< Chapter 42 - Distortion >
Chapter 42 – Twist
The invasion of the Northern Barbarians, a major event that occurred at the beginning of the original work, was actually closer to background setting than an event in which one could actually participate.
No matter which playable character you choose, the level gap with the enemies is too great to actually go out and fight on the front lines.
Therefore, the actual combat participation took place after the fall of Thunderdoom Fortress, guarded by the ravens, to the barbarians – either while escaping or entering the North, which had been ravaged by the demon followers.
‘Each playable character faces different enemies.’
Now we know they are wild gods, but they are fallen wild gods that we could not know about based on the information in the original work.
Likewise, savage warriors who have fallen and become the devil’s minions.
Playing as Uther, you could face the corrupted versions of Rough Snow Avalanche and Sunsong, while playing as Cordelia, you could face the corrupted versions of Fine Snow Wind, Fine Snow, and Clear Snow Brothers.
‘And the enemies you face no matter which character you play as.’
Those who led the invasion of the northern barbarians and effectively became the conquerors of the north, causing chaos and fear.
‘The great warriors.’
They were special barbarian warriors, including Seven Horns, the chieftain of the Angry Horn Tribe, and were practically the mid-bosses of the Northern Barbarian faction.
‘And Haragen.’
The upper level mine of the Devil’s Eye, which can be said to be the beginning and end of the invasion of the northern barbarians.
This is the first advanced mine you will encounter if you proceed normally, and it is a kind of wall that clearly shows the gap between advanced and intermediate mines to players.
‘The last one.’
The final boss of the Northern Barbarian faction.
Archdemon Kreimler, one of the henchmen of Overlord Belial.
A demon with a magic sword who killed not only Count Bayer and Gale Bayer, but also Count Chase.
It was the North’s strongest enemy that Uther and Cordelia had to stop.
&
The Eastern and Western armies, who had been steadily advancing toward the Snow Flower Wind Plains, stopped at a certain point as if they had made a promise.
A point where both sides can see the Snow Flower Wind Plains.
The positions were set, and although there was no communication, the Eastern and Western armies could tell.
Tomorrow morning, the fate of the Wild Lands will be decided in a twist.
“We will win.”
The Red Wind, who had been looking at the Snow Flower Wind Plain with a tense face at the end of the Sun Song, smiled awkwardly.
I wanted to laugh out loud like Cordelia, but it was impossible.
It was my first time in war. It was my first time going to the front with so many people.
That’s why I was scared.
To be honest, I was scared.
At the end, he ended up looking terrified.
“It’s natural to be scared. When I first went to the front line, I was the same. No, I was even more scared than you. I’m only saying this here, but I wanted to run away.”
As the Sun Song spoke in a low voice, the Red Wind opened its eyes wide.
Although he had won, it was clear to Sun Song that if he were to fight again now, he would most likely lose, but only because he had the help of Uther and Cordelia.
A powerful and experienced warrior.
A man who seemed brave from birth, but whose young and weak appearance was unimaginable.
But there was a time when he was a baby, a time when he was a greenhorn.
“But you have to overcome it. If you don’t overcome the first time, you can’t go any further.”
It wasn’t just a silk battle.
In everything we encounter in life, there is always a first time. And we have to overcome that first time in order to move forward.
“Aren’t you the one who defeated me? You are already a great warrior.”
The sun song had a friendly smile – but it was also a wicked smile no matter how you looked at it.
And the red wind also smiled.
“Thank you, Sun Song.”
“Yes, and I say it again… do not be afraid. I will protect you.”
Unlike a mighty warrior, his voice wavered at the end. He even averted his gaze.
Red Wind opened his eyes wide again, and this time he smiled brightly.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Oh, yeah. Look forward to it.”
It got a bit messy towards the end, but I guess it’s a good feeling.
Sun Song, who coughed a few times, looked into the distance where the Western Army’s camp was spread out.
The bleak wind of the battlefield blew past Sunsong’s neck.
&
Gale and Adelia finally arrived at Thunderdoom Fortress, but the atmosphere was not very good.
Even though they were the eldest son and daughter of the twelve northern families, they appeared across the border from a savage land of all places.
‘What a bunch of crows.’
Although they passed through the gates, Gail and Adelia were treated not as guests but as potential enemies whose identities were uncertain.
Because of this, the two had to stand surrounded in the middle of the parade ground instead of being guided inside, and Gail was able to see Adelia’s true appearance for the first time in a long time.
A sharp gaze, a fierce expression, and an extremely menacing demeanor.
The nickname of the Devil of the Guards was not an empty one.
Although she was surrounded by more than ten crows, she did not lose heart, but instead glared at each of them as if she wanted to kill them.
‘Um… what should I say?’
I think I’ll hear a growling sound.
If Yuder had been there, he would have exclaimed in admiration, “Wow, that’s Cordelia’s older sister.”
Of course, there was a difference in that Cordelia was a small dog, while Adelia was a real beast like a leopard or tiger.
In any case, the fierce and fierce fight went too far and did not bring any good.
In the first place, I didn’t come here to fight.
“Adelia.”
Gail, who was wondering what to say, ended up just calling out her name, and the effect was amazing.
The ominous aura radiating from Adelia’s entire body suddenly subsided.
That wasn’t all. Adelia was startled for a moment by Gale’s call, and her cheeks turned red before she took on a very shy expression.
‘Ugh, what should I do?’
I was so angry that I forgot that Gail was there.
What if they think I’m a scary woman?
Adelia shrugged her shoulders, not knowing what to do, and Gail, who was already feeling embarrassed, smiled happily without realizing it.
Of course, the crows looked lukewarm at the dramatic change and the reasons for the change.
Then another few seconds.
A man who can finally end this situation has appeared, saving both Adelia and the crows.
“Gail, it’s been a while.”
Count Hresvelg, one of the Ten Swordsmen of the Kingdom of Seilun and the leader of the Ravens.
Gale was naturally impressed by his appearance, wearing armor with the emblem of the black eagle and a white cloak.
It was their first meeting in several years, but it was thanks to Count Hresvelg’s prayers that he had grown stronger rather than weakened.
“Gail Bayer meets Count Hresvelg. This is Adelia Chase of House Chase.”
“Adelia Chase meets Count Hresvelg.”
When Gail bowed first, Adelia also bowed, placing her hand on her chest as per the etiquette of the Royal Guards.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I am Count Hresvelg. This is my son, Lucas.”
“Lucas Hresvelg greets you both.”
Lucas, who was standing next to Count Hresvelg, showed the example of a knight beating his chest with his fist.
I had already met Gale once in Langest, but this was my first time encountering Adelia.
“Let’s go inside and talk about the details.”
Count Bayer and Count Chase already had a lot to talk about with Count Hresvelg, including Juder and Cordelia.
But here comes the problem of Gale and Adelia, who have crossed the border from nowhere else but the Wild Lands.
“I’ll tell you everything.”
“Yes, that must be the case.”
Count Hresvelg, who answered softly, turned around, and Lucas, who had a face that looked like he would be bombarded with questions if he were to be pointed at, also turned around hurriedly.
And Gail and Adelia looked at each other.
‘I will continue the story.’
‘Yes, I will also protect Prince Gale.’
The eye contact failed again, but the two people who were unaware of this fact smiled at the same time and walked away with satisfied expressions on their faces.
&
The Eastern and Western armies faced each other across the Snow Flower Wind Plains.
The Red Wind and the Sun Song comforted each other, and Gale told Count Hresvelg what had happened.
A day ago.
At the prelude to a great battle that would decide the fate of the wild lands.
“Wow, it’s really star-shaped!”
“If that’s what you’re saying, then so be it.”
“No, really? You saw the light when it went off with a ‘bang!’”
“If that’s what our princess is like, then it must be so.”
“No, really?”
“Dobby believes his master’s words.”
“I hate you, you annoy me.”
Cordelia, who was irritated even though she believed him, stamped her feet and grumbled, and Uther, who had been looking at her as if he found her cute, turned his gaze to the scene of the explosion.
‘As expected.’
The rear of the Western Army, located beyond the Sky Roof Mountains, was not well-defended.
The wild gods who had already fallen were all gone, perhaps to be mobilized for battle, and each village and city was practically empty, with only the bare minimum number of troops left to maintain order.
‘I never imagined I would cross the Sky Roof Mountains.’
Melissa wasn’t waiting for nearly 40 years in vain.
It was the Sky Roof Mountain Range, which no one could cross, and was therefore the roof of the sky.
‘Anyway, it’s one now.’
There are a total of twenty-one dragon veins in the West.
Since they were all contaminated, it was no wonder that the Golden Dragon King was groaning and unable to open his eyes.
‘If the rear is shaken, the front line will also shake.’
That’s why Yuder chose to strike from the rear instead of going directly to the front lines.
How can you fight properly when your back is unstable?
‘The longer the battle goes on, the more advantageous it becomes for this side.’
Uther and Cordelia were not mere agents.
They were powerful fighters who could fight against mid-level mines with their short stature.
So, if you send troops little by little, like urinating on someone’s feet, they will just get eaten.
However, we could not just stand by and watch as our rear was trampled, so we ended up having to mobilize a considerable number of troops.
‘And we can pick and choose.’
There were as many as twenty points to defend, and the enemy had no way of knowing which one Uther and Cordelia would strike.
‘Mobility added here.’
It wasn’t just Uther himself talking about carrying Cordelia on his back and running.
It was about the benefits of getting Melissa.
‘You can use the central tunnel.’
A research facility built by Magellan’s high elves.
Because they are research facilities utilizing the Yongmaekcheon Stream, most of them overlap with the sanctuaries of wild gods.
In other words, the story was that by using the underground tunnels connecting the research facilities, one could quickly travel between the Yongmaek Streams without being detected.
‘I’ll probably get a call from the front line tomorrow or the day after.’
If news spread that the rear was being destroyed, it would be difficult for Haragen to put up a proper fight.
In other words, if the battle between the Eastern and Western armies does not turn into a so-called one-shot battle, it is possible to strategically pressure the Western army.
‘The rotation will probably unfold tomorrow.’
If you focus on defense, you’ll be able to buy plenty of time.
‘Then the only problem left is Kremler.’
The great demon of Belial who destroyed the northern part of the Kingdom of Seilun.
Many strong northern warriors fell to the hands of this powerful swordsman.
‘Father and brother.’
It wasn’t just Count Bayer and Gale.
Count Chase also died by his hand, and Count Hresvelg, the leader of the ravens, also met his end before his sword.
‘You can’t win by normal means.’
Even though Uther and Cordelia had become much stronger than when they first entered the Wild Land, it was still impossible for them to stand against the great evil Kraemler.
But unless he was stopped, a perfect happy ending would be nothing more than a dream that could never be achieved.
‘The moment he was summoned.’
It was not yet.
After conquering the Savage Lands, Haragen summoned Kremler to the surface.
Summoning a great demon of Kremler’s level was no ordinary feat.
‘The best thing to do is to prevent the summoning itself.’
If you haven’t been summoned yet, you will not be summoned again in the future.
‘The next best thing is the Golden Dragon King.’
Awaken the Golden Dragon King as soon as possible to prevent Kremler from being summoned, or defeat Kremler altogether.
Although it was only for a moment, the power of the Golden Dragon King that I had directly encountered was truly tremendous. With his power, I could have defeated Kremler.
‘I can do it.’
Originally, the plan was to use Lena’s power to stop Kremler, but circumstances changed.
Stop Kremler with your own power or defeat Kremler with the power of the Golden Dragon King.
If neither of these options work, we will involve Landius and Kamael by any means necessary.
Of course, it was a method close to the lesser of two evils, as it would take a considerable amount of time to mobilize two people from the central and southern parts of the Kingdom of Seilun, but it was better than having no number at all.
‘Okay, let’s do it.’
It was Yuder himself who had already greatly disrupted Haragen’s plans with his activities in the East.
Unlike the original, he failed to take control of the East and was unable to kill the Red Gale.
The Eastern Alliance was formed, and the Devil’s Eye had already lost several mid-level minions. Including those who fell to Count Chase and Gale, who Yuder did not know about yet, there were ten mid-level minions missing, so the Devil’s Eye had suffered a truly fatal blow.
Because of this, Haragen had to fight in a large battle between the Eastern and Western armies, which he didn’t have to do in the original work.
Little by little, Haragen was being pushed into a corner.
Now, if I just did a little more here, I could have taken the bastard down completely.
A grand strategy to gradually strangle the enemy.
Uder’s own specialty and favorite method.
“Your eyes are evil. You’re clearly thinking bad things.”
Cordelia said, looking up from below with her eyes narrowed.
With a height difference of more than 10cm, it was becoming difficult for the two of them to meet eye to eye unless they jumped up and down or Yuder lowered his posture.
So, Uther first looked at the rabbit headband that was dazzling before his eyes, and then looked at Cordelia’s face again.
Naturally, Yuder himself thought of the grand strategy he was pursuing with long-term plans.
‘It’s an established fact.’
First, create the environment.
People around you make you believe it no matter what the truth is.
If his old colleagues had seen him, they would have clicked their tongues and asked what the crazy guy was doing, but there was nothing they could do. This was Uder’s way of doing things.
Little by little, little by little.
Pushing the opponent into a corner step by step.
“What, what. What are you really thinking about?”
“Good thoughts, right thoughts, pretty thoughts.”
“Where does it hurt? Do you have a fever?”
Cordelia touched Uther’s forehead, and Uther smiled.
“Let’s go next. This time, we have to make it explode in the shape of a star.”
“No, I told you it was really star-shaped?”
“Yes, yes, I guess so.”
Uther, who had answered mischievously on purpose, walked forward while listening to Cordelia’s grumbling complaints.
And the next morning.
When the Eastern and Western armies clashed, the second dragon vein exploded.
An unexpected variable shook the wild land.
&
< Chapter 42 - Distortion > End
