Chapter 223: Fortress of the Giants (2)

Chapter 223: Fortress of the Giants (2)

Elise and Teebone headed for the imperial formation. As befitting an empire boasting immense wealth, not only the knights, including the Titans, but also thousands of infantry troops were positioned in the valley below.

"Sigh... it really is far. And that damn sly one. How could they send us all the way here just because of one slip of the tongue? Do you think this is reasonable by any common sense?"

Elise gasped for breath—her words dripping with irritation. Due to nearly five hours of travel, she was at the height of exhaustion.

"Clang. I share the same sentiment as you, Lady Master."

"Lady Master? Me?"

"Yes. Are you not the mistress of the master?"

"Mistress..."

Elise tasted the word slowly.

"Hmm, hmm! I've been called by many titles, but this one feels quite pleasant. Indeed, someone of my dignified presence requires a fitting title."

"Hm, if it's about dignity, the one known as the saintess might be a bit higher up still. I've been researching those around the master, and truly, the word 'elegant' suits her..."

"Hey..."

"Yes?"

"Should I just cook you into bone soup? Your bones would probably make a very rich broth."

Elise slowly raised her magical power.

Kukukuku!

Red drops of blood the size of fists began rotating slowly around Teebone.

"Yup, compared to Lady Master, saintess or whatever, it's not even worth mentioning. Clang, clang."

"Right. It's good you realized that now."

With her pride inflated, Elise dispersed the gathered magic power. Then, with a somewhat improved mood, she hummed a little tune and walked towards the command tent where the main forces of the empire were gathered. Of course, she didn't forget to wear the mask symbolizing the Unknown, as in this affair, Elise was merely an understudy for the Unknown.

***

There had been a minor incident with the guards at the entrance, but Elise managed to resolve the matter peacefully. She arrived at the personal tent of the noble appointed as the supreme commander of the expedition.

"So. The barrier surrounding the giants' fortress will weaken tomorrow night, and we should strike then. Is that what you mean?"

Hobier, a retainer sent by Duke Beinschtern. A man of impressive bulk, with a double chin and a golden mustache.

It's even more remarkable to see him chomping down whole chickens laid out on the table.

"Yes. If we want to get ahead of the martial artists, it'd be wise to act swiftly. It seems like they've noticed something is up with the barrier, too."

"The barrier..."

Hobier stroked his mustache. While the story smelled fishy, it wasn't something he could completely ignore, especially since the masked figure had displayed such magnificent bravery against the giants on the ramparts.

'While Duke Beinschtern mentioned that a person named Gang Jinhyuk is difficult to deal with and advised maintaining a distance. This one hasn't been fully assessed yet.'

What kind of temperament they hold.

Or the possibility of being swayed.

Nobody had yet tested the waters.

'If I could possibly recruit them...'

If so, the achievement of recruiting a grand mage could be as significant as seizing the giants' fortress.

After all, weren't mages renowned for their incomparable long-range firepower, essential alongside knights and Titans as one of the empire's three pillars?

'The contingency plans we've prepared will allow us to handle any surprises, even if they do try anything funny.'

The decision didn't take long.

"Thank you for the information about the fortress. By the way, I heard you're with a man named Gang Jinhyuk. Is that true?"

"Yes. We've been helping each other out. Although he's become a bit temperamental lately."

"Hmm. That's curious."

"What's curious?"

As Elise tilted her head, Hobier proceeded as if he'd been waiting for this moment.

"I don't know why you're with him, but there's a limit to what a single player can offer. Moreover, why would a grand mage of your stature be bound to a mere individual?"

Hobier subtly emphasized the empire's capacity to provide much.

By elevating her and hinting at a brighter future simultaneously, surely she would be persuaded.

'As if she would dare refuse our offer.'

And at that moment.

"You're saying you could help me achieve my wish if I join you?"

The awaited answer flowed from the other side.

This was a commitment.

"Of course. Whatever you wish for, we will make it happen."

Hobier proudly patted his chest. However,

"It's impossible."

Elise quietly shook her head.

"What do you mean impossible?"

"You could never grant my wish. Ah... don't be too hurt by this. It's not just you; others wouldn't be able to either."

"Unbelievable... Are you unaware of our capabilities? We represent the highest power of the central levels of the tower. We are the Empire."

"You don't even know what I desire, do you? I'll say it once more, it's impossible for you."

"Then you're suggesting that Gang Jinhyuk can? That a single man can accomplish what even we cannot?"

The power of the empire backed by countless troops and bountiful lands stood unquestionably immense.

How could one equate it with a single man?

But Elise replied with a certainty that had never been so firm.

"Even with all of you combined, you cannot match the tip of his toes."

The strongest and most dreadful ranker—forever confident and silently ascending ever higher.

"If there is someone in this tower who can fulfill my wish..."

A faint smile graced Elise's lips.

"It's him and him alone."

***

Time passed quickly.

As the hour foretold by Jinhyuk approached, both the empire and the martial artists were on high alert, careful to verify whether the fortress's barrier was indeed weakening, just as Elise and Wal-young had said.

"This time I will definitely take down that cursed Giant King and seize the foothold."

"Before the Cheonma Sect comes out in full force, we must erase the empire from the map. Only then will we stand a chance against Cheon."

While each harboring their own plans, they awaited midnight.

And when the full moon was high in the sky,

Wooong!

A transparent barrier surrounding the fortress began to tremble faintly.

Undoubtedly, some anomaly was occurring within the barrier.

"Dispatch the Titans! Determine the nature of the broken curse, then immediately send the main forces!"

Hobier shouted until his throat was raw.

"Each clan leader, form a separate unit with your peak fighters. If we can break through the barrier, we can take down the fortress in half a day."

Baek Seol-lin and Namgung Cheon quickly assessed the situation and made their decisions.

The tranquil forest was now shrouded in a tense atmosphere of war.

***

At the same time,

Jinhyuk was heading towards the giants' fortress on his own.

After entering the interior of the barrier, he felt a strange sensation binding him.

[You are affected by a status abnormality!]

[The senses of front, back, left, and right are distorted.]

[Due to the 7-star barrier 'Magic Rift', part of the curse did not activate.]

[If you proceed deeper, additional curses may overlap.]

It had been exhausting to draw a barrier to weaken 'Phantasmal Paradise' for the entire day.

Aside from the issue of time and materials, it was tough to find a gap in the 12-star barrier.

'It looks like the curse I've neutralized causes skills to activate randomly.'

Even though he couldn't prevent the curse causing the distortion of senses—a particularly tricky one—he wasn't disappointed...

No matter.

That alone would suffice as bait for the empire and martial artists.

Jinhyuk lightly tapped on the calf of a giant.

"You know the deal, right? If by any chance you give the wrong passphrase and summon the guards..."

"Don't worry."

"I'm not worried. If you try to pull something, I'll make it so you can never use your junior's second generation again."

The giant's gait as it walked away was certainly unnatural—surely because it had suffered a significant blow to an area where it shouldn't have.

"Tecríosh."

A deep, sonorous voice echoed through the air.

Only through the mouth of a giant would the secret route disclose itself.

It was for this reason he had captured a giant while scouting yesterday.

Kukukuku!

A slender passageway, barely large enough for a giant to fit, appeared in a part of the towering fortress that stretched up hundreds of meters.

Indeed, that's why having inside information was best.

"Now that I've done my part, I'll be on my way."

The giant began inching away backward.

"Hmm. Sorry, but that's going to be a problem. I don't like leaving loose ends."

"What—after all this, you're going to kill me?"

"You're a giant, and I'm human. It's clear that we're enemies to each other. Plus, you plan to alert the guards as soon as I'm inside, don't you?"

There's only room for affection with those worthy of it, not with someone like you, who could stab me in the back at any moment.

"Hiiek!"

In terror, the giant turned to flee, thinking to shout and warn its companions.

But instantly,

Chzzzzk!

Frozen mute by an ice-bound throat, the giant could utter no more words.

"That makes for a fairly scenic statue."

Jinhyuk muttered as he inspected the 7-meter-tall ice sculpture.

While his sense of direction was distorted, the ice sculpture crafted with Glacial Shaping had no discernible flaws—as if such minor restrictions meant nothing to him.

And then, the ground shook.

Koooom!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The hefty vibrations came through clearly.

"Enemies!"

"Those human dogs have come in swarms!"

"Inform the king. Enemies approach!"

Rough shouts echoed half a beat too late.

...Finally, the two forces had taken the bait.

The empire, the martial artists, and the giants alike.

The pieces of the chessboard had started moving for real.

'I should hurry too.'

Jinhyuk moved awkwardly, still needing some time to adjust to the jarring sensation.

Step by step.

How long had he been walking down that passage, enveloped by darkness, before light began to seep in? And soon, he was bathed in a radiance so intense it was blinding.

A garden full of golden roses and in its center, a towering white tree.

Like the last paradise depicted in an apocalypse, the sight was breathtaking.

Yet, in the midst of such suffocating beauty, Jinhyuk's expression was rigid.

An intense chill ran through him.

Every sense was on fire, and he could feel the flow of every single cell.

Others might not know, but Jinhyuk understood the danger of standing before this tree.

[The coin exchange is open.]

Therefore, all that remained was to prepare at least a minimum of defenses.

Swiftly scanning the items on the exchange, Jinhyuk searched...

...for the hidden piece that would help him overcome this challenge.