episode_0084

Yuri was always worried.

She wondered if her beloved princess, the god who saved her, wasn’t overdoing it every time.

Perhaps that was a natural phenomenon.

Even knowing how strong the person in front of them was, ultimately, a person is a person.

Exhausting and difficult situations are bound to come anytime.

However, Yurias Philbrogue was a little different.

Whether bound by name or a vow of a kiss.

They had already met each other’s souls and promised to spend their lives together.

As a sister who didn’t share blood, and as a woman who had shared her body.

Above all, she realized the need for trust.

As much as she trusted him, Yuri also trusted her.

The trust built on mutual understanding was more intense than anything else.

It wasn’t scary anymore.

Even if she jumped into mortal danger, it wasn’t because she was prepared to die.

It meant that she had the confidence to overcome even death.

That she would absolutely never abandon herself.

She simply knew it in her heart.

Did she need evidence?

What did it matter if she was a little tired and injured?

Becoming her ‘place to return to’, she would guide her, leading her exhausted body.

She could wholeheartedly heal her.

Whether body or mind.

Even if it wasn’t entirely her own strength, Yuri was confident she could be Nari’s support.

Therefore, she could fully carry out her instructions to unleash the ice magic.

It was also the confidence stemming from her boundless trust in Nari.

Wasn’t there a similar incident?

That incident, already a few months ago.

In the vacant lot, while sparring with Eve, they both got too heated.

Without checking their surroundings, they unleashed their strongest techniques.

They had once been turned into an ice statue by Eve’s unique ice magic, which seemed likely to be classified as top-tier.

But that was only for a moment.

Soon, she broke through the iceberg with her own strength and appeared from within with a fiery armor.

Was that all?

The hot topic that had stirred the entire academy for a while.

Eve and Nari’s formal magic duel was an event that shook common sense.

Who could have judged at that moment that the mere clash of two magics would create such a huge shockwave?

Even seasoned Archmages might have not predicated that scenario, but those present could only be shocked.

Honestly, after witnessing that scene, she even had the conviction that none of her attacks would work.

She was in top condition, in the best mood.

And the best supporter had lent her strength.

Yuri, whose senses had naturally become sharper, felt the flow of mana more intensely than usual.

She began to use mana more efficiently.

To prevent any leakage or overflow beyond the realm of incantation, she clasped her hands together.

She contained the water-attribute mana within a transparent orb.

Porong- Pong-

She increased the quantity by pressing the water droplets, compressing them to increase their power.

For Yuri, who was confident in her total mana, this was the easiest way to strengthen her magic.

It was also effective.

That had always been the case.

Since she didn’t have anything exceptionally outstanding, compared to others, she closed the gap through time and effort.

One drop, one drop.

Every time she saw her skills improve in proportion to the sweat she shed, she was always happy.

It was fortunate that magic worked in the same way.

Little by little, even if it was slow.

She poured all the mana she could release at once.

The ice magic orb, created with all her heart and body, shone with an unprecedented pale blue light.

“Go!”

Chwaaaak—

In accordance with Nari’s signal, she launched it into the vast space inside the ruins.

Simultaneously, the ground became a mess.

Kreuk- Keureuk- Kererreureuk—

The Gray Wolves were helplessly swept away by the powerful current created by Nari’s magic.

Even though it was a supplementary area-of-effect magic, it was strong enough to inflict fatal wounds on a few small individuals.

When the magic’s effect wore off, the creatures who regained their momentum started running again.

Paang—

That was a huge blunder.

“Frost Nova—!!”

The orb that flew above their heads, following Yuri’s signal, released all the accumulated water-attribute mana within it.

The mana containing the incantation of ice magic gushed out simultaneously with Nari, engulfing the entire area around them.

Chaeng—!

The entire Gray Wolf pack froze in an instant.

Kadeuduk-

Joy gritted her teeth.

She really bound those numerous magical beasts in one place.

‘Is this the skill of those who have just become adventurers?’

The overwhelming difference in talent.

For her, who always looked down on the kingdom’s adventurers, saying they were daydreaming, the sight was quite a shock.

In fact, Nari’s party was in the top 0.1%.

But such things didn’t matter.

The fact that they had actually done it.

And that they couldn’t miss this timing.

That was all that mattered.

As always, Joy skillfully awakened the mana in her body, gathering it in the magic stone at the end of her staff.

Piing-

After confirming that enough power had gathered, along with an intense light.

She activated the incantation she had chanted in advance.

[Volcano Burst]!

The fire-attribute mana surged, creating a rock blazing with lava.

Despite its heavy weight, it flew at a swift speed, exploding above the Gray Wolves’ heads.

Peong—! Hwiyung- Hwiyuwoong-

As a result, hot rocks began to pour down.

Those dozens of fragments, each with the power of an intermediate-level fire magic, rained down on them like a shower.

Peong- Pebung—!!

The endless chain explosion mercilessly burned the magical beasts’ flesh.

It was powerful enough to make one feel a little sorry for them if they were considered ordinary beasts.

With their body’s water frozen to the point that their cells were destroyed, with the high heat melting and scorching them.

Its lethality was enormous.

Like an adventurer party whose combat power increased dramatically through breath,

Even magic of the same power, it could be this powerful depending on how it was combined.

It was a unique experience for Joy, who had always unleashed area-of-effect magic alone.

Even though she knew that adventurer parties were more efficient than single individuals, she had always distanced herself from development, saying, ‘this is enough attack power’,

She felt a little ashamed.

Certainly, if Nari had used all her strength, she could have wiped out the Gray Wolf pack by herself.

It was an instinct, but also a conviction.

Even people far superior to her studied these kinds of combinations and strived towards strength day by day.

Why had she only ever thought of one way?

Joy quietly watched.

Amidst the battlefield where black smoke continuously rose and hellfire spread like grass.

In the midst of two consecutive chain magics that had crushed the ferocious beasts to the point where their original forms were unrecognizable, she advanced steadily, wrapping her body in flames like red silk.

With a bright smile, as if taking a morning stroll, she crossed a small stream, transcending the limits of human existence.

She displayed a bright expression, as if nothing had happened, like an ordinary girl.

She wondered if she wasn’t perhaps a true adventurer from legends.

She relaxed, letting her pounding heart guide her, her face slightly flushed.

* * *

“It’s not over yet.”

The entire middle level consists of many cavities.

Judging from the form in which each area is connected by narrow passages, the overall look is most similar to an anthill.

Right now, they’ve only just cleared the first wave in the first cave.

Kaang-

Terrance stuck his greatsword into the stone floor and shrugged.

“Shall we advance?” “No- Let’s wait.”

Those creatures aren’t completely stupid.

Even the Gray Wolves, who have abandoned their dignity as living beings, must have at least a minimal intelligence necessary to perform their instincts.

Of course, one shouldn’t apply human standards to beasts, but that’s not what this means.

As the Akasto veteran speaks.

They are bound to come here with their entire army.

That’s how this object works, by its design.

Of course, I couldn’t say that so straightforwardly, so, to capture definitive proof.

I put my hand on the ground and scattered mana.

Paat-

[Mana Curtain], feature: search.

“What are you-” “-Shh.”

A short silence.

Before long, the creatures’ footsteps began to be heard.

Tadak- Tadak-

The number was far greater than before, and the sounds of claws catching on rocks sounded like stronger individuals.

“They’re coming.” “…What should we do this time?”

Ssiik-

I smiled slightly, to avoid appearing too arrogant.

The answer is too simple.

We can stay here all day without problems.

Eat well, sleep well, and have love well.

If we need anything, we can simply go back outside.

But the beasts aren’t the same.

They can’t just wait, despite the possibility of a successful hunt in front of them.

If they did, their prey would dwindle, their food would decrease.

Ultimately, starvation would be their inevitable end.

Therefore, they have no choice but to charge.

In order to hunt us who are safely positioned.

Because of the mess we just made, flames are blazing everywhere, sharp rocks and ice are scattering all over the battlefield.

“Has anyone here ever tried a defensive battle?”

Genre change.

To a defense game.