Dododo Rushing In From Both Sides
Kiko Armin, senior in enchantment magic, hurried up the Mage Tower's stairs. It seemed the magical tools and subspace pouch stuffed full weren't enough—she'd crammed refining equipment into her arms as well, both hands overflowing.
"Huh?"
A voice called out to her.
"Senior Kiko?"
"Um... sorry, who might you be?"
"Guess who?"
A childish, muffled tone. Whoever it was, they were playfully disguising their voice. Kiko grunted as she twisted her body, craning her neck to spot the owner of the voice, but even that proved impossible with her load.
Swoosh—
Suddenly, her view cleared.
"As apology for teasing you, let me carry this."
Half her burden vanished from blocking her sight, replaced by a cascade of lush green curls entering her vision. Color bloomed on Kiko's face, as if she'd come back to life.
"Senior Bellie!"
Bellie Yusia, senior healing mage. Together, they ascended the Mage Tower's stairs. The reason for their rush was simple: that very evening—right now—they had to head to the Arcana Continent.
"I was worried I'd trip, but you saved me."
You seemed in quite a hurry, Senior Kiko. Her hair, hastily wetted and combed, bore clear signs of the rush. Bellie gently smoothed down Kiko's stray locks as she spoke.
"I heard the news. Must've been chaos for you."
"...It's already spread all the way to the outposts?"
"Yes, and without any distortions."
"Sigh. Senior mages are all talk and no action...!"
The rumor had to be about the chief mage barging into Garnet Hall and bluntly asking about her evening schedule. Kiko still felt dizzy just thinking about it. Setting aside the trivial misunderstanding...
"You mentioned entering the Arcana Continent via the Dragon Heart, but I thought it had nothing to do with me. And now, so suddenly...!"
To think she'd set foot on Arcana soil! Would the Armin family be safe? What about her hidden research lab in the family estate? How devastated was the Arcana Continent? The magical tools left in the Antonium Empire's warehouse...
Kiko's mind swirled in chaos. She shook her head vigorously to clear the stray thoughts, then asked Bellie,
"Are you okay with this, Senior Bellie?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you seem so composed, unlike me."
"Composed?"
Bellie let out a soft laugh.
"I'd been keeping it in mind."
From the moment Yunak Seus fell, Bellie had anticipated the day she'd step onto the Arcana Continent. Her meaningful reply made Kiko's eyes sparkle.
"As expected of you, Senior Bellie...! Could you give me just a little hint? After that unnecessary misunderstanding in Garnet Hall, I want to prepare my heart this time."
Thud.
As her words ended, the pair reached the Mage Tower's top floor. Bellie smiled brightly.
"I'd love to, but isn't it better to hear it straight from the chief mage? Looks like everyone's finally gathered."
"...!"
Peering out at Bellie's words, Kiko saw the advance team assembled on the top floor. Harcon Kingsguard in his wheeled chair. Four adventurers supporting him. Seniors Matis and Banggrit. Elder mage Yugweed. And finally...
"This completes attendance."
Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol.
"Gasp."
I was so busy grabbing magical tools... I'm way too late...!
Realizing this, Kiko rushed to join the group. Bellie followed.
Only then did Hoyeol speak.
"The reason I summoned you is simple."
Tension rippled through the air. Nam Taemin swallowed dryly. At first, he'd thought it was just about honoring his words. But the advance team was half the expected size—only ten out of twenty.
This might not be cause for celebration just yet.
There had to be a reason for Hoyeol's decision. From a prideful perspective, half were cut. Nam Taemin's prediction was spot on.
"For the eruption of evil truly begins now."
The eruption of evil... Yunak Seus, who devoured it. Was the dragon's appearance merely the prelude?
"No...!"
Horror spread across the faces of those who grasped his meaning. Among the advance team, only Bellie remained calm.
I suspected as much.
No—Bellie quietly burned with resolve. In this moment, she felt the weight of her responsibility. Purifying the evil. It was the first task Chief Mage Hoyeol had entrusted to her. Yet she had failed. The result? The Mage Tower lost its Tower Master, and Harcon lost his legs.
If only I hadn't been lacking...
From the Shadow Mercenaries onward, treating the injured had consumed her time. But she refused excuses.
I'm sorry, Chief Mage.
Compared to his efforts, her duties were merely what she was supposed to do. So Bellie clenched her fist tight.
"Regrettably, experience against Yunak Seus will be of little help. The dragon was desperately suppressing the eruption."
"...!"
"With the heavy sense of duty it bore."
The five who faced Yunak Seus—Harcon, Nam Taemin, Hisagi Kazuma, Leoni Bellucci, and Skal—felt the gap anew.
That was the desperate suppression...?
Yet their spirits didn't break. They bore a mission too.
"We cannot expect the same pride from other dragons. From this moment, neither the Arcana Continent nor the reality of the Zero Mountains is safe from dragons. They traverse dimensions freely, after all."
"...!"
Only then did the advance team understand why the team was halved. No one could predict when or where a corrupted dragon might appear. To prevent skewing forces to one world. Harcon nodded.
A flawless judgment only the awe-inspiring one could make.
Yet one question lingered.
...Why include someone like me?
He'd lost both legs, needing others' aid to move. Equipment to compensate existed in both worlds, but...
Even adapted, I can't charge battlefields like before.
Harcon didn't voice it. Faith in Hoyeol silenced him.
Even so, he must have purpose for me.
If I have use, I'll follow gladly.
His faith was soon rewarded.
Whoooosh—
A portal manifested on the top floor. Beyond the darkness lay the Arcana Continent. The advance team stepped toward it, tense. Only after did it hit them.
Wait, where's the destination?
They'd vaguely assumed Arcana Continent, but it was vast. Would they awaken in Antonium, the empire's capital under reconstruction?
Each pondered.
Then, an unimaginable sight unfolded.
"!!!"
What filled the advance team's view: the vast panorama of the Arcana Continent. As if gazing from dizzying heights in the sky.
"W-We aren't free-falling from the sky, right?"
Banggrit and others, glancing around cautiously, flinched. Sounds reached their ears.
Hiss—! Clank—! Hiss—!
Gears meshing. Clang! Clang! Clang! Metal striking metal.
Yes. Welcoming the advance team was the flying fortress, Iron Castle Ho.
Harcon let out a hollow chuckle.
"I'd only heard from the Grand Commander..."
Having learned of the empire through Hoyeol, he instantly recognized this as inside the Iron Castle Ho, docked at Antonium and aiding the empire substantially.
But the surprises weren't over.
"We've been waiting, Black Dark Dragon."
Dwarves greeted Hoyeol respectfully. One elderly-looking dwarf approached Harcon, eyed his lower half gravely, and blurted,
"State your wish."
"...What do you mean, suddenly?"
"To me, Walls Whale, the greatest dwarven blacksmith, tell me any custom order. I'll fulfill your desires to the best of my ability."
"...!"
Harcon finally understood. This top dwarf, Walls Whale of legendary skill, offered new legs. No other reason for such generosity to a stranger.
Did he select me for this...?
A request from the awe-inspiring one. Harcon turned to Hoyeol. He was unchanged, as if it were natural—no thanks expected.
"From the intel we've gathered..."
Hoyeol merely received reports from the dwarves.
...Can't interrupt procedure for sentiment.
Harcon bowed to his back. Emotions surged uncontrollably. The killer intent faded from his eyes reignited.
"I want unbreakable legs."
"Simple. With our ores..."
"Light ones too."
"Not a tough order."
"Finally, legs transcending human limits."
"...What?"
"To chase after him."
To pursue him. Walls Whale glanced at Hoyeol, shook his head. Even so, that was tall.
"I get the sentiment, but human limits..."
As he trailed off,
"I think I can help here."
Senior enchantment mage Kiko wedged in. Walls Whale eyed her.
Mage? Hate those folks.
His gaze shifted to the refining tools she set down.
"...Wait, aren't those smelting tools? Why's a mage carrying them? No hammering in the Mage Tower."
"Aw, don't be like that."
"What? You know mana stones too?"
Mana stones. Dwarves used them extensively in Iron Castle Ho and beyond, but couldn't claim full potential. They weren't adept with mana.
Kiko replied proudly.
"Mana stones are rare here, so I've only handled crafted ones. But I'm confident. Just mana-infused rocks, right? As a Mage Tower senior, that's basic."
"Oh ho. Your dream might come true."
"...Really?"
Harcon's ambitious hopes might exceed reality. His disciples, most worried for him, could jump for joy.
Yet...
"...?"
Nam Taemin, Hisagi Kazuma, Leoni Bellucci, and Skal said nothing.
Players' vision, invisible to Arcana natives. Messages upon entering Arcana Continent.
The man who saved the Arcana Continent plummeting into despair was one man. He breathed new hope into the Arcana Continent.
The 'man' who saved Arcana Continent.
The Arcana Continent now sings of that legend. The biting winds across the continent cease, frozen lands thaw and tremble with life force: EXP gain +50%.
The buff from that man. Its scale defied reason. From Arcana's game days to now.
"What the—?"
Skal, who'd never lost top rank. The others held upper ranks too. Shock turned to awe.
"...A-Am I seeing this right?"
+50% EXP was just the start.
The spirits of the universe rejoice greatly at reversed entropy. Their mischief warps Arcana's causality greatly, but none will blame them: Item drop rate +50%.
The pure mana magic race, Twilight Descendants, scatter purple mana across Arcana Continent. Mana density thickens. The prelude to the Grand Magic Age opens: Magic manifestation +30%.
The vanished martial master, Weapon Master, returns. All weapons on Arcana Continent revere him and sharpen to surpass him: All weapon proficiency gain +30%.
Endless insane buffs. And the final line confirming suspicions.
All this was the Black Dark Dragon's arrangement.
"...What feats did he pull off on the continent?"
Just imagining it sent chills down their spines. No.
"Not feats. He wrote a new legend."
Enough to electrify.
*
Mage Tower top floor. Marcelo shrugged.
"Still a bit disappointing, sir."
He knew Hoyeol's intent best. Why only half the advance team? He'd heard it directly.
Hoyeol's words echoed.
—"I can entrust my world to you."
Indeed, the awe-inspiring one he knew. That voice dispelled worries from seeing long-haired Hoyeol facing Yunak Seus.
"Considering time zones..."
Back to reality by tomorrow afternoon at latest. But no slacking, as Hoyeol said. Corrupted dragons could appear anywhere now.
"...?"
Marcelo gazed at the silent top floor. Eerily idle. No floating fur. No lazy voice.
The Tower Master was gone.
He tried hiding it. Failed.
"Surely caused a fuss."
Whining all day about not being taken to the continent wouldn't surprise.
Marcelo's reminiscence cut short. A presence approached.
"Ah, hello! Chief Mage Marcelo!"
Jessie Haynes. She'd come to the top floor. Marcelo nodded lightly.
"Miss Jessie. If you're looking for the chief mage..."
"No! I have something urgent to tell you, Chief Mage!"
"Something for me?"
Perhaps from Mary? No.
Jessie adjusted her pointed hat.
"Yes, about the Tower Master's last words!"
"...!"
.
.
Mage Tower lobby brimmed with players. Explorer and netuber player Park Hwigang among them.
He whispered to chat.
"No telling when Arcana Continent joins Mage Tower portal destinations, but we gotta be ahead, right? Camping's the way."
Park Hwigang waved it off.
"Aw, when did I ever earn big? You guys don't know clean living? No pay needed. I'd stream or not. I just wanna step on Arcana. Back when it was a game, you know..."
Thus began his "back in my day" ramble. It didn't last. Players in the lobby...
"...?!"
Suddenly, messages appeared before all.
Not a portal opening. A quest. But the name was ominous. The details more so.
Park Hwigang read, eyes bulging, stammering.
"Everyone, ultra-breaking news...!! H-Hoyeol...!!"
Next Tower Master Election