Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Flames of Ambition and Intrusion
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In the Altar of Fire, a place known for its relative openness, lay its most secretive chamber.
There, Jando, the leader of the Sulfur Skulls, was conversing with Magra, an elder of the tribal alliance.
"Hahaha! I never dreamed you'd grant my request, Elder Magra."
Jando, his red skin covered entirely in skull tattoos, extended a hand to the robed Magra, expressing his delight over and over.
Magra responded curtly, clearly displeased by the man's demeanor.
"Enough with the pleasantries. You called me because you needed help, and I answered. But don't expect too much. I'm no longer in a position to be tied down by the tribes."
"Of course, of course! The Sulfur Skulls owe so much of our growth to you. Why would I dare ask for more?"
"Hmph, Jando. All you have are sweet words these days. Don't take this lightly. Where are your subcommanders?"
"I must handle this matter with my own strength. If I rely on them, the tribal elders will gossip that I rose to chieftain only thanks to my bloodline's halo."
"...Fair enough. I hope you have the ability to pull it off."
The enigmatic troll called Magra scanned Jando's ostentatiously decorated room with evident distaste.
Jando, chieftain and high priest of the Sulfur Skulls, glanced warily at Magra as he spoke.
"Jamad was defeated by some mysterious adventurer called Snowman, and the Rock Fang forces crumbled. They were quite the nuisance, so it's like pulling out a rotten tooth. The Rock Fangs were nothing but a stumbling block to us Sulfur Skulls."
"Jamad... You're talking about that kid from your generation."
"Yes, from the same generation, to be precise. Now he's returned to the embrace of the Primal Gods."
"You seem quite pleased that he's gone."
"How did you know? With a glorious rival to lead the next generation of the alliance eliminated—no less, and one who constantly opposed my views and sowed distrust toward the Primal Gods! Compared to that fool..."
BAM!
Magra slammed the table.
"......"
His expression suggested he couldn't stand idly by while Jando spouted such nonsense.
"...Elder?"
"You're still so young and foolish, Jando."
"I'm past the age and position to solve riddles."
"That's exactly what I mean—you can't overcome your limits."
"...I don't quite follow."
Magra's eyes seemed to blaze with terrifying flames.
He rebuked Jando's folly.
"Trolls are solitary creatures. No one wants to mix with us."
"Isn't that because everyone fears us?"
"Tell me, do you want other races to fear you?"
"Isn't that obvious? Do you take me for an idiot?"
"...What a shame."
"Pardon?"
"...Jamad shouldn't have left like that."
Magra's words were sincere.
He remembered the old Jamad.
A young troll who had overcome numerous obstacles at a tender age and risen to chieftain through his own power alone.
- Hmph, I intend to surpass our limits. I won't be shackled by your outdated rules or the alliance. Someday, I'll overthrow it all! I'll become king of everything in this world—a king served out of respect, not fear! Even the Primal Gods are mere obstacles in my path!
'He might have been the fresh blood the alliance needed most.'
The Troll Tribal Alliance.
Among the world's powerhouses, few dared ignore the trolls, and even fewer dismissed the alliance itself.
Major tribes like Mountain, Sulfur, Waterfall, Cloud, Lightning, and Whirlwind had united into this colossal entity.
They were a collective of sorcery and primal might.
Yet, for all their gathered strength, the alliance had a fatal flaw: overcoming their innate savagery.
Trolls excited easily and crumbled just as fast. Without mastering mind and instinct, shattering the wall to true power was nearly impossible—that was the trolls' limit.
It was why they were treated not as equals, but as beasts, enduring a history of humiliation.
And yet, in their long history, Jamad—a mere young troll—had declared he'd surpass that hereditary curse. How laughable it had seemed.
'...Jamad, was that all your grand dream amounted to? To leave so easily.'
Jando, gauging Magra's mood, spoke up cautiously.
"Um... Elder Magra?"
"Yes. Never mind what I said. What do you want? Sacrifices ready?"
"Already prepared at the altar."
"Good. This isn't usually my place to step in, but I'll honor your request."
"Thank you!"
It was then.
Rumble...
"Wh-what is that?"
Jando shouted in alarm as one side of the altar sank with a thud!
"What's going on?"
A soldier from the altar approached and whispered to him.
"It seems... there's a problem with the central pillar. The chains aren't linking properly."
"The central pillar that was fine just moments ago moved?"
"Well... it's..."
"Speak!"
The soldier glanced at Magra, who was listening to their exchange about the ritual, then whispered to Jando.
"A... rat seems to have gotten into the altar."
"What? Who is it?"
"We don't know exactly yet... We've sent in some soldiers who were on inspection."
"Hmph, good call. Just one, so it'll be handled soon. But still... who would dare tamper with the central pillar? An inside job? Daring to provoke the Sulfur Skulls? We need to uncover their identity for sure!"
"Yes, sir!"
Magra waited silently for their conversation to end.
The temple shook, yet he showed no agitation, his composure unwavering.
Jando checked Magra's expression, careful not to offend him.
"Elder Magra, my apologies. Enemies who fear our advance..."
"No matter. What concerns me is the intruder's goal."
"Pardon?"
Jando knew Magra never spoke idly, so he listened intently.
"If the central pillar is disrupted, someone must sustain the altar's weight with their sorcery during repairs. Who do you think that would be?"
"That would be me... Jando."
Swipe...
Magra's eyes ignited.
"Seems they aim to tie you down... And with the Primal God Festival so near, this is worrisome."
"What could they be after?"
"Without knowing their identity, we can't judge. But disruption or a diversion seems likely. Quite the clever ploy."
"How embarrassing. Of all times, with you visiting... I want to crawl into a hole."
"Compose yourself. As chieftain of a great tribe, you must show befitting resolve."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Jando, relieved that Magra said little more on the incident, steered the conversation.
"If the Sulfur Skulls can extend our influence beyond Nevenia's borders this time, then I, Jando..."
"Jando."
"Yes?"
Magra cut him off.
"Something still bothers me."
"What..."
"The intruder in the temple. What are they after? Even tying you down by disrupting the pillar does nothing unless something bigger happens elsewhere."
"To delay our march, even slightly..."
Sensing Magra's irritation, Jando trailed off.
"Kango! Joze!"
Grrr...
"Yes, Elder Magra!"
The warrior Kango was a beast ruled by instinct.
His raw power was formidable.
Joze was the one who controlled him, practically Magra's right hand. These two were the trolls who had crushed Umi-ra's party before.
"Go down and handle it. Solve any problems."
Joze nodded.
Jando grinned widely, delighted.
"With Joze and Kango stepping in, nothing could be better! Show them despair."
"Hmph, you're the Sulfur Skull chieftain now—you can't move for something like this. Focus on resetting the pillar. Don't worry."
Jando nodded vigorously, moved.
"Truly, thank you, Elder Magra."
"Enough. I know you're grateful."
Magra accepted the thanks half-heartedly, looking uneasy.
"What's wrong?"
"Something... feels off. Like we're missing something."
Rumble...
As the trolls scattered to search for Mael, Jamad and Umi-ra's group reached the iron cages holding the prisoners.
"Sob... No more... Pleeease..."
"Let us out! Please! Please!"
Screams and wails filled the air.
Umi-ra scanned the captives with bloodshot eyes.
"Hey, what's with those guys?"
"Stragglers for sacrifice. For the Primal God Festival."
Hiss...
A troll who looked like a guard approached Umi-ra.
Huff... huff...
"Tender meat. Almost a shame to use as offerings."
Jamad asked,
"...Do you eat humans? Isn't that an outdated tradition?"
"Heh heh heh... Once you taste it, you crave more. Their scent of weakness boils my blood."
Jamad glanced around.
"Anyway, do you manage these cages?"
"Yeah, but, aha... I get it. Show me a good time, and I'll let you have a taste too. It's the festival now, so tricky, but later..."
"Do you manage them?"
"I said yes?"
"Good."
"...What?"
Jamad shot out his hand, grabbing the troll's head.
"H-hey..."
"Use the key well."
Crunch!
A nearby troll who had been smirking jumped up in shock at Jamad's action.
"You... you all..."
Hya!
Umi-ra, freed in an instant, drew her hand axe from Jamad's belt and hurled it.
Whish!
Splat!
"Guh... guuuuh..."
Thud.
Jamad handed Umi-ra the remaining hand axe.
"Two keys. Split into two sections for the numbers. You take this one."
Nod.
Jingle.
Jamad handed over the key and left.
Umi-ra approached the cage.
"Mi-Mira! You're Mira, right? How are you here..."
"Mira... sob sob..."
"Uncle, auntie. Everyone... you're all alive."
"Kid! What are you doing here? Trying to die? And who's that troll?!"
"No time. Where's Kibo... Kibo?!"
Then.
"Mira! Behind you!"
Spurt!
"Gah... guhheok..."
A massive claw pierced Jirumo's chest, then tore him in two.
Splatter!
Jirumo died in an instant. Umi-ra glared at the culprit.
"Jirumoooo! You... you... you bastard..."
"Another rat? Good thing I came this way. You're that girl from before."
"I don't know what crap you're spouting, but I'll kill you!"
The one at the cage was Joze.
The stench of blood dizzied Umi-ra's mind.
Swish!
Clang!
The hand axe clashed against Joze's claw.
"Impressive, like I felt before!"
Clang!
Clang!
As they traded blows, Umi-ra assessed her opponent.
From their previous clash, Joze was slightly stronger than her.
'At this rate, I can't win...'
Her body was exhausted from the chase, her mind foggy, and she hadn't eaten properly. If this dragged on, she'd lose.
Thus, early in the fight.
This moment of the opponent's carelessness was her only chance to turn the tide.
Think briefly, act boldly.
Kibo's teaching.
Slash!
Lone Lover's Double-Edged Sword activates.
Total attack power increases by 50% for 30 seconds.
Total attack power decreases by 50% for the next 20 seconds.
Lone Lover's Biting Fangs activates.
Disrupts the designated target's evasion for 2 seconds.
Bloodied Joze designated as target.
"Wh-what?!"
Flash!
2 seconds.
She had to close in during that brief window.
But dodging all the slashing claws to reach Joze was nearly impossible.
"Haha!"
Screech!
Having lowered her stance fully, she couldn't perfectly evade the incoming blades. To avoid them, she'd have to retreat.
But that would mean no second chance. So she didn't retreat.
"Th-this..."
Splatter!
A claw raked straight across where her left eye was.
The pain was intense, but luckily, her eye remained intact.
What her wide-open eye now fixed on was Joze's throat.
Crunch!
The hand axe embedded in Joze's neck.
"Guhk... kgh..."
Snap!
"Die! Die!"
Snap! Crunch!
Thud...
Defeated Bloodied Joze.
Acquired additional rewards.
"Haa... haa..."
The gash across her eyelid would scar. But it was fine. She had survived.
Lone Lover's Double-Edged Sword effect triggers.
Total attack power decreases by 50% for 20 seconds.
Crack!
As she barely pried the hand axe from Joze's neck, another presence approached.
Grrr...
"Damn it..."
Kango appeared, dragging his axe.
Now, without even means to resist. Kango spotted her.
"Raaargh!"
Whoosh!
Kango charged, swinging his massive axe.
She imagined a gruesome end but didn't close her eyes.
Then.
Grab!
A giant hand seized Kango's head.
"Long time no see, Kango. How's the old man?"
"Gr... grr?"
"Then, farewell."
Jamad, owner of the giant hand, smashed Kango's head into the ground.
Crunch!
Splat...
Having dispatched Kango in seconds, Jamad said to her,
"Hurry."
The rift was beginning to slowly widen.