The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 130



Only Krnovel

Episode 130. Five Pillars (7)

The monster’s eyes became cloudy. He collapsed on the floor, groaning like an idiot. My mind, unable to overcome the shock, was about to sink beneath the surface of unconsciousness.

Kadim personally brought that spirit back to the brutal reality.

“Ahh!! “Kwaaaaaa!!”

When the monster grabbed his head and tightened his hands, he was startled and started flapping his arms. He smiled bitterly as Kadim gently pressed his bone.

“You’re making too much of a fuss. “If you came here to burn people, you should have been prepared to have your heads exploded.”

“Ahh, ahhh!!”

“But that’s strange. Aren’t you guys here to retrieve the data? Why did you have to summon fire?”

“Ouch, ahhh!! Kkaaaaaaah!!”

Kadim thought they were magicians from the Magic Tower who had noticed the loss of the materials and came to retrieve them. However, one of them used fire magic without thinking, and all the books and scrolls were completely burned.

But that wasn’t their purpose.

“Ugh… … Data… … ? W, what are you talking about? We came to retrieve the ‘pillar’, the ‘pillar’… … .”

“… … .”

Ah, was it that way?

It seemed that rumors about him had already spread throughout the Magic Tower. Or perhaps the elder he had met yesterday had betrayed him in a flash. While Kadim had slightly relaxed his evil power, the wizard who had temporarily regained consciousness scoffed as if he found it disgusting.

“P, p, let go of this! The ‘pillars’ are the keys to the ultimate mystery created by the first Magic Tower Lord… … . They are not items that a savage who practices cunning sorcery like you should possess! If you hand over the ‘pillars’ and release me now, I will not hold you responsible for harming my comrades… … .”

“… … .”

It seemed that he had not fully grasped the situation. Kadim tightened his grip on his skull again. He would not die, but he would be able to enjoy the fear of death to a certain extent.

Nod… … .

“Who sent you? That elder Coltran? If you get hit, stay still, if not, blink.”

“Kwaaaaah!!! Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

Finger marks were dented on the temples. The wizard blinked so hard that his eyelids were worn away. After several similar interrogations, he was able to determine that the one who had sent them was Oklamud, the very same elder who had two other ‘pillars’.

“Kwaaaaa!! Stop this now… … . My head explodes… … . Save me, save me, save me… … .”

It was only when he was about to die that he relaxed his grip. A wizard caressing the crushed area with tears streaming down his face. Duncan, who was crouching in the corner, carefully approached Kadim and said.

“Your Majesty… … How about we move first? If you know our location like this, even if you stop them this time, won’t other guys come again… …?”

“… … .”

The peddler’s suggestion was extremely common sense. Having your residence discovered by the enemy is a major crisis. If he were to let his guard down, he might even lose the two pillars he had secured.

But the barbarian thought differently.

“Hey, where is your base?”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh… … What, what is it?”

“Take me to the stronghold of the elder who sent you.”

Kadim saw this as an opportunity, not a crisis.

Even the most thorough of men could not have imagined that those who had been attacked would immediately counterattack. Furthermore, if they had succeeded in counterattacking, not only would they eliminate the risk of being attacked again, but they would also be able to seize the ‘pillars’.

To a wizard, it was a ridiculous idea.

“Well, it would be best to stop… … . Do you know who Elder Oklamud is? He is a magician who has even single-handedly subdued three high-level demons… … .”

“Oh, I see. That’s not that many.”

“… … ?”

The wizard couldn’t believe his ears. What nonsense? Even if you kill just one high-level demon, it’s such an incredible feat that it will be recorded forever, isn’t it? He looked at the barbarian, who was as calm as a stone, with a shocked expression on his face.

“Ah, anyway, I can never guide you there. If my betrayal becomes known, the elder will not leave me alone. Well, you better kill me here. Because I will share the fate of my colleagues… … .”

Kadim looked down at the wizard with determined eyes for a moment. He lifted his axe with respect.

“I see, I understand. That is great loyalty. I salute you.”

“… … ?”

“Cut off your ears, cut off your tongue, pluck out your eyes, flay your flesh, and burst your skull, but you will never betray me… … Even though he is a magician, that is an amazing level of self-denial. I cannot help but pay tribute to him.”

“Now, wait a minute, what is that…” … ? Well, I didn’t say that… … .”

“Then I will begin by cutting off your ear. I pray that you will remain so loyal until the end, wizard.”

“Uh, uh… … ?”

Chijik –

The moment the sharp axe blade tore through his earlobes, the wizard thought.

“AAAAAH! Kkaaaaaaah!! Ah, no! No!! Don’t cut it!! I’ll guide you! I’ll guide you!! I’ll guide you to baseeeeeeeee!!!”

He never thought he would end up envious of his colleagues who died instantly from having their heads exploded.

*

The 68th floor of the Magic Tower, a secret space hidden by stealth magic.

There were about ten wizards gathered, forming a circle around the ornate display case placed at the back, protecting it.

Among them were ‘Conjurer-ranking’ magicians wearing red robes. A Conjurer is a high-ranking magician who is treated as an administrator of an organization. It was extremely strange that such people were merely acting as watchmen.

But no one here had such questions. The things stored in the cabinet were valuables that were worth it.

‘Pillar of Light’ and ‘Pillar of Fire’.

Keys that open the secret passage leading to the lowest level of the tower.

Of course, it was impossible to use it as a key right away. There were still three empty spots on the display case. But the guards here had no doubts.

That soon all the places on that stand will be filled. That they will be the first to collect the ‘Five Pillars’ and open the secret passage. That they will gain knowledge of the ancient great magic from the tomb of the first magic tower lord.

And the elder who leads them, ‘Dark Heat Wave’ Oklamud, will finally become the new master of the Magic Tower.

The high-ranking wizards chatted in a somewhat excited manner.

“I didn’t know things would work out this well. I never thought a guy with two pillars would show up out of nowhere.”

“That’s right, and one of them was the ‘Pillar of Steel’ that I thought I would never find… … .”

“It’s fortunate that some ignorant savage has them. Imagine if they had fallen into Elder Colt’s hands. I’d be frozen to death here like a half-cooked fish.

“Hahaha, that’s right. “Maybe I should go to the barbarian’s grave later and offer flowers, hahaha!”

Thanks to the presence of a spy on Elder Coltran’s side, they easily discovered the existence of the barbarians. Oklamud immediately sent a raiding team of elite battle mages to the barbarian’s abode. Now it was only a matter of time before they killed him and robbed him of his pillar.

In addition, the last remaining one, the ‘pillar of water’, has already been located. Just one hour ago, Oklamud himself went outside the tower to negotiate with its owner.

Maybe, they would collect all ‘Five Pillars’ by today.

A new era and the ultimate mystery were just around the corner. The faces of both high-ranking magicians and low-ranking magicians were filled with overwhelming anticipation. As time went by, their guard was lowered, and the atmosphere in the secret space became more festive.

A sign appeared that poured cold water on the atmosphere.

Hwaruk – !

“… … hmm?”

One of the black torches hanging on the wall went out. This means that someone forcibly lifted the ‘hidden magic’ that hid this space.

It was a strange thing. The usual way to enter and exit this place was to send a message inside asking for the hiding spell to be lifted. However, the relaxed wizards interpreted the phenomenon in an optimistic way.

“Haven’t you come back, Elder? I think you’ve already finished the negotiations… … .”

“I guess so. It looks like you’re in a hurry because you thought the raiding party had already returned.”

“Well, seeing as how you removed the magic so quickly, you’re not an outsider. “It’s clear that he’s from our side.”

Hwaruk, Hwaruk, Hwaruk –

But as the torches went out so quickly one after another, some wizards felt a vague sense of unease.

“Well, how about sending a message to the outside to check? If there’s an intruder, it’s a big problem… … .”

“Intruder? Huh, make sense. “How can an outsider destroy the spell we cast so quickly?”

“Couldn’t it be a traitor from within rather than an outsider? What if, by chance, someone has joined Elder Coltran’s side and is leading the way through the stealth magic… … .”

““… … !””

The wizards’ faces turned pale at those words. One of the high-ranking wizards urgently sent a signal toward the passage. However, there was never a response.

The atmosphere changed in an instant.

“Intruders! Intruders have come in! Protect the ‘pillar’! Invokers, deploy shields and curtains, and the rest, prepare attack magic!”

“[Keruna, Grun, Volcaris, Radum… … .]”

“[Philencio, N, Criosa, Bocren… … .]”

The wizards hurriedly prepared to respond. They formed formations, chanted spells, and unfurled layers of flame curtains and protective shields.

The area that was particularly focused on was defense against ice magic. Everyone knew how powerful the ice magic of ‘Frozen Heart’ Coltran was. Even the high-ranking magicians were clearly nervous.

Thump, thump, thump… … .

The sound of footsteps drew near. The wizards desperately squeezed the magic stone of the heart. They drew in as much mana as they could, like pulling an arrow taut on a bow, to strengthen their magic.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh – !!

And finally, opening the front door and revealing his identity… …

“Hmm?”

“uh?”

… … A large savage holding a lantern.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the intruder was not an elder who had mastered ice magic.

The savage was clutching someone’s head with the hand that wasn’t holding the lantern. It was a familiar face, an elite battle mage who had been part of the raiding party. He was struggling shamelessly, holding onto the hem of the savage’s clothes and begging.

“Keuheuheuheuk… … Hey, this is my base… … . Keuheuheuheuk, let me go, let me go… … . I did everything you told me to do, so please spare me now… … .”

“Good work. “Just get some rest.”

A bloody explosion occurred within the savage’s grasp.

Fur – ugh!

With a thud, the battle mage collapsed. His skull was crushed, and tomato paste-like brain matter and crushed eyeballs gushed out from within.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Somehow it didn’t feel real.

The brute strength to burst a man’s head with his bare hands, and with just one hand at that. There was a surreal cruelty in that sight that made even magicians accustomed to mystery and miracles doubt their eyes.

The cool, sinking air. The wizards, overwhelmed by the devastation, lost their minds for a moment. Among the lower-level wizards, there were those who were chatting their teeth in panic.

The savage asked, rubbing his bloody palms on the wall.

“Who is Oklamudji?”

““… … .””

“It’s his turn next.”

It was only after that unholy declaration that the high-ranking wizards came to their senses.

“Go, attack! Everyone attack! “Burn that guy to the ground without leaving a single bone behind!”

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

A dark flame that ignites simultaneously following a signal. A gloomy heat took over the space. Fire arrows, fireballs, fire pillars, fire waves… … . Black flames of various shapes rose like wildfire, merged into one, and rushed towards the enemy as a tidal wave of overwhelming firepower.

―――――― Grumbling, rumbling – !

A fierce catastrophe came, enough to vaporize even an iceberg in the time it takes to exhale.

The savage did not lose his composure.

He quickly pulled out a dagger from his waist. She growled angrily and thrust the sword head, which lit up hellfire, into the lantern. The moment the flame of sulfur transferred to the wick and lit up with a joyful brilliance, he held the lamp in his hand high.

Then a miracle happened.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah – !!

The heat wave’s intensity weakened rapidly. The tidal wave of flames, which had been growing weaker and weaker as they approached the lantern, completely disappeared like an illusion after being directly hit by the beam of light.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh… … .

The black flames that fall, the astonishment that rises.

“uh… … ?”

“What, what’s going on… … .”

The wizards could not hide their dumbfounded expressions.

The magic just now was the most powerful combined attack they could unleash.

Even for Elder Colt, the ‘Frozen Heart’, it’s an attack that can’t guarantee safety, and it’s not a magic that can just disappear so vainly, so how can you stop it, no, how can you get rid of it, no, what on earth, what on earth did you do… .

“W-what are you doing, you idiots! “Quickly prepare your magic again!”

The wizards came to their senses again at the high-ranking wizard’s shout.

“… … Ke, [Keruna, Grun, Mol, Bagdus… … .]”

“… … [Keruna, Grun, En, Shamalakto, Tormen… … .]”

But even if the fire was poured out again, the result was the same.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The flames that lashed out like angry wolves in front of him would collapse like sick dogs as soon as they got close to the lamp. No matter how powerful the firepower was, there was no exception. The magic that countless magicians poured out with all their might was completely extinguished without even smoldering a single hair on the savage.

But it didn’t end there.

When the barbarians approached with lanterns, a more fundamental problem arose.

“… … Ilek, Ersio! … … Huh?”

“What, why isn’t the magic being cast… … Huh?”

“hmm? Uh, why is the mana flowing from my heart… … .”

“Mana… … I can’t feel the mana… … .”

“Damn, the magic stone’s mana has been depleted! What should I do now, Servan?”

An empty feeling, as if there is a hole in one’s heart.

The wizards’ faces became distorted. They used a lot of magic, but it was never enough to deplete all the mana in the magic stone. Nevertheless, if it disappeared completely like this, there seemed to be only one cause.

That lamp that casts a brilliant light that penetrates deep into the hearts of all wizards.

The mana that was incinerated by the light of the lamp never came back. All the knowledge I had acquired throughout my life was in vain. The wizards sat down in despair and helplessness.

The high-ranking wizard who took the lead asked the barbarian, his eyes wide and trembling.

“That light, that light, what on earth is it…? What on earth is it that can erase so mercilessly the mystery we have devoted our utmost effort to?…?”

Looking at the magicians who were squirming like castrated goblins, Kadim answered with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“It’s a gift from Archpaladin.”