episode_0071

The fiercely burning blue flames advanced forward to engulf the prey in front of them.

The flames surged fiercely to scorch the troll’s face.

Gradually, with a dreadful sound, they began to consume its visage.

ㅡㅡ!!

The troll writhed in immense agony, swinging its club wildly.

Blinded by its own actions, it missed striking me.

Given the troll’s size and the club’s enormity, even one wrong move would mean game over.

However, widening the distance wouldn’t change much.

Attacking the creature with my longsword wouldn’t deal significant damage.

Moreover, its regenerative abilities meant any cuts or stabs would quickly heal.

Hence, I had to deliver a blow potent enough to prevent regeneration.

Or continuously disrupt its ability to regenerate.

To land such a blow, I needed to expend all the mana I possessed.

Yet, executing that strategy required some preparation time.

Only under the assumption that the monster’s movements were sealed could such a plan be feasible.

Despite its face being engulfed in flames, the creature’s regeneration persisted.

Soon, those flames would flicker out.

Then, vision would return.

And at that moment, there would be no escape.

Nowhere left to hide.

My hiding spots were dwindling.

Previously, I could evade attacks by concealing myself behind a massive pillar.

But now, two pillars supporting the ceiling at the center had succumbed to the troll’s assault.

Only one central pillar remained standing.

Thus, if there was an opportunity to strike.

With vision obstructed, now was the only chance.

Yet, I was weak.

Nevertheless, I must persevere.

Even without a clear path.

Even if no bright light shone.

If enveloped by pitch-black darkness, I must illuminate it.

If there is no opportunity, I will create one.

For that is the path I must tread.

I can only move forward.

– Hwaruk

Once more, I ignite the blue flames on my blade.

And without fleeing, I press onward.

To seize the opportunity.

ㅡㅡ!!!

– Thud!

The troll, still not fully recovered, slams its massive mace into the ground.

Suffering both regeneration and burning agony, the monster howls.

It begins to destroy everything around it.

First, shattering the ground beneath.

Next, swinging the mace into empty air.

Then, with all its might, it hurls the club towards the pillar beside it.

– Crash!

With a tremendous noise, the troll’s weapon embeds deep into the pillar.

As the mace remains lodged, the troll roars and starts crushing its surroundings with bare hands.

Truly overwhelming power.

To exert such strength purely through physical prowess.

Yet, there is no time to marvel at this.

With a heavy thud, destroying everything in its path, the troll slowly advances towards me.

The flames supporting its face seemed to be fading, allowing the troll’s vision to gradually return.

Before its sight fully recovered, I enhanced my body with mana and dashed forward at an even greater speed.

To evade the troll’s colossal hand that could easily crush my skull, I increased my mana output.

There are clear limits to enhancing the body with mana.

Pushing it further might lead to failure.

Although I tried to avoid excessive force, now was not the time for such considerations.

Despite feeling the strain on my body, I had to act now.

I raised the mana output, boosting my physical capabilities explosively.

Already, I could sense the burden on my body increasing.

With heightened physical abilities, I delve into the troll’s body faster and more agile than ever.

The troll’s resilience and healing power are considerable.

However, its regenerative capacity is not infinite.

No matter how exceptional its regenerative abilities or toughness may be,

Ultimately, even that monster has its limits.

While its regenerative powers may surpass those of other creatures significantly, it is not immortal.

So, there is only one answer.

Until that creature’s regenerative abilities are exhausted, I strike from within.

A sound of something breaking echoed.

Simultaneously, with all my might, I thrust my sword into its abdomen with the troll’s body impaled on it.

The blade imbued with blue flames scorched through the troll’s thick flesh, gradually penetrating inward.

Before long, the once azure-flamed blade snapped in half.

Yet, I cannot stop here.

Before the troll’s wounds could heal, I promptly withdrew the broken sword.

– Swish!

Igniting blue flames on my fist, I plunged it directly into the troll’s injured area.

Enhanced by magic, my fist, burning fiercely with blue flames to the extent of even scorching my right hand, delved into the troll’s insides.

“Ignition.”

With a bursting sound, the troll began to burn vividly in blue flames.

ㅡㅡ!!!

In response, the troll let out a horrifying scream.

Grabbing me with its massive hand while I was embedded in its abdomen, it flung me against the wall.

“Cough!”

My body flew quite a distance before crashing into the wall, engulfed in excruciating pain as if every part of me was being torn apart.

Moreover, perhaps due to pushing my body to its limits,

Alongside the dizzying agony, I felt a sensation akin to my entire body being incinerated.

Struggling to regain my senses, I glanced down at my flame-engulfed right hand.

Due to the flames I conjured, my right hand was severely charred.

My fingers wouldn’t even budge.

No, my right arm itself wouldn’t move.

Whether my arm was broken from the troll’s grip or simply devoid of strength, I couldn’t tell.

Furthermore, breathing became difficult.

With each breath, an indescribable pain enveloped me.

Blood trickled down my forehead, slowly obscuring my vision.

My head throbbed as if about to split open.

It was truly an indescribable agony.

Though I had reinforced my body with magic just before being grabbed,

Even so, ending up like this…

Yet, that wasn’t the issue.

Beyond my immobile state, I needed to ascertain the fate of that monster.

Struggling to lift my head, I gazed towards the center where the troll stood.

The troll, whether driven to madness by unbearable pain or blinded by suffering, had become even more ferocious than before, destroying everything around.

Eventually, after shattering all that surrounded it, the troll demolished the last remaining pillar at the center.

As the pillar supporting the ceiling collapsed, the stone ceiling began to crumble.

….

The ceiling slowly descended from the center.

It was fortunate luck that the monster had smashed the pillar, leading to this outcome.

Truly, I had no idea the ceiling would collapse… but if the result is favorable, does it matter?

Moreover, although the monster had thrown me far enough to avoid being crushed by the falling ceiling…

If that creature survived being crushed by the stones despite being squashed flat…

Then, there would truly be no solution.

Struggling to maintain consciousness, I rose from where I lay.

Slowly, I advanced to inspect the troll’s body buried under the rubble.

With each step, strained breaths emanated from the center.

Between the piles of rocks, crimson blood trickled onto the floor.

And so, I…

Could discover the troll, bleeding out and slowly dying amidst the rubble.

Among the pile of rocks, the troll buried within was alive but in a state that could not be called living.

Its body was crushed, half of its head missing.

Arms and torso were separated, leg joints folded inward instead of outward.

In this way, a being clung to fading embers, forcibly continuing its existence.

To definitively extinguish those embers, I reached out with my only movable left hand.

I extinguished the flickering embers with a warm flame.

“It’s over.”

Truly, it was a tough fight.

By sheer luck, I managed to withstand a blow.

I could survive.

I could kill.

“I survived.”

So, I can move forward.

But it’s no longer feasible.

Too much blood has been shed, and…

The body has reached its limit.

I depleted all my magic power with a spell cast a while ago.

I can no longer maintain consciousness.

Just maintaining consciousness itself is painful.

Having run without rest since yesterday.

Perhaps it’s okay to take a short break now.

“Yeah, taking a break wouldn’t hurt.”

As such, as the tension eased.

My vision gradually darkened, consciousness beginning to fade away.

Unaware of the warm flames blossoming on my charred right arm.

….

The seven beings gathered around the round table began their conversation once again.

“You truly prevailed.”

“Impressive, overcoming trials with such incomplete power.”

“The trials are just beginning. If one cannot overcome such trials, there is no future.”

“But you seem quite relieved despite saying that.”

“….”

“Anyway, since the child has overcome the trial, they should receive a fitting reward.”

“But it’s become quite harsh. As soon as one trial ends, another awaits the child.”

As one being spoke thus, all the others at the table fell silent.

After a while, one being broke the silence.

“This is something we cannot interfere with. So, all we can do is hope that the child will overcome this too.”

“Then let us watch over them again. The path the child will take.”