episode_0048

Chapter 48 – Awaken

A scream echoed from the mountain peak.

“Th-this is….”

Deborah’s face darkened upon hearing the scream.

She roughly deduced what had happened based on the origin of the sound.

I placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Deborah. You go first and call the professors. Got it?”

“B-but….”

“Hurry! I’ll go to the peak. You saw me take down the werewolf earlier. I can easily beat a saber-toothed tiger. Okay?”

“…Okay. Then just hold on a little. I’ll call them right away!”

Deborah nodded grimly and hurried towards the entrance, disappearing from view.

I raised my head and looked at the mountain peak.

“The fastest way is… over there.”

There was a slope almost like a cliff. Its angle was so steep that it couldn’t be managed with ordinary balance, but humans knew how to use tools.

I began climbing the cliff, using infinite thread and transcendent strength.

***

“Aaaaargh!”

The fierce battle finally began to tip to one side.

Nidia, who had been somehow evading the saber-toothed tiger’s relentless onslaught, finally sustained a fatal injury and collapsed.

With the last remaining archer gone, the saber-toothed tiger’s movements became unrestricted, unleashing attacks from even more angles.

“Ugh…! Look at me!”

Abel steadfastly endured and provoked it, but unfortunately, it had little effect on the saber-toothed tiger, which was rampaging, corrupted by demonic energy.

The beast occasionally launched counterattacks at Alisa and Kevin, posing a threat.

The burden on everyone intensified.

As that situation continued, the battle increasingly favored the saber-toothed tiger.

Skadia felt a sense of urgency.

‘This won’t do.’

The saber-toothed tiger, tainted by demonic energy, maintained the same combat power as before, even when injured. In contrast, the party members were all exhausted, on the verge of collapsing.

Eventually, as time passed, they would be pushed back further and further until they all died.

To break through this situation, something new needed to be created.

‘Let’s try it.’

Although it was still only a theoretical concept, this was no time to refine things.

Sometimes, a gamble is necessary.

“Everyone listen carefully. I have a way. So, hold on until I’m done casting. Abel, Hanson. Can you do it?”

“Yeah! Of course!”

“Even if I don’t want to, what can I do but do it? Got it!”

The two, who had been alternately enduring the saber-toothed tiger’s attacks from both sides, began to exert all their strength to pressure the beast.

Alisa and Kevin also intervened at opportune moments, restraining its movements with their attacks.

Skadia confidently began casting.

As she raised both hands and brought them closer, cold energy coalesced between them.

‘Compression. Focus only on compression. There’s no need to worry about the details right now.’

What she envisioned was a tiny ice crystal.

Fragile as if it would melt at any moment, yet in reality, a weapon colder and sharper than anything else.

Skadia’s brilliant mind quickly combined equations, manifesting the theoretical concept that only existed in her mind into reality.

Gradually, the cold energy took on the form of an ice crystal.

‘I think I know what was lacking.’

As she created a new magic, she simultaneously received feedback about herself.

Originally, possessing unique magic was only possible at the incredibly distant realm known as the 8th Tier. Now, by forcibly combining incantations, she was learning in real-time what she lacked.

Of course, she could only truly grasp a very small part of it, but that alone was more than enough to advance to the next stage.

Because for an ordinary person, it was normal not to even realize a fragment of that part, let alone the part itself.

In the end, thanks to Skadia’s genius, the theory, though a bit crude, properly took on the form of magic.

The cold energy condensed within her hands clearly surpassed even the power of 5th-Tier magic.

Grrraaargh!

Just then, Hanson collapsed, and one of the pillars restraining the saber-toothed tiger fell apart.

─Grrroooaaarr!

Seeing the beast begin to rampage even more fiercely, Skadia unleashed a snowflake.

“Go. Ice Crystal.”

A name too insignificant considering the incantations and effort used for the magic. Yet, it was the name that most accurately penetrated the essence of the magic.

The Ice Crystal shot through the air at lightning speed, as if melting into it, piercing the saber-toothed tiger’s heart.

Whizz!

With a slicing sound, a penetrating wound appeared on the saber-toothed tiger’s chest. And before blood could flow, the wound froze solid due to the immense cold energy.

The beast’s massive body swayed.

“It’s over.”

That was clearly a fatal wound.

Even if it didn’t die immediately, its breath would eventually cease once all the blood in its heart froze.

It was a common-sense judgment, but it underestimated the resource known as demonic energy.

Creatures tainted by demonic energy felt no pain, and even if their lives hung by a thread, they would choose slaughter over survival.

─Grrroooaaarr!

The saber-toothed tiger vomited blood profusely from its mouth, yet struck Abel’s shield with undiminished force.

CRASH!

“Ugh! This thing is still fine!”

Abel, caught off guard by the surprise attack, skidded, leaving a long furrow in the ground.

The part that blocked the attack was terribly dented.

“It took that hit and didn’t die?”

Skadia bit her lip in dismay at the unexpected turn of events.

She had used almost all her magic power to unleash the Ice Crystal and couldn’t fight anymore. Could the remaining party members truly finish off the saber-toothed tiger without her?

No, it was absolutely impossible.

Then how could they overcome this situation?

Skadia racked her brilliant brain for a solution, but no clear answer came to mind.

After that, the tide of battle became uncontrollably difficult.

“Kuuuugh!”

And shortly after, another casualty emerged.

Kevin, who had been keeping the saber-toothed tiger in check with Alisa, couldn’t dodge a tail whip that came from his blind spot and took the full blow.

Fortunately, he wasn’t instantly killed, but his internal organs were ruptured, making him unable to fight for the time being.

As a result, the burden on Alisa grew even greater.

Amidst that, the problem everyone had feared finally occurred.

CRASH!

“Ugh…!”

Alisa, who had been keeping the saber-toothed tiger in check and retreating, failed to deflect a counterattack and took it head-on.

It was due to her concentration dropping as her stamina was depleted.

She quickly lowered her center of gravity to avoid falling, but there was nothing she could do about her body being paralyzed from the impact.

The saber-toothed tiger wouldn’t miss such an opening.

─Grrroooaaarr!

The beast leaped high, as if completely ignoring the surrounding attacks.

A shadow fell over her head.

The saber-toothed tiger’s maw flew straight towards her neck, intending to tear it off in one bite. All of it came clearly into her sight.

It felt as if time was flowing slowly.

“Ah…”

Staring at the approaching beast’s maw, she thought.

‘I can’t avoid this.’

As that realization settled, Alisa involuntarily let go of the sword she was holding.

Why?

She couldn’t understand it herself. But she felt that even if her already ruined life ended here, she wouldn’t have many regrets.

What came to her mind now was not her family or friends, but Ruan’s face.

‘I wanted revenge.’

If she had known she would die like this, she would have just killed Ruan and then herself.

She felt a slight regret.

Alisa closed her eyes, as if trying to shake off her last lingering regret.

And yet, the end didn’t come.

‘What is this?’

As the expected pain didn’t arrive, Alisa opened her eyes slightly, wondering.

Then, a large back standing firm in front of her came into view. The person was holding the saber-toothed tiger’s maw with both hands, enduring its force.

Alisa’s lips parted slightly.

“…Who are you?”

Who on earth would jump in front of a saber-toothed tiger to save her?

At her question, he turned his head and met her gaze.

He wore a mask, so his face was unknown, but his dazzling silver hair and golden eyes exuded a mysterious aura.

With an appearance she had never seen before, he whispered, as if pleading with earnest eyes.

“Don’t look back, look forward. Don’t dwell on what’s past.”

“What do you mean…”

“Don’t easily cut short your potential. Your limits are set by yourself.”

She didn’t know what the person in front of her was saying.

But… strangely, she felt as if she had received comfort.

Thoughts like ‘Don’t spout nonsense when you know nothing about me’ or ‘Cut the flattering words’ swirled in her mind, yet inversely, her heart pounded fiercely, once again embracing the will to live.

She realized belatedly.

‘I wanted to live.’

She had merely given up prematurely, crushed by the overly harsh reality.

Not just now, but everything had been like that.

Just as she frowned one of her eyebrows.

─Grrroooaaarr!

The saber-toothed tiger let out a violent roar.

Simultaneously, it wildly swung its claws and twisted its head from side to side, and the mysterious man seemed unable to withstand the force, losing his grip with one hand.

CRUNCH!

His remaining hand was crushed by its teeth.

“Ah, no!”

Alisa’s eyes widened in horror at what had happened in an instant.

However, regardless of her emotions, the man coldly stared down at the saber-toothed tiger, then slowly raised his remaining hand.

“Now you can’t escape.”

Then, he brought his fist down with all his might, striking the saber-toothed tiger’s head.

The force was so immense that its skull immediately caved in, and its eyeballs popped out from the overwhelming pressure, dangling from its optic nerves.

Immediately after, the man opened its maw and pulled out his bitten arm. Strangely, his arm was perfectly intact, without even a single scratch.

The man met Alisa’s gaze again.

“Remember this. You can become much stronger. Don’t give up.”

“……”

At those words, Alisa’s mouth hung open. She wanted to deny it, to say it was impossible, but the conviction in his voice wouldn’t easily allow it.

Then, as if his business was concluded, the man began to move away.

Alisa quickly held onto him.

“Your name!”

“……”

“Please tell me your name. I have to repay this debt.”

In truth, she just wanted to know, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it honestly.

As she watched anxiously, the man whispered softly.

“Hyun.”

“Hyun?”

“That’s all you need to know.”

Leaving a short reply, the man immediately leaped and jumped down the cliff.

Perhaps because she had witnessed his previous display of power, she didn’t worry if he would get hurt.

“Hyun…”

She simply murmured the name softly to herself.

***

At the same time, Ethan, who had been secretly watching, hidden by the power of the Goddess of Darkness, smiled broadly as he watched the masked man disappear beyond the cliff.

“So you were here!”

When he placed his hand on his chest, his heart was pounding fiercely.

What should he call this feeling now?

There were many words to express it, but if forced to define it, ‘love’ wouldn’t be insufficient.

It would be a lie to say he had never thought this way, but the probability was so low that he hadn’t expected it, yet they had reunited in an unexpected place.

“Hyun.”

Ethan Gloucester.

His name on Earth was Ursila Phantom.

The only daughter of the prestigious European Phantom family, and the successor who inherited all businesses.

It could be said it was fate that she, who felt bored by everything, encountered “Abel’s Chronicles.”

Even though it was a well-made game, it wasn’t unique in terms of artistry, yet she was strangely drawn into “Abel’s Chronicles.”

She even entrusted her businesses to professional managers, focusing on it all day long, which said it all.

Thanks to that, she was able to master everything about the game to the point of achieving the fastest clear time.

And finally, just as she was beginning to feel bored once more, he appeared.

That guy from the small country of Korea!

The guy, who appeared like a comet with the ID “Hyun,” snatched the first place from her in just three weeks.

Still, she didn’t pay much attention. She figured she could reclaim it soon anyway.

In fact, she invested another week to refine her build and reclaim first place, but that glory didn’t even last two days.

Hyun saw her play, said he learned a thing or two, and immediately surpassed her record.

The sense of defeat and powerlessness she felt then still remained within her.

But that wasn’t what was important.

She, who had always reigned supreme over others, couldn’t endure that humiliation. In the end, she invested a month and barely succeeded in standing at the top again.

However, that meant nothing.

Because afterwards, the guy completely vanished without a trace.

Some said he gave up because it was too difficult to break the record further, but she realized that Hyun was simply tired of the competition.

In reality, his play time kept increasing, but there were no replies or activities.

Eventually, she developed a strange obsession with him, and just as she was about to gather information and seek him out herself, she transmigrated into this world.

At first, she was frustrated.

Because she thought she would never be able to meet him again.

But thanks to the Goddess of Darkness offering to help her return to Earth if she assisted her, she was able to regain her composure.

It was fortunate that she accepted the deal then.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to reunite with Hyun here.

She grinned broadly.

“I’ve got an interesting idea.”

She would have to settle the match in a slightly different way now. Not just a game played with a keyboard and mouse, but a true battle with lives on the line.

‘I will definitely win.’

This time, she would make him kneel and admit defeat with his own lips.