Grendel's Savage Charge
Paira wore a peculiar expression. Of course, it was worth a shot. But he knew a negative response was inevitable.
The Mountain King had no interest in events beyond his domain. Whether humans hunted a few yagon at the fringes of Gramunt, that was none of his concern. The Mountain King was a herbivore to begin with—not just in its elephant-like appearance, but in its diet as well.
"I see. Must've been frustrating for you all."
Yet the Mountain King was a wise being. It might know something about why the yagon packs had vanished. Shamans from the northern villages climbed the Sacred Mountain to borrow its wisdom.
"So, did you get an answer?"
[Ah... I heard it.]
The shaman's ghost shuddered in its frozen body, letting out a wail.
[With the answer of ice and fangs!]
"... Damn it all."
No need for lengthy explanations. Paira instantly intuited that the Mountain King's minions had killed the shaman.
But it didn't make sense. Why would the Mountain King do this? Why pick a fight with humans it had maintained good relations with all this time?
The Mountain King was a formidable monster. But humans weren't to be trifled with either. The Mountain King knew their potential well. That's why they'd formed an unspoken non-aggression pact.
Yet its minions had attacked a shaman first...?
What the hell are they thinking?
"Ian."
"I heard it all too."
Ian nodded. Paira had often grumbled about never spotting the Mountain King's minions. He hadn't realized that was actually a blessing. Never encountering them until now had been sheer luck.
"Let's head down the mountain for now. I don't know how this plays out, but sticking around will just put us in danger too!"
"Sounds good to me."
Ian had no desire to tangle with the Mountain King's minions. No point in fighting monsters that wouldn't even grant experience points.
This wasn't a game fantasy—it was just plain medieval fantasy.
Krrrarrr...
But then.
"Oh, crap."
Belenca drew her sword once more. This time, Paira didn't stop her. White-furred beasts emerged from beyond the snow-covered valley.
"Grendels...!"
Monsters resembling white-furred apes. The Mountain King's minions, the Grendels.
[Death to the intruders!]
Each Grendel was bulkier than a grown man. And there were dozens visible to the naked eye.
"Son of a bitch..."
They'd finally met the Mountain King's minions he'd been so curious about, but Paira's face drained of color as he stared at the charging beasts.
The Mountain King ruled the Sacred Mountain. Like anywhere else, when the local overlord decided to attack, the target rarely escaped death.
Paira was no exception.
Hrun Dal...!
Gazing at the onrushing Grendels, Paira felt the world go dark. This is it... I'm done for!
"Paira! What are you doing?!"
"W-We... we're finished... The Mountain King decided to dispose of us..."
Paira was a shaman who read the flow of fate. He'd always accepted destiny, so he figured he'd accept his death too. Or maybe it had just become habit.
The habit of yielding to vast currents.
But Mage Ian was different.
"So what?!"
"...Ian."
Ian steadied his pounding heart and fixed his gaze forward. Dozens of beasts bulkier than northern warriors. They craved his death.
For a weak-willed human, the sheer intimidation would crush any will to fight. A horrific situation.
But not for Ian.
"Divine the fate! Paira!"
"..."
"If Hrun Dal truly wants you dead, then die! But I guarantee you—your god doesn't want your death!"
Ian's shout snapped Paira back to reality. He was right. Those were just a monster pack—not Hrun Dal's will!
"Right...! What do I care about the Mountain King! I have the will of the gods and great nature on my side!"
Paira's whites of his eyes gleamed with ghostly light. Like a man possessed, he rolled his eyes back and drew an Arcana card.
"Oooooh! Hrun Dal! Answer me!"
As Paira drew the card, a mystical energy rippled out. This wasn't the fumbling from the village. True Arcana magic unfolded.
Proof: the shaman's ghost, a being of mystery, reacted.
The ghost shuddered.
[Alright. My turn...!]
The shaman's ghost gladly sacrificed its body for Paira's ritual. A frozen corpse anyway—what better than to smite the Grendels?
[Who dares disturb my slumber?!]
A booming voice echoed across the mountain. To ordinary ears, it sounded like an avalanche.
Paira's Arcana magic had stirred the mountain's mystery. In response, the shaman's ghost bellowed.
[Me! You senile old fool!]
[What?! Senile old fool?!]
[Yeah! You fossil who just sleeps buried in snow! That's you!]
Ian gaped at the scene. Are they suicidal right now?! (Even though he's already dead!)
Talking smack to the mountain's mystery like that...!
[You filthy wretch!]
The mountain's mystery flew into a rage. At the same time, the shaman's ghost grinned.
Ian felt chills crawl up his spine... He understood how the mystery would exact revenge on the Grendels!
[Be crushed!]
The mountain's mystery swung a hammer-like force. Simultaneously, the frozen corpse exploded like a bomb!
An unbelievably fierce ice storm erupted from the body.
"Kiaaak!"
Caught off-guard by the sudden blizzard, the Grendels faltered and slowed.
Ian swallowed hard. He'd just grasped the shaman's method. The principle of the magic wasn't complicated.
Paira drew a card, scattering a noisy intent around. The shaman's ghost cooperated to stir up chaos, enraging the mystery into unleashing violent phenomena.
Provoking the north's savage mysteries to trigger anomalies. Vastly different from the Maronius language approach.
Maronius sought the mystery's cooperation from the start, but Arcana magic didn't hesitate to poke the bear.
A bold, reckless style. If Ian tried it directly, the pissed-off mystery would squash him flat.
But channeling intent indirectly through cards made it hard for the mystery's wrath to reach the shaman.
That's Arcana magic...
Ian smiled unwittingly. Witnessing and understanding new magic was always thrilling—even with monsters charging!
Your Arcana comprehension has increased!
Arcana Manifestation – Draw One
Draw a single Arcana card to trigger an anomaly. Only the Ice God knows what will result!
"Ian!"
Belenca shouted. Paira had bought time—now it was Ian's turn.
Ian drew a card from his own Arcana deck.
The card he drew was The Hanged Man.
You drew the 'Hanged Man' card...!
A writhing being in agony takes notice of you!
A chilling magic sent shivers through his body. Ian felt the gaze of an overwhelming presence.
Eyes that feared and despised everything. But toward Ian alone, there was a hint of goodwill.
Ian already knew this entity of profound sorrow.
"Impure mystery!"
[Ahh... Ian...]
Ian glared at the charging Grendel horde and bellowed fiercely.
"Wail with all your might!"
Through the Arcana card, the impure mystery was summoned.
Summoning an impure mystery the mage way would require countless rituals and sacrifices. But with an Arcana card, Hrun Dal's will enabled a quick, reliable borrow of its power.
The impure mystery unleashed a savage howl. At once, a horrific dissonance engulfed the Grendels!
[Kiaaaaaaaaak!]
"Gaaack!"
"Kiaaak!"
The impure mystery's wail shattered the Grendels' minds. It was the same nightmarish force that had nearly broken Ian, Paira, and Kira.
Pain, torment, sorrow, fear... As negative emotions burrowed into their brains, the Grendels couldn't endure.
"Belenca! Cut them down!"
"Got it!"
Belenca severed the neck of the lead Grendel. The ape head with its protruding fangs tumbled across the ground.
"K-Kiaak!"
"Kyaaak!"
That sparked a contagious panic. Seeing a comrade die while their wills were eroded by negativity—they lost all fighting spirit!
In gamer terms, 'morale zero.' Mental collapse.
The Grendels fled in panic. Belenca chased and felled a few stragglers.
"Ian. You okay?"
Kira grabbed Ian's hand worriedly. She'd personally endured the impure mystery's horror. To wield a mystery, one must converse with it—that was mage common sense.
Controlling something nauseating just by looking at it... How ironclad must one's mentality be?!
Kira naturally assumed Ian had pushed himself to the brink.
If he'd invoked it with Maronius language, she'd be right. But...
Ian was perfectly fine. Because he hadn't summoned it—Hrun Dal had.
Dump the penalties on the god, reap the benefits! That's why shamans fawned over Hrun Dal.
It could even sprout faith from nothing.
Solid performance.
Arcana magic suited the north perfectly.
"Ugh... My head suddenly..."
"Ian!"
"...Feels great!"
Kira blushed and smacked his back.
"Y-You scared me..."
Ian chuckled, and Kira couldn't help but laugh too. As long as he was fine, she felt good.
"Paira! Let's bolt before they regroup."
"Yeah. We should."
Paira murmured, gazing up at the pristine snow peaks. For the Mountain King to reject its shaman... Far off, an ominous wind seemed to swirl.