Taming the Balroc
Peruk---!!!!!
With a dull thud and an enormous shock, Balroc's head snapped back, burying itself deep into his neck.
[Kek……! Kekek!!!]
Reeling from the sudden turn of events, the beast staggered.
"Go!!"
At Lugal's shout, Adel and Sagael burst out of the building simultaneously.
Wuuung…….
The seed ring on Adel's finger trembled lightly. The bent branch atop it unfurled, stirring the wind.
Shwaaak---!!!
As if reading Adel's thoughts without any command, the wind spirits plunged fearlessly into the well.
"Then……."
Watching the spirits drag up the necklace fragment hidden in the well, Sagael put more strength into his legs, speeding up.
Papat--!! Pat-!!
He sliced through the necks of the surrounding goblins in an instant, leaping back into the building with speed that belied his age.
"Got……."
Kwajik……!! Peruk!!!
The moment he reached into the chest for the necklace fragment, his waist bent like a bowstring, and he tumbled forward.
Ujikkin-!!
His body flew back, crashing into the wall, and the ruined building collapsed in a heap.
"Sagael!!!"
[Kyaaak---!!!]
Lugal cried out as the building crumbled. Black-armored orcs, who knows where they'd been hiding, swarmed Sagael like they were lying in wait.
Kwang-!! Kwang-!!
These weren't ordinary orcs. They moved like trained elites—Kaztan's sorcerers' tamed orcs.
[Kiruk……. Kiruk…….]
Balroc watched with a sly grin. The beast yanked out its grotesquely buried, broken neck from below its shoulders with both hands, then casually cracked its head side to side as it stared at Lugal.
"Damn monster bastard……."
It was Balroc's trap.
As Lugal charged toward the collapsed building, Balroc blocked his path.
Kuwoong--!!!
Lugal swung his hammer with all his might. A thick aura gathered on the hammer's face.
Peok! Peok!! Peruk!!!
From overhead down, then up again, twisting his waist horizontally, he smashed Balroc's side.
Balroc's massive body lurched with every hit. Ashen powder scattered like shattering debris.
Thud- Thud- Thud-
As the ashen armor crumbled, a hellfire heart pulsing rapidly inside became visible.
"Hraaaah!!!!"
Lugal stretched out his hand with all his strength.
[Kruk!!!]
Balroc hastily retreated, instinctively guarding its heart. But in that instant, Lugal dropped his weapon and thrust his other hand forward.
Chilkeok-!
He seized the necklace fragment hooked on Balroc's neck.
[Kruk……. Kruk…….]
But Balroc, as if it had been waiting for that moment, flashed a sinister smile at Lugal.
[Kaaak!!!!]
Balroc threw its head back in a roar, spewing red flames from its maw. At the same time, its back wings unfurled, emitting a crimson glow.
Buwoong---!!
Balroc's fist slammed into Lugal's face. The giant Lugal staggered from the blow.
Peok! Peruk-!!!
Every time Balroc's massive fist pounded Lugal here and there, it rang out like hammering iron.
Wooduk……!!!
The sound of breaking bones echoed.
Balroc's fist nailed Lugal's face dead-on.
Tok-
Surprisingly, he'd taken the beast's relentless barrage with his whole body.
Wuuuung…….
Light enveloped him. Thanks to Yona's blessing, his wounds healed in seconds, though the blood smeared across his face remained.
"That all you got?"
Blood-drenched and grinning derisively, Lugal laughed.
[Kr, kruk?]
Even Balroc tilted its head in confusion at the sight.
Pak--!!
What Lugal hadn't let go of amid the blows. He'd yanked the necklace fragment from Balroc's neck with all his might.
[Kaaak!!!!]
The instant the fragment hit his hand, Balroc roared madly and lunged to attack.
Skaang……!!!
But then, a spear flew from somewhere, piercing Balroc's temple.
Kugung-!!!
Balroc collapsed as if unconscious, spear lodged in its head.
[Kruk……. Kruk…….]
Despite the spear in its skull, it heaved ragged breaths.
"Regenerating already? What a tenacious bastard."
Lugal looked toward where the spear had come from.
Sagael brushed back his disheveled hair, wiping blood from his mouth. Dozens of orc corpses littered the ground at his feet.
"Here."
Lugal took the fragment Sagael tossed him and smirked.
"Rookie. Your turn."
He infused his divine power into the protruding thorn inside the fragment.
[Kruk…… Kruk…….]
Balroc steadied its breathing, slowly pulling the spear from its head.
Tok-
Adel caught the fragment Lugal threw.
"……!!!!"
"……!!!!"
Both men froze in shock. Two different divine powers emanated from the fragments in his hand.
"That's not just one divine power?"
"Impossible……."
Even with the demon beast right there, their eyes locked on Adel.
* * *
"Vice-captain. This…… doesn't it feel like we got scammed?"
"……Shut up. Get ready to sail."
"Come on, without a spirit mage, it's pointless anyway. Why risk dying on a rescue mission?"
"Screwed. Totally screwed. 200,000 gold down the drain."
Leviathan Guild's vice-captain, Pausa Gwahl, scowled at his men's teasing-not-teasing jabs.
"Agh…… those bastards."
The gnome's tiny fists trembled, but he couldn't deny their words.
'Did that jerk really eat and run?'
As departure prep wrapped up, Pausa's face darkened further. 200,000 gold stung, but for a major guild like Leviathan, it wasn't crippling.
Kaduk-
The real issue was, without a spirit mage, they couldn't navigate the fog blanketing Cove.
'Dare to screw over me, Pausa? If I catch you, you're dead.'
His face flushing red and purple, Pausa shook with rage.
'Asked the Spirit Formation for help, but no word—Hanna Kran won't lift a finger…….'
"Damn……."
Pausa's anxiety stemmed from rumors that the Spirit Formation coveted Cove's relic, the Scales of Cove, in the Forbidden Zone.
"Don't worry too much. Who do you think Piz is?"
"Yeah. And Sea Wave Island isn't some ordinary ship. He'll be fine."
"I'll head to the gates, ask the guards to summon the captain. Check the adventurer guild too."
Seeing Pausa's pallor, his men—who'd just been joking—switched to concern and reassurance.
'What if the Spirit Formation beats us to it?'
But they didn't know Pausa was more fixated on Cove's relic than his brother's safety.
'Hurry up already.'
'Yeah. With bro MIA…… he must be worried sick.'
While Pausa brooded, his men exchanged glances and bustled about.
"Damn…… damn!!"
Standing at the harbor, Pausa couldn't hold back his frustration and yelled.
"Sun's high noon—why the hell hasn't he shown?!"
Kwaang---!!!
Then it happened. Looking up and shouting, his eyes bulged wide.
With a deafening boom, something huge crashed before him, sending the gnome tumbling back like a ball.
"Cough, cough……."
The pier cracked from the impact. Amid rising dust, Pausa gasped for air.
"Wh-what?! Who the hell?!"
Scrambling up from the ground, he bellowed. Already pissed, this accident snapped his patience.
[Krrrarar…….]
But a sharp, heavy growl from the dust cloud evaporated his anger instantly.
Gulp.
Moments ago wild, Pausa now clamped his mouth shut like a mute at the red glare fixing on him.
"B-b-b…… b……."
Stammering incoherently, Pausa could only point at the monster before him.
"E-everyone, run!!!"
"Save us!!!"
Harbor folk screamed at the beast exhaling sulfur with every breath, white steam puffing from its jaws.
"B-b…… Balroc?!"
Collapsing, Pausa met Balroc's eyes and soaked his pants.
"Scared that easily? How do you plan to hit the Forbidden Zone?"
Pausa jolted at the voice atop Balroc and looked up.
"A bit late."
Incredibly, Adel stood on Balroc's head, gripping the necklace.
[Krrrarar…….]
Adel tugged the chain impaled in Balroc's chest like a stake. The beast groaned in agony, slowly dropping to one knee and bowing its head like a well-trained pet.
"Wh-what the hell is this?"
Pausa gaped at Adel atop the Balroc.
"What else? First time seeing one?"
Then shadows fell over their heads.
'Pii--!!'
A shrill eagle cry rang out, and harbor folk ducked. A griffon as huge as Balroc circled down from the sky.
"V-Violent King."
The majestic white-feathered beast nobly shook its head, rubbing its beak on his shoulder.
"What in the world……."
Pausa addressed the massive man riding the griffon.
"Long time no see. Prepping to sail, I see."
"Y-yes……."
"You know what happened. Kaztan's beast tamers sealed the Balroc. Then some unknown incident wiped them out."
"Th-that……."
"Putting Zen Kingdom at risk of invasion. That's when this kid helped us."
Lugal pointed at Adel.
'Balroc wasn't enough—now the Violent King…… What the hell is this guy?!'
Pausa, who'd planned to use and ditch him, was speechless at Adel's beyond-expectations entrance. Unreal.
"Shall we?"
Adel smirked at Pausa's ashen face.
"Y-yeah."
Pausa boarded, staring dazedly at Adel's back.
"Need help?"
"Nah. Balroc's caught, but beasts remain. Without their anchor, they'll rampage wildly."
"I'll summon the Imperial Guards."
Lugal replied to Adel.
"I owe you."
"Owe? I just paid my debt."
"No. Not personal. Zen Kingdom owes you."
He said.
"Need help anytime, say the word. Not me—Zen Kingdom will aid you."
"Music to my ears."
He turned. The mild expression from talking with Adel vanished, replaced by sharp intimidation.
"Pausa."
"……Yes?"
"Remember this. He's my, the Violent King's, guest. No funny business—treat him right and come back."
Lugal pointed at his own eyes, then at Pausa, as if watching.
"Wh-why would I."
As if his thoughts read, Pausa nodded awkwardly.
"Depart!!"
Adel bellowed from the bow.
Chwaaak---!!
Caught up, Leviathan's crew scrambled to man the ship.
"That tanuki Pausa will have his hands full this time."
"Yes. Even a long-lived gnome won't know. Multiple contracts…… We thought humans could only contract one god."
Sagael said, watching the ship depart.
"Plus his half-day record…… He's rewriting history, like he said."
"And that's not all."
Lugal chuckled.
"Might just be the start. This time, he could really shake things up."
He said.
"A feat even our Eight Lords couldn't achieve."
The assault on the Forbidden Zone had begun.