Chapter 78 – The Battle Against Tylant (1)

Rebuge hastily composed himself, scanning his surroundings.

The blizzard that had obscured everything suddenly cleared. The once invisible landscape now stretched out in full view.

Hundreds of people stood scattered across the scene.

The sudden intensification of the storm had left numerous people missing—though “missing” was a kinder word for what they likely were: dead.

These gathered people were here to search for the lost.

Among them were renowned adventurers and knights revered by both the Empire and its citizens.

Though such forces seemed excessive for a simple search, they carried out their duties without complaint.

They searched for the missing and confirmed the dead. Now, with about half the list checked, the blizzard had stopped.

No, it hadn’t just stopped—it had frozen in place.

“R-Rebuge, sir!”

Rebuge, still dazed by the surreal scene, snapped to attention at his subordinate’s urgent call.

“…Yes.”

“This… this is your first time seeing anything like this too, right?”

Snowstorms were familiar in Ursphere.

The white calamity, Tylant’s fury.

Such names were common for these blizzards.

They arrived without warning, bringing missing people and death.

But this was different. It hadn’t simply stopped; the storm had frozen mid-motion.

“This is… my first time.”

“My god, what on earth…”

It was incomprehensible.

But as Ursphere’s leader, Rebuge had to maintain composure.

“Regardless, this is fortunate. Let’s finish up. Continue searching for the missing and gathering the dead. Bekan, prioritize finding Lady Hephaestus.”

“Y-yes, understood.”

Bekan, beside Rebuge, nodded reluctantly and left.

As Rebuge prepared to resume the search, the motionless snow began to flow.

It wasn’t falling randomly—it flowed steadily in one direction.

Rebuge’s gaze followed the snow’s movement.

To Mount Karahan’s peak.

A massive magic circle and small sphere hovered at its summit.

The snowstorm was being drawn into that sphere, feeding it.

The crowd fell silent. Everything fell silent. As if time itself had stopped.

All eyes fixed on Karahan’s summit.

The sphere grew exponentially. The magic circle’s color shifted.

All of Ursphere’s snow vanished, drawn to Karahan’s peak.

The sphere expanded, unfolding like another sky.

Not blue, but pale and ominous. A sky of snow, stretching across the heavens.

Then.

The magic circle transformed. It inverted, twisted, broke apart, and reformed.

Until it formed a black sun.

And then.

“Huh…?”

The sky collapsed.

It poured down, rushing forward.

An avalanche so massive it dwarfed the Karahan Range.

A natural disaster.

This calamity crushed all hope. It instilled despair. It snatched away any chance of survival.

Strength, wisdom, wealth, experience—none mattered.

Good or evil, all were equal.

Humans were reminded of their mortality.

There were no screams in Ursphere. No laments. No cries of grief.

Only paralyzed silence before the overwhelming disaster.

They could only watch death approach.

Rebuge watched and thought.

Could this be avoided? No.

Could it be stopped? Impossible.

Evacuate the residents? No time.

Who could survive? At best, perhaps only Masters.

If it were an ordinary avalanche, maybe the adventurers and knights would have a chance.

But this was no ordinary avalanche.

This was a calamity, intent on destroying everything.

No escape, no defense, no survival.

Under this sky, mortals were insignificant, awaiting death.

Yet Rebuge couldn’t give up.

With trembling hands, he gripped his staff. He forced his shaking legs to stand, clenching his teeth.

Pulling his robe tight, he stepped forward.

Towards the front.

He didn’t try to convince others. He wouldn’t take responsibility for their fates.

He walked his own path.

If he was to die, it wouldn’t be disgracefully.

Perhaps his determination inspired others. Several who had stood frozen began to follow.

“We’re going to die. We all know that.”

Rebuge spoke with forced calm.

“Yes. We know.”

Bekan, tasked with finding Hephaestus, replied for the group.

“I can’t take responsibility for you.”

“What difference would it make?”

“Well… at least the Empire and guild will acknowledge our effort.”

“As long as my family gets a pension, that’s all that matters.”

Bekan shrugged, grinning wryly.

“If we stop this, we’ll be heroes and rich, right?”

Rebuge stifled a laugh at the absurdity.

Stop this disaster? Ridiculous.

But he didn’t correct him.

“Heh, that’s… quite the thought.”

With a faint smile, Rebuge walked toward his death.

They reached the mountain’s entrance.

The nervous jokes ceased.

They had no choice.

This disaster was unlike anything before.

It hadn’t fully descended from Karahan’s summit. Its form wasn’t yet clear.

But the urge to flee was overwhelming.

They trembled, paralyzed by fear so profound that tears wouldn’t come.

Rebuge had faced countless dangers, but…

This was different.

With a bitter smile, he planted his staff.

Charlotte, Yuria, Rubia, Noah… And the missing Hephaestus.

He didn’t know where they were. But he hoped they survived.

He believed they could bring light to this dark world.

Though he couldn’t stand among them. At least he could support their efforts.

So he would try his best.

The disaster’s form became clearer.

Snowflakes turned to blades, shredding everything.

Within the storm, thousands of beasts roared.

Could they hold out for even a second?

He didn’t know.

How could humans block out the sky?

Still, he gathered his magic.

He planted his staff and erected a barrier.

One layer, two layers, three layers…

He used every drop of magic for countless walls.

Behind him, other mages raised barriers.

Then.

Rumble!

With a mountain-shattering sound, the calamity reached them.

This can’t be stopped.

We’re going to die.

There’s no escape.

Death.

Fear soaked through him. He barely stood, leaning on his staff.

In a minute, they’d all be dead. In two, Ursphere would be destroyed.

Hearing despairing sobs behind him, Rebuge closed his eyes.

And then.

The calamity split apart.

It tore open, shredded to pieces.

Shattered.

“What’s this… How is this… What…”

Centered around one girl.

The calamity broke.

“Stop gawking. Go deal with the stragglers.”

Thousands of beasts, slaughtered. Carpeng, defeated. Master Kalt, killed.

Adventurer Noah.

Had cut through the calamity.

“Wh-what… What is… How…”

Rebuge, stammering in disbelief, collapsed unconscious.

“Phew.”

***

After sending Rebuge back with the adventurers, I rubbed my tired eyes, feeling the chaotic energies within.

First, two elixirs. The perfect one and one with side effects.

Yuria’s work, surely.

I’ll try to control them, but… Can’t avoid shrinking… and my intelligence dropping.

Not that my low intelligence can drop much further.

Second. Rubia’s divine power.

It gave me this chance.

I don’t know why now, or the intent… But I should follow her will.

Third. My own mana.

Tainted mana wreaking havoc inside me.

Annoying, but I’ll sort it out before I fade.

I clicked my tongue, eyeing Karahan’s summit.

The white calamity’s deadly aura was palpable.

I chuckled, absorbing its killing intent.

Arrogant bastard.

Forgotten being skinned into a coat?

Of course you don’t remember.

But the arrogance is astounding.

This time, Rubia’s here too.

I’ll make her a coat as well.

We’ll match.

It’s bittersweet, but imagining Rubia’s joy makes me smile.

I planted my greatsword and stretched.

Limbering up, I prepared to climb.

I have about a day.

I’ll finish in half that.

With the rest?

I’ll date Rubia.

Planning our time together made me grin.

As I walked, smiling, I felt seals break.

Once. Twice. Thrice. Four times.

When I faced Tylant before, four seals broke.

Half.

Now, four more broke. Eight total.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA–!!]

Tylant’s last bindings shattered.

At Karahan’s peak, Tylant rose.

Its killing intent made my body tingle.

Then, without warning.

“…Huh?”

Tylant leaped.

Over me.

Towards Ursphere.

Why?

To kill the Challenger?

Because I’m not an Adversary now?

I don’t know. Lilith must be involved.

“Damn it…”

Grinding my teeth, I sprinted for Ursphere.

Yuria’s in danger.

This time, I will save her.