Chapter 352
Chapter 352
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 352
>Chapter Title: The Burning Mountain Fist
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The Mountain Fist, ablaze in black.
Rumble rumble rumble...
The eyes of everyone except Sleepyhead widened in shock.
It was a change that looked extraordinary at first glance, so such a reaction was only natural.
Whoooosh...
Living beings engrave objects of awe onto items to elevate their value to the limit. They imprint nobility beyond mere utility.
Before transference, that act would have simply made for a slightly more appealing object, but in this situation, it could even affect the item's abilities.
An engraving like a dragon perched atop a rocky mountain.
It naturally evoked someone in particular.
‘This is...’
Kang Seol closely examined the pop-up messages.
[Divine Item: Mountain Fist evolves into Divine Item: Legacy of the Era.]
[Divine Item: Legacy of the Era is born!]
[Astonishing Discovery! You witness the birth of a new divine item.]
“Hmm... So now this item is Tancred’s final legacy.”
Sleepyhead’s words barely registered in his ears anymore.
He had received or acquired divine items before, but he had never personally witnessed one being born.
‘Let’s see...’
[Divine Item: Legacy of the Era]
Rank: Divine Item
Appropriate Level: None
Attack Power: (+8 per level) (Current bonus attack power +344)
Durability: 200/200
Weight: 2.0kg x 2
A gauntlet that inherited the aura of the dragon who long guarded the earth. A divine item born from the addition of glacial essence to the earth dragon’s scales. Blessed by Sleepyhead, the oldest tree, it boasts high utility among divine items.
Basic Ability: All stats +50
Special Ability: Sorcery range and destructive power +100%, enters Meteor Shower state against archenemies, basic abilities increase stepwise with repeated battles.
‘...+100%?’
There was no doubt that the Mountain Fist was a powerful divine item obtainable early on, but Kang Seol’s adventure had progressed quite far by now.
No matter how meaningful it was to Jamad, the option for +50% sorcery range and destructive power alone wasn’t enough to justify using it when the other stats couldn’t keep up with his level.
But the newly born Legacy of the Era perfectly resolved that issue.
First, the core option of sorcery range and destructive power had jumped from +50% to +100%.
For Jamad, a sorcerer who wielded such magic, it meant his power doubled outright.
Of course, since there had already been a +50% option before, the perceived increase might be less dramatic, but it was still the ultimate weapon for a sorcerer.
And second, the basic stats had increased to an absurd degree.
The original Mountain Fist granted a total of 23 bonus stats, which was extremely low.
‘Since it was a divine item from the early game...’
But now, it boosted nearly 300 stats at once—over ten times more.
‘No, this is what it should have been... Even if he wore other legendary gear, it would have provided stats like this.’
As the most core piece of equipment among his key gear, he had stubbornly kept using the Mountain Fist despite its single saving grace of an option, patching it up tearfully. The boost to basic stats would feel even more pronounced.
It was like replacing a 20-year-old junk fridge only to get one with a built-in ice maker.
The other options were excellent too.
Meteor Shower sustain during enemy engagements and escalating basic abilities.
‘This’ll be useful all the way to the endgame.’
Tigers leave their hides, people leave their names, but dragons leave their gear.
Whoooosh...
Jamad casually tamed the black gauntlet with a flick of his hand.
“The crude charm is gone.”
Sleepyhead furrowed his brow at the curt evaluation but then chuckled dryly.
“The energy of her that remains in the garden has been imbued in it.”
“......”
Jamad’s eyes gently closed, perhaps recalling Tancred’s end.
It was an awkward moment to interject, so Kang Seol checked his newly acquired titles.
[Special Achievement ‘Natural Causes’ achieved.]
[Special Title 「Environmental Protector」 acquired.]
[Special Achievement ‘Close Call’ achieved.]
[Special Title 「Lucky One」 acquired.]
[Special Title: Environmental Protector]
Related Achievement: Environmental Protector (Adventure: Dragon’s Ally)
Special Ability: Experience gained from enemies killed via environmental damage increases.
[Special Title: Lucky One]
Related Achievement: Close Call (Adventure: Dragon’s Ally)
Special Ability: Immune to status ailment: Fear when fleeing from powerful enemies.
‘Hmm...’
Neither option was particularly great.
Situations where he hunted enemies using environmental damage weren’t all that common, nor were escapes from powerful foes.
‘Better than nothing, I guess...’
They were special titles, through and through.
That was normal.
Which was why Kang Seol had been thrilled when combat-related titles appeared.
‘So this harvest goes entirely to...’
Jamad.
Kang Seol felt pleased on one hand but an inexplicable unease on the other.
The source of that unease would soon be revealed, but for now, it felt like he wasn’t the one standing at the center of the path.
‘I should do some self-reflection soon.’
A quiet doubt crept in: Is this really right?
“Now then, will everyone please leave my garden?”
At Sleepyhead’s order to depart, Tantuinu stepped forward and slightly bowed her head.
“Thank you for your help, ancient tree.”
“Help? This was a transaction.”
Sleepyhead pointed at Kang Seol with a branch.
“That human showed goodwill to my garden, so I returned the favor. Wait, come to think of it, you’re connected to Tancred too. For her end to be in my garden—how ironic. Little dragon, shall I glimpse your future?”
Sleepyhead, recalling his ties to Tancred and offering advice. Tantuinu pondered briefly before shaking her head.
“I’m fine. Azanic has retreated, and I’ll be safe for a while. So instead...”
Swoosh...
She pointed at Kang Seol.
“May I use that opportunity to receive goodwill on this one’s behalf?”
“Hmm... Why?”
“My mother entrusted her future to them, not me. I want to help them.”
“Hahaha... Tancred, she was a deep thinker too.”
Kang Seol was flustered by Tantuinu’s sudden cooperativeness but had no intention of wasting a rare opportunity.
In times like these, staying quiet was the way to snag even a little extra.
“Very well. I shall peek into this little lifeform’s future.”
A form of prophecy.
Or an oracle.
The Eternal World had such a system.
A system where transcendent beings’ prophecies intervened in future choices.
If a transcendent predicted misfortune, one had to struggle to avoid it; if fortune, one had to maximize it.
However, Kang Seol didn’t particularly welcome the prophecy system.
‘Because it always sounds like everything’s predetermined, as if fate exists.’
If everything unfolded exactly as they said, wouldn’t that make it fate, with everything already decided?
The thrill of rolling the dice would vanish, and all desires would lose meaning.
“Your future is chaotic, little lifeform. Too many variables ahead... Hmm...”
Kang Seol smiled faintly and spoke.
Otherwise, it felt like they’d be dismissed with a vague ‘I can’t see it clearly?’
Even if he disliked prophecies, who wouldn’t want to at least reference one?
“What about the near future?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“...Pardon?”
Kang Seol’s expression hardened.
The words sounded off somehow.
“...Your future is severed.”
Kang Seol instinctively grasped what that meant.
“You’ll die. You. Soon.”
“Die...? That can’t...”
“More precisely, there’s a very high probability of death. Hahaha... Don’t take it too hard.”
- Man, that’s a shitty way to put it.
- ??? : Death is natural! Don’t take it too hard. Me? I’m gonna live long. Jealous? Become a tree yourself lol
- Shocker! No more show to watch from now on!
- Don’t die! If you die, there’s nothing left to watch!
[Prophecy: An ominous future is foretold.]
[Prophecies do not guarantee outcomes.]
[Prophecies may or may not come true depending on future choices.]
[Future choices will determine much.]
Jamad and Tantuinu protested at the prophecy of Kang Seol’s imminent death.
“No way... That can’t be! As long as I’m here, Kang Seol will...”
“Y-Yes. Tree! He...”
Sleepyhead yawned.
“Yawn... That’s just how it looks to me. For now.”
He tapped the dazed Kang Seol’s shoulder with a branch. Kang Seol looked up at Sleepyhead’s eyes with a blank gaze.
“I see no potential in you. Why? You’ll have to find that answer yourself. Hmm... Still, there might be words to help you... Hmm... Ah! Right!”
The tree spoke.
“There are no shortcuts. The wise already know this. So they just run the set path faster.”
“Just run faster...”
“Rigid thinking will sometimes preserve your order. You who have no process, only results... That may safeguard your approaching future.”
No more words followed.
That was the only clue obtained.
Dismissing it as nonsense from a tree wouldn’t do—the being who had hurled Azanic across the continent wasn’t one to take lightly.
It was worth deep consideration.
Sleepyhead yawned and drooped his head.
“So sleepy... Now go...”
* * *
Kang Seol’s party transferred to a forest connected to the underground garden.
They couldn’t ask to be sent far like with Azanic. Having used its power once, Sleepyhead could only send them nearby.
Still, they were steadily heading southeast.
Being delayed by a dragon chase—anyone hearing that would think it drunken rambling.
Kang Seol looked at the pensive Tantuinu and said,
“Tantuinu, it’s an ominous prophecy. The one you arranged...”
Tantuinu shook her head.
“It’s the future Mother chose. I once foolishly doubted it... but now I believe.”
“Tantuinu.”
She smiled brightly.
Perhaps the first smile seen on the journey.
“Uphold Mother’s will. Until we meet again someday.”
[Charm activates. Additional favor gained.]
[Ally ‘Young Dragon Tantuinu’ acquired.]
[‘Young Dragon Tantuinu’’s rank is Immortal.]
Rumble rumble...
Fwooooosh-!
The earth dragon soared into the sky before their eyes.
A mystical sensation like a midnight dream.
But the dream did not end well.
“Die just like that...? This is exactly why I hate prophecies.”
Was it truly a fixed future?
Had he jumped into that picture?
After Tantuinu departed, Kang Seol kept walking southeast.
One day.
Two days.
And a week.
He didn’t choose a faster route.
Walking itself gave time to sort his thoughts.
He had to think.
He couldn’t ignore what Sleepyhead had said.
Two weeks later, while climbing an empty mountain, Kang Seol asked Jamad walking beside him,
“Why are you out here?”
“The shadows are uncomfortable with Tantuinu’s massive egg festering in them.”
“Ah, got it.”
Kang Seol chuckled lightly and continued,
“Jamad, have you achieved everything you wanted by now?”
Jamad gave a look as if asking what kind of nonsense that was and replied,
“My path is still long. What I desire lies even higher.”
A very Jamad-like answer.
And a very Jamad-like question returned.
“Does the talk of death bother you?”
“...Probably?”
“No need to worry as long as I’m here. Who would dare reduce you to dust?”
Sound logic.
But it also prompted deeper thought.
Before he knew it, Jamad’s presence at his side felt natural. One could call it normal for a summoner and summon, but their relationship differed from the standard.
He couldn’t always have Jamad beside him in every moment.
With his summons entering a rest phase, Jamad was the only one who could perform at full strength.
In a way, he was growing stronger continuously, yet the unease persisted.
Recalling when that unease peaked, it was when Jamad reached the supreme realm.
Watching him power through that dark tunnel, Kang Seol had felt something.
He couldn’t precisely recall the emotion now, but it was undoubtedly tied to this unease.
‘Someday, I too will... reach that light...’
Someday, he would reach that light.
But someday was abstract.
‘...How?’
As if struck by lightning, Kang Seol halted abruptly just shy of the summit.
“What’s wrong?”
When Jamad asked, Kang Seol mumbled an excuse and kept walking.
‘How will I reach it? Me?’
He had realized the true nature of his unease.
At this rate, he would never reach the supreme realm.
Only his summons had grown stronger.
Not him.
Kang Seol reached the summit with a grave expression.
Rumble rumble rumble...
“Hey, Kang Seol.”
“......”
“Kang Seol!”
Kang Seol whipped his head around at Jamad’s call.
“Look over there!”
The whole ground shook.
Was it an earthquake? But spotting where Jamad pointed, Kang Seol identified the source of the tremors.
“What the...”
Rumble rumble rumble...
Boom...
A village visible below the mountain. And a massive structure devouring it, its corner protruding. The structure seemed connected underground.
Aaaaaah-!
Screams echoed through the mountains.
Likely villagers caught in this bizarre phenomenon.
Seeing the structure, Kang Seol recalled something.
“It’s definite. That’s...”
Years had passed since conquering the Labyrinth of Penance that swallowed Toki.
And now, before him...
[Astonishing Discovery! You discover the Jet-Black Labyrinth.]
[Qualification Tokens (Jet-Black) are scattered across the region.]
“A labyrinth.”
Another labyrinth revealed itself.