The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 135



Only Krnovel

Episode 135 Five pillars (12)

The illusion I saw this time had bigger aftereffects. Even though he finally got up and sat down on the bed, Kadim remained frozen like a pumice stone for a long time with his hands clasped together.

“… … .”

This was already the third time I had seen this vivid vision. But it was obvious why I was so confused, as if it was my first time seeing it. What I heard from the chairman of the council yesterday.

‘Maybe he’s still alive.’

They say that Melissa might be alive.

Unfortunately, the reality of those words was nothing more than an uncertain rumor.

‘I heard this from a traveler, and it is said that everyone who has visited the southern Great Forest has experienced strange phenomena. Some say they saw a huge tree, some say they saw the sky collapsing, and some… … It is said that she encountered a mysterious red-haired woman who was skilled in magic… … .’

A forest that deep and wide is naturally capable of deceiving the human mind. It is even a place where elves who have disappeared from the world live in seclusion… … . Even if someone really met such a woman, the probability that she was her Melissa was extremely low.

But… … If you desperately want something, isn’t it human nature to want to take a chance even if the odds are slim?

First, in order to find out whether the chairman’s words were just meaningless rumors or a lingering hope, there was one verification process that had to be completed.

Go to the lowest level of the tower, Melissa’s tomb, and open the lid of her coffin.

“… … .”

There is one more reason to go to the bottom floor. Fortunately, preparations are complete. Because I have collected all the ‘Five Pillars’, the key to the secret passage.

At that moment, a vague memory of yesterday came to mind. After finishing his interview with the chairman, he made a promise with Coltran to use the secret passage the next day.

‘I spent the night fantasizing… I guess I can leave right now.’

All pillars were safely contained in the inventory. I get up to get ready to leave.

Suddenly, I felt a very faint strange sensation passing through the air.

Wedge – !

“Huh!”

Kadim, who thought that another attacker had come and swung his sword, stopped the blade when he heard a familiar shout.

“… … What are you doing, Duncan? “Why are you wearing that cloak in the guest room?”

“Eek, ah, no, that’s… … Again, I was worried that there might be another attack by wizards like last time… … I was secretly standing guard… … .”

A peddler with green hair walked up the hem of his ‘Night Shadow Cloak’ and appeared. In just one night, Duncan looked haggard, as if he had aged ten years. He lowered the hilt of his sword and furrowed his eyebrows.

“Did something happen at the rooftop yesterday? Why did it become such a mess?”

“Phew. That… … There has been so, so, so much going on, Your Majesty… … .”

Only after he saw that Kadeem had come to his senses did he finally feel at ease. He sighed deeply, sat down on the edge of the bed, and began to openly tell the story of yesterday.

Infiltrating the depths of the Magic Tower… … . Discovering wizards carrying demon corpses… … . Following them and being caught… … . Desperately pretending to be a high-ranking wizard to survive, and miraculously surviving to extract information… … .

It was a saga worth worrying about for the rest of your life, but Duncan showed no signs of excitement. He probably wasn’t even cured from the aftereffects of being attacked the day before yesterday, but he was exhausted from experiencing one crisis after another.

Still, it was by no means a meaningless effort. The information Duncan discovered this time was extremely valuable.

“Wizards create ‘magic stones’ by mixing demon corpses, other materials, and human body parts. They say you get ‘mana’ by putting it in your heart and squeezing it… … . In other words, the devil’s energy was moderately diluted enough to prevent the user from being possessed. That, of course, was the true identity of ‘mana’.”

“… … It is said that magic has been used like this ever since ‘ancient mana’ was depleted, and it is the modern tower owner who invented this method. But uhm, that Hyundai top owner… … He is also the owner of the previous tower. He is also the owner of a tower before him, even before him.”

“… … So, that is, all the tower lords after the first tower lord… … are actually all the same person. They say that they have maintained a near-immortal life through some means, and have reigned as the master of this tower for hundreds of years. Whether it was through great magic, or a contract with the devil… … No one knows how… … .”

“… … .”

Although it didn’t reveal the truth about the demonic rampage and the ancient mana, this was enough. It clearly revealed who held the key to everything.

The successor who distorted and disparaged Melissa’s life, the one who created the current corrupted magic tower, the lord of the wizards who escaped death by unknown means and reigns, and is probably currently chasing the traces of himself who killed the central demon in Soltana. ruler.

… … Before leaving, Kadim decided that he must face the ‘magic tower lord’.

Of course, there were still things to do first. The savage had done his part and cast a resolute glance at the shriveled peddler.

“Good job, Duncan. You have successfully fulfilled your role as the ‘best guide’. “I will never forget the hard work you put in this time.”

“ah… … Hmm, hmm. Hehehe, well, what are you talking about to that extent? Ugh, well, it turns out the wizards are no big deal… … .”

The melancholy gloom on Duncan’s face was lifted, and a shy smile appeared on his face. The moment of being recognized by that mighty warrior still gave the peddler an indescribable joy and sense of accomplishment. Furthermore, this time, he was not only recognized, but he had also contributed to the fate of the continent… … .

… … He had long since completely forgotten that his duty had ended long ago, since he had guided the way to the rooftop.

In any case, Kadim decided to focus on entering the lowest level for now. Since he had failed to split the skull of that rival elder yesterday, he didn’t know what kind of obstacles would come up on his way to the secret passage.

I told Duncan to stay hidden as he was now in case there was a second attack. Then, he fastened the leather straps on his pauldrons and shoes, armed himself well, took his inventory, and slowly headed out… …

Wheezing, rattling, rattling, rattling… … .

Shootaaaaa, coo goong, coo goong, coo goo goong –

… … A loud noise suddenly echoes from the window.

Kadim furrowed his brow slightly.

“What is this sound.”

Perhaps because it was not a very good sign, Duncan hesitated before finally speaking.

“that… … A typhoon has come, I’ll get better… … .”

*

Vestana, the city of miracles.

The entrance to the Magic Tower, the mysterious headquarters that majestically overlooks the city.

Two groups, each numbering about a hundred people, stood facing each other across the barrier that crossed the border.

Grumble, rumble, rumble… … .

Whioooooooo… … Swaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa… … .

The dark blue sky shook unsteadily as if it would collapse at any moment. The wrath of the ocean blew everywhere, and fierce whipping rain lashed like iron thorns. The waves crashed against the docks, the sewers overflowed, and the entire city was filled with mud, gradually blurring the distinction between the underwater and the inland.

But the robed crowd didn’t even get their sleeves wet.

Frequently!

Because one side spread a black awning of flames in the air, evaporating all the raindrops that touched it.

Blah blah blah blah – !

On one side, it created a roof of a cold ice film in the air, freezing all the rain that reached it.

““… … .””

““… … .””

Unlike the heavens and earth that sang out their fierce anger, there was only a heavy silence between the opposing magicians. It was not a silence that had settled down due to lack of words, but rather a vacuum created when excessively great wills met with equal force.

This deadlock inevitably cannot last long. Not long after, an old man with cold murderous intent walked forward.

“What are you doing here, Oklamud? “Mysterious seekers say they want to enter the magic tower, but they arbitrarily block access.”

The third seat of the Matap Presbyterian Church, Coltran, ‘Frozen Heart’.

An old man stepped forward, his face burning with charred hatred.

“I want to ask you the question first, Coltran… … . What on earth are you doing? Allowing a savage, worse than a beast, to run wild in the sacred tower? Have you given up on any respect for the mystical center?”

1 seat in the Magic Tower Presbyterian Council, ‘Heat Wave of Darkness’ Oklamud.

Coltran showed no sign of change of heart. He just pretended not to notice with a twisted cynicism.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What does Mr. Kadim have to say? It seems that the person who is truly worse than an animal is someone who behaved in an indecent manner at the auction house yesterday… … .”

“Shut up! “How dare I not know that you unleashed that barbarian to kill his disciples and subordinates and robbed the ‘pillars’!”

“Phehhehheh… … Make sense, Oklamud. How could a criminal without a magic stone in his heart kill magicians all by himself? Oh, by any chance, are your disciples so lacking in their master’s wisdom that they haven’t learned even one defensive spell?”

“What, what! “You bastard, you are nothing but a bastard!!!”

―――― Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl-!!

The canopy of black flames raged in a frenzy, and so much wrath burned that it dried up even the moisture brought in by the storm. Oklamud could only control his anger after the surrounding wizards desperately tried to dissuade him.

“Whoosh, whoosh…” … . anyway! Until I hand over that barbarian and all his ‘pillars’! You guys can’t even take a single step into the Magic Tower! No, to entrust all the treasures of the magic tower created by the first magic tower owner into the hands of an ignorant barbarian! From that point on, it made no sense!”

“… … .”

Hearing those words, Coltran’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Sure, he had left all the ‘pillars’ to Khadim, but Oklamud had no way of knowing that. Khadim had also said that he had been attacked the day before yesterday, which meant that someone had tipped Oklamud off about Khadim… … .

Coltran opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of his friend. He returned only incomprehensible or nervous looks.

The thought of having to fight alongside a traitor was quite scary, but… … In the meantime, it is impossible to find the culprit. She turned her head again, lamenting inwardly.

“… … There is no reason to be blindly disparaged as a barbarian. “As long as the faith is deep and the ability is sufficiently outstanding.”

“Kuhahaha, you fell asleep laughing. No, I was wrong. You actually suit me well! An ice merchant like you who got lucky and got the elder’s seat by just messing around with a little tricks is just right for working under a savage!”

This time it was Coltran’s turn to get angry. The cold mask covering my face cracked open. Oklamud, witnessing the enemy’s turmoil for the first time, was extremely excited.

“Hehehe, wake up from your dream, idiot! Even if you read the records of the first magic tower lord, you will never be able to learn ‘ancient magic’! “How can an idiot like you master the ultimate mystery that completely depleted ‘Ancient Mana’ in just one cast?”

At those words, all the wizards were shocked and turned their heads.

The words that had just come out were a secret known only to the Matapju and the elders. Oklamud was so excited that he didn’t even realize he had slipped up and continued talking.

“Listen carefully, Coltran! The only one who has the ability to master this great magic and become the new leader of the Magic Tower is me! The ‘Black Heat’ Oklamud! A mere sliver of ice cannot even freeze ditch water; it will evaporate cleanly in the face of the hellish heat! If you wish to build even a single bone fragment to place in the urn, then immediately dismiss your men and quickly take on the savages and the ‘pillars’… … .”

What stopped the elder, whose pride was overflowing like a estuary dam, was not a casual rebuttal, but a secretly chanted spell.

“[… … Securen, Elkados.]”

The moment my chapped lips finish speaking, the air cools.

Those who felt chills and faced the sky saw.

It is a fluttering icicle.

It was an awl that held a chilling aura. It was an all-round claw mixed with the angry wind. It was a weapon of natural disaster ready to pierce through bone and flesh.

―――――― Net, net, net – !

The hundreds of tons of whipping rain that had been pouring down like a torrential downpour were all cooled into sharp icicles and fell to the ground. They even pierced through the burning canopy and poured down mercilessly on the magicians guarding the entrance to the magic tower.

――――― Plop, plop, plop!!

“Uh, uh uh uh… … .”

“Kuaaaahh …

“Aaaaa!! Aaaaaaaaaah!!!”

Wizards who fell down with their heads pierced by the ice’s edge, or their necks and chests pierced. The Oklamud side suffered significant damage from the surprise attack. Coltran recited in a cold tone like a glacier that had endured for ten thousand years.

“It’s a gift to cool your head, Oklamud. You seem a little overexcited.”

It backfired. A thousand fires lit up in Oklamud’s pupils.

“[Keruna! Grun!! Encaris!! mole!! Kalbakatan!!!]”

―――― Quagwagwagwang – !!

Black flames appeared in the form of a sphere and exploded upwards. The tremendous shock and heat broke the heavy rain of frozen icicles into small pieces.

Oklamud continued to recite the spell while covering himself with the falling ice shards. Soon, black flames began to form on the ground, and he ran towards the enemy camp like a hungry wolf.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

“Kwaaaaaa… … .”

“Uh-huh… … .”

The wizards who had been wandering around the battle lines without knowing what was happening became prey to the flames. The wizards standing nearby froze when they saw the black stains on the floor that had been their comrades just a moment ago.

Beyond the barrier and outside, all the wizards were in great fear and confusion. However, the elders, whose eyes were turned to the ultimate mystery, paid no attention and shouted in evil.

“Listen, seekers of polar ice!! Throw away all the fire-smokers who deserve to be burned in the furnace of that woman’s house!! The key to the lowest level is in our hands!! “If we just break through those guys, the ultimate mystery will be ours!”

“Eh, [Eldra, Freor, Seltan, En, Ercinio… … .]”

“[Eldra, Ksanik, Maul, Kalpenta, Meldrixas… … .]”

“Everyone, burn all of those idiots who even freeze the urine of that savage!! They can’t do anything if they can’t enter the magic tower anyway!! Never run away!! If there’s anyone who runs away or retreats, I’ll burn them with my own hands!”

“Huh, huh, [Keruna, Grun, Cetilis, Afikkanto… … .]”

“Ke, [Ceruna, Grun, Agrippa, En… … .]”

The wizards, tired of the elders’ spirit, began to reflexively chant spells. The mana that blooms as it compresses the heart, the mystery envisioned along the syllables on the tip of the tongue,

The moment the ignition is finished, the cold and heat collide.

“[…] … Skella, arnizio!]”

Pachachachachachang, pachachachacha – !

“[… … En, Tasirion!]”

Hwagwagwagwang, kuwagwagwang – !

Blue ice and black flames depicted a passionate movement.

Ice arrows flew like a shower into the translucent barrier. Flame whirls created vortices, dropping cold projectiles. Frozen spikes pierced the stone slabs and rose like thorns from below. Burning black flames shot up and exploded, scattering sparks like firecrackers.

Kwagwagwagwa!! Kuoooooooooo – !!

Blah blah blah, shoot… … .

Unstable weather also added to the unrealistic battle. The raging storm changed the battlefield irregularly, spreading flames that could not reach and breaking icicles that could reach. The mixed rainwater changed into frost and steam in an instant, repeatedly staining my son-in-law.

Milky white clouds rose thickly, making the battlefield look like an ecstasy presented by Mother Nature from a distance. However, those on the scene had no time to think like that.

There was a terrible smell of blood mixed in with that ecstasy.

Puck, plop, puck – !

“Ugh, kuaaaa!!”

Kwagwagwagwang – !

“Ugh, ugh, uh-uh-uh… … .”

Corpses, impaled, frozen, necrotic, or charred, carbonized, and sprayed, lay scattered like ruined dolls. The wizards constricted their pupils like pinholes and muttered spells in a half-sane state.

As even the elders began to join the battle in earnest, the chaos on the battlefield began to escalate into a disaster.

“[…] … N, Rag, Tarision.]”

“[…] … Grameton, Bartosa!!]”

― …

A huge storm of ice and fire collided, mocking the laws of nature. As if the battles up until then had been child’s play, the aftermath of the shocking earthquake devastated a corner of the city.

The nearby citizens rushed out of their houses. Their hearts, which had been pounding in surprise at the loud noise, froze as cold as a corpse when they discovered the surging, abnormal whirlpool.

“What, what does this mean?”

“What the hell is going on… … Huh!”

“Kyaaaaah!”

Among the citizens of Vestana, there was no one who did not know that wizards had great power. However, there is a difference between knowing it and experiencing it right before your eyes. People who were terrified started running out of their houses, forgetting that a typhoon was blowing.

“Aaaaaaa!!”

“Run, run away!!”

“Everyone run! Run as far as you can!”

However, there was one person who headed in the opposite direction of the refugees, towards the source of the commotion.

A giant who doesn’t even blink an eye in the face-scraping gale.

Kadim left a brief comment as he watched the dance of ice and fire that shook the axis of the earth.

“… … This is a mess.”

Rattling, rattling, the small lantern in my hand swayed noisily in the wind.