. Ultimately, Night Raven was flung back.
Swish-!
Night Raven rolled across the snowfield, preparing his next move.
Crunch...
Crunch crunch...
Night Raven created rock slabs in the air like before.
“Predictable tricks!”
Branca attacked again using Snowball Fight.
Kwaaaaaang-!
Crackle...
The rock slab shattered.
Boommmmm-!
“...What?”
But the fireball hidden behind the rock slab clung to the arm, shattering Branca’s sorcery.
“Keuk...”
Paht-!
Night Raven seized the chance to close in on Branca.
“Nooorm! You’re still green!”
Branca assumed he’d chosen all-out melee in excitement.
No one had ever taken down Frigid Branca in close combat.
If they traded blows equally, Branca had the edge.
Thwack! Puck!
Kwachik...
Thwack!
“Keuk...”
“Ugh...”
The two exchanged blows.
Branca was surprised at how proficient the opponent was in hand-to-hand, while Jamad panicked as Branca’s power exceeded expectations.
In the end, Branca laughed.
Sizzle...
Branca quelled the flames clinging to his body with chill.
“Kid, you’re not ripe yet.”
“You think so?”
Slap-!
Ziiing...
At that instant, a seal appeared on the part of Branca’s body that had just touched Night Raven.
“This is...”
“It’ll sting.”
Rumble...
“Longo!”
Kroooong!
Longo burst from the snow, covering Branca’s body.
Lightning struck immediately.
Kwaaaang-!
Kwaaaaang-!
Sss...
Longo’s sorcery unraveled from the massive shock, scattering into snow.
Coco targeted Branca’s vitals in that gap.
“Where!”
Paaaang!
Kyieeng...
Even transcendent Coco couldn’t easily wound Branca, top-tier even among immortals.
“Not bad.”
“Weren’t you calling me a kid earlier? Keuk...”
“Fate is ironic.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Why must you, my descendant, stand in my way?”
“Call it a difference in disposition. I have a rough idea of what you’re scheming.”
“Keuk... kekeke...”
Branca laughed.
“You don’t know my true purpose.”
“I don’t care to know, from the looks of you blabbing about it...”
“I will free the trolls from the Origin Gods.”
“......”
Night Raven faltered mid-attack.
“And grant the trolls true freedom along with the glory of ruling the continent...”
“Nonsense.”
“......As expected of one who submitted to the Origin Gods.”
“No, the one who submitted to the Origin Gods is you.”
Branca’s face twisted viciously at Jamad’s words.
“Spouting whatever.”
“What’s true freedom? What glory?”
“What?”
“Isn’t what you’re doing just theft? Planning to grovel to the summoned beings after stealing All Things’ power? Begging them to save the trolls from the Origin Gods, please? Kekekeke... That’d be hilarious.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“I’m certain. Your desires will soon be devoured by mine.”
Jamad kept pressing Branca mentally.
“You’re scared of the Origin Gods. You think you can’t win with your power alone.”
“Blathering delusions just like your current power! Enough! I’ll smash you and leave only that jaw!”
“Keuk... kekeke...”
Jamad just kept laughing.
Branca glared at him.
Huuuup...
Branca prepared his next move.
[Branca uses Ancient Glacier Sorcery: Permafrost.]
[Permafrost accumulates with each glacier sorcery used.]
“Hah!”
[Branca uses Ancient Glacier Sorcery: Icicle Bombardment.]
[Fires massive quantities of icicles treated as blades.]
[Icicles accumulate large amounts of Permafrost.]
Whooong...
Whoooong...
Icicles of dangerous size floated in the air.
Pabababat!
They poured forward, targeting Night Raven.
“You’re heated up.”
Slap!
Crunch crunch!
The ground surged instantly, forming a rock wall.
Crack!
Crackle!
The icicles collided with the rock wall, shattering like dust.
Thud thud thud...
Massive snowballs rolling right after.
Paht-!
Night Raven leaped atop the rock wall, dodging the snowballs, and spotted Branca’s position.
Branca was murmuring incantations with eyes closed.
“Freeze.”
[Branca uses Ancient Glacier Sorcery: Frost Storm.]
[Generates a massive cold vortex centered on the caster.]
[Damage increases toward the vortex’s outer edge, with cold penetration applied.]
[Frost Storm accumulates large amounts of Permafrost.]
Branca’s complexion darkened slightly.
Even for a troll, forbidden sorcery consuming vast life force couldn’t be endured unscathed.
Fwaaaang-!
Jamad rapidly poured sulfur source power, turning his body into a furnace.
Roooar!
Whoooosh-!
With blizzard and now Frost Storm bearing down, visibility was zero continuously.
Chill invaded.
A single flickering flame wavered like a candle.
“Hahk... hahk...”
Branca, seeing Jamad somehow enduring, grinned madly and said,
“No need to struggle. It’s over now.”
“...What?”
[Branca uses Forbidden Sorcery: Avalanche.]
[Avalanche damage increases based on accumulated Permafrost.]
[Avalanche effect doubles in mountainous terrain.]
[Caster is unaffected by Avalanche.]
[Caster is immune to Avalanche damage.]
[Forbidden Sorcery consumes the caster’s vitality as tribute.]
‘Forbidden art!’
The spell Magra of Superheat had used once.
As it used life force instead of mana, forbidden arts were no ordinary power.
Rumble rumble rumble...
The already damaged ice castle began collapsing.
“Die helplessly!”
Kwaaaang!
Avalanche started from the snowy mountain peak, sweeping everything.
Crunch! Crunch!
Night Raven curled up, burying his head in the snow.
Crunch crunch!
Crack!
Now, he was nowhere to be seen.
The avalanche ravaged everything with white frost for a while.
“......”
Branca was certain of victory, yet displeased.
- You’re scared of the Origin Gods. You think you can’t win with your power alone.
Those words pierced his heart.
“No... This is wisdom and reason.”
Answering no one, Branca replied.
“To defeat the Origin Gods... this is the only way...”
- What’s true freedom? What glory?
“Shut up... When the Origin Gods’ era ends, everything will...”
“Ah, that was really dangerous this time.”
Flick-!
Branca whipped his head around.
The snowy mountains silent.
Where did the voice come from?
Branca mistook it for an auditory hallucination.
As he turned back, something writhed in the snow pile.
Psssh...
“Puha! Hahaha! A bit sloppy. Now my turn?”
Tattered primordial bones. Even clad in earth armor, Night Raven had nearly shattered.
But he endured.
“...You.”
“Hey, the Origin Gods’ era ending? Kek... True freedom won’t come.”
Sss...
Jamad emerged from the snow pile.
His hands trembled.
“It’s not about it ending. It’s about ending it—with these hands!”
Branca stared at Jamad like he’d seen a ghost.
“How did you survive?”
“This body is a mountain sorcerer. Dying on a mountain would be a joke, right?”
Jamad said.
“Kang Seol... please. My arms won’t move. Complete the sorcery for me.”
“Yeah.”
Night Raven’s arms, which hadn’t risen, moved after Jamad spoke.
Slap-!
“Ah, thanks. And... you there.”
Rumble rumble rumble...
The entire mountain shook.
“What...”
Branca panicked at the ominous tremors.
Jamad’s eyes gleamed.
“This is forbidden art.”
[Using Forbidden Sorcery: Tectonic Shift.]
………