Chapter 326
Chapter 326
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 326
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Bron was a born guide.
No, he knew the lay of the land like it was etched into his palm.
“This way’s a bust. Hit an ambush halfway, and we’re wide open.”
“There’s a cave underground. It’s long, but it connects to the other side.”
“Watch it—the bats around here carry disease.”
The good news was that, despite the mole scout units scattered in small groups all across Whigeltoong, they hadn’t run into a single one.
Which meant they could reach the Tomb of Breath without issue.
“They’re probably figuring we’re hunkered down in the fortress, waiting to starve out. Not many of ’em with half a brain.”
And so, Kang Seol, Jamad, and Bron made it to the entrance of the Tomb of Breath.
The terrain there was like an ice canyon. Paths weaving between underground and surface, fragile ice floors that could give way at any moment—not to mention the brutal cold that made the place infamous.
“Yeah… this is where we faced the bastard.”
“…Strong?”
He meant the Irizard.
Bron paused at Kang Seol’s question, memories flooding back. A horrific, utterly helpless one.
—Ruuuun!
—Bron! My sorcery’s being corroded! He’s taking my—
—Warriors of Glacier Fang! Fear not death!
Blood.
Breath.
Everything froze solid and vanished.
Like it had shattered into transparent shards from the start, so many lives lost. Those who challenged a primordial god’s fragment could never rise again. They’d felt a terror beyond death from a transcendent being.
But one who returned from death would challenge it anew. Maybe Bron was just such a fool.
“Obviously. Couldn’t even land a hand on him.”
“Well…”
Crunch…
Crunch…
They passed through an open-to-the-sky stretch, and an ice ceiling soon blocked the light. Visibility dimmed around them.
Whooooosh…
Whigeltoong was cold by default.
No way a regular person survived there without help.
The Tomb of Breath was known as one of its harshest cold spots.
“Getting seriously cold.”
“Heh… icicles on your eyebrows soon.”
“This normal?”
“Nah, not like this before. Even Glacier Fangs’d freeze solid… probably my alchemy, or…”
Bron scowled.
“Irizard’s work.”
Whooooosh…
“You holding up?”
Fwoosh…
In response to Bron’s question, the Night Raven revealed eyes glowing with warm light.
With the source of sulfur drawn up, the cold was no issue.
“…Just me to worry about, then.”
“The alchemy site’s deeper in?”
“Long haul ahead. Watch your step—ice looks solid, but it could crumble anytime.”
Crunch…
Crunch…
After trudging along for a while, the Night Raven halted.
“Powerful presence ahead.”
“Heh… that’s my alchemy. And…”
Bron sensed the sorcery blanketing the area and chuckled.
“Irizard’s bundled up tight! Hahaha! Couldn’t dispel it! Of course not—this Bron bet his life cooking up that forbidden sorcery!”
A spell even a primordial god’s fragment couldn’t unravel.
Proof of just how immense Bron’s power had been at his peak.
“Bron, got a question.”
“Shoot.”
“How big was that expedition army sleeping here?”
“…”
“Half the fortress garrison?”
“Dunno… was half-dead myself, memory’s fuzzy on survivors. But ballpark…”
Bron smirked.
“Several times that.”
“…What? You said they were all elites.”
“Heh… Glacier Fang’s golden age stockpile. Dragged ’em all here to fight Irizard—obvious.”
Claiming them would make a massive force. But it cut both ways.
“…And even that many couldn’t take him down?”
Bron answered Kang Seol and Jamad’s question with a bitter edge.
“Numbers didn’t matter against Irizard. He’s… strong.”
“Then why challenge him now, when that expedition failed?”
“Told you—’cause you’re here.”
“…”
“Not just talk. Irizard’s got traits that make him a nightmare beyond raw power. With you… no, two leaders? We can handle him.”
“…Sure, whatever. Recover them, and we fight?”
Bron thought for a moment before replying.
“Ever clash with Branka’s crew?”
“Bumped into ’em at Mansang.”
Stronger than your average Glacier Fang.
Some still mixed in at the fortress.
Stomped noticeably bigger too.
“But why the gap?”
“Branka’s greed—they took in ancestral spirits. Turned into monsters wielding ancient sorcery… but couldn’t control the savagery. Constant trouble.”
“Pureblood versus half-blood issue, huh.”
“Wasn’t simple. We rotted from the inside. And I…”
“Foolishly swept it under the rug instead of fixing it.”
“No way… you split?”
“…Yeah. Banished ’em all. No meddling pact. They’re the Seriagwi now. We were strong… figured splitting beat clashing. Would’ve wrecked both sides.”
Meaning Branka’s bloodline got rejected as Seriagwi and split off independently.
Kang Seol had more questions for Bron, but the situation left no room for chit-chat.
“Hold up.”
“Hmm…”
“Something’s there.”
“Moles?”
“Probably, but… feels off.”
“Me too. Not a ton of ’em.”
“Didn’t expect us here. Who’d bet on this Bron coming back alive? Heh…”
The Night Raven asked,
“What happens to the sleeping troops if we cut loose here?”
“No sweat on that. If they were that brittle, they’d have crumbled ages ago.”
“Rampage away, then.”
“Wanna?”
“Gotta.”
Thud-thud-thud-thud…
Sound of moles scrambling.
“Already made?”
“Smells like just now.”
“Then let’s move fast.”
Whoosh-!
Fwoooosh-!
Bron and the Night Raven plunged into the canyon depths.
That instant.
Fwoooosh!
“Eek! Kee-yEEK!”
“They’re here! Really here!”
“Don’t let ’em through!”
Scouts led with razor claws, swarming the Night Raven.
Booom-!
“Guh…”
BOOOOM-!
“Urk…”
No sorcery needed—the Night Raven’s swung fist sent them flying.
“Eeeek!”
“Sorcerer! Strong!”
“It’s real! He’s really strong!”
“Dukokko! Dukokko! Help!”
“Dukokko! Did what you said! Come out and help!”
Moles screaming for Dukokko.
Fwoooosh!
Fwoooosh!
Moles popping up all over the canyon.
“Tch…”
“Still not that many. Alert squad, not organized.”
“Dukokko!”
Then.
Rumble-rumble-ruuuumble…
KABOOOM-!
A massive mole dropped from above.
Armored mole, with a reins-holding mole sorcerer mounted on top.
[The Wicked Dukokko appears.]
[The Gluttonous Dagugu appears.]
“Kek… kee-hee-heek… it’s real? Dukokko was right! Zakucha’ll praise me!”
“Grrrrr…”
Familiar name from these powerhouses.
‘Zakucha… the one hanging with that sorcerer Crom, dawn crystal guy? Grand general?’
Dukokko seemed his underling.
Better end him quick.
Bron asked,
“No way… solo?”
“Huh? Dukokko and Dagugu make two? Moron? Can’t count?”
“Oh, my bad… reinforcements?”
“Didn’t call any! Your heads are all mine! Kee-hee-hee-heek!”
—Oof…
—Our friend came alone…
—Into a place this dangerous…
Viewers dimly foresaw Dukokko’s fate.
The Night Raven said,
“Fat one’s mine.”
“Then I’ll take the ‘smart’ Dukokko guy.”
Dukokko yelled,
“Go, Dagugu! Show your power!”
“Kee-YEEK!”
Creeeak…
Dagugu’s body ballooned like a ball.
Craaaack…
Ice soon encased it.
‘Chain mail?’
Dukokko boasted of the intricate, armor-like ice weave.
“Dagugu’s tough! Never been pierced!”
[The Gluttonous Dagugu uses Body Swell.]
[Attack range increases by 50%.]
[The Gluttonous Dagugu uses Ice Chain Mail.]
[Reduces physical damage by 30%; total defense increases by 50%.]
“GRRRRR! GRAAAAAH!”
Dagugu drooled as it charged the Night Raven.
“Careful!”
The Night Raven scoffed at Bron’s warning, cloaking himself in earthen armor.
CLAAAAANG!
Sizzle…
Pushed back hard, but the Night Raven looked unscathed.
“Kee-heek! You’re pretty tough too?”
“Yeah? You don’t seem to be.”
“Grk… grrrk…”
The ice chain mail on the Night Raven’s gripped Dagugu shattered off.
“…Huh?”
“Grk…”
Whoooosh…
The Night Raven pulled one arm back, then slammed it into Dagugu’s body.
BOOOOOOM-!
Like a balloon popping, the ice chain mail exploded in shards.
“KIIIII! KEEEE-IIII!”
“Dagugu! Calm down! W-what? How’d you hurt Dagugu? He’s tough!”
A voice echoed from the Night Raven’s helmet.
【Felt squishy to me?】
“…”
The Vitra wasn’t ordinary, nor was Jamad’s Mountain Fist cloaking it.
It could smash most defenses flat.
Whoooosh…
SPLASH-!
Thud!
“GYAAAAAH!”
“Missed, huh?”
A water arrow pierced Dukokko’s shoulder. Bron had aimed for a strike during a lapse, but Dagugu’s thrashing threw off the shot.
“Oww… hurts!”
“Eek! Kee-eek… getting pushed! Dukokko’s getting pushed! Dukokko! You lied!”
“Shut it! Useless trash! This is your fault for not helping! Help? Fine, help! Dagugu!”
“Grk… grrrk…”
“Eat all you want!”
[The Gluttonous Dagugu uses Ravenous Feast.]
[Size and stats surge based on intake.]
[Follow-up intense activity risks indigestion.]
Smack-!
“Kee-YEEK!”
“What the hell are you doing!”
Dagugu started devouring moles—allies.