Chapter 157
Ceres nervously fiddled with the staff, the symbol of the Tower Master.
The other mages around her also carried a peculiar sense of tension.
At that moment, one of the mages, with a curious intake of breath, asked Ceres,
"Um, Tower Master?"
"Yes?"
"Is this even possible?"
"What is?"
"The thing that young commander requested..."
At the mage's words, Ceres narrowed her eyes. Indeed, Erich's request was rather unreasonable.
'He wants us to cast a protective spell over the entire mountain range...'
Even if a large number of talented individuals from the Mage Tower had gathered, it was by no means an easy task.
But more important than that was the 'purpose' behind Erich's order.
It didn't need to be strong; just enough for everyone to stay alive.
His request was simply for a protective spell that would minimize harm within its bounds.
Of course, under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be impossible.
But Erich had demanded this spell cover all of Haratakan, which became the real issue.
'The moment I heard it, it seemed possible if done this way.'
After receiving Erich's request, Ceres recalled relevant rituals and began constructing the spell, thinking a simple barrier would fulfill Erich's wishes.
However, to properly execute this, a huge number of mages was required...
Conveniently, there were plenty of mages gathered here.
Furthermore, the shamans volunteered to help as well.
Because of this, the mages found casting spells alongside the shamans intriguing and fueled their enthusiasm even more.
Nevertheless, there remained something Ceres and the other mages did not understand.
Although they found the work somewhat interesting, they still couldn't grasp exactly what Erich wanted.
The only thing they could guess was that Erich had inquired about landslides.
But, aside from that, even Ceres' keen intellect could not deduce his intent.
"... What does a landslide have to do with a protective spell?"
The mages preparing the ritual flinched at Ceres' muttering.
They, too, harbored similar thoughts.
Ceres directed her glance to Haratakan's peak — the very place Erich had headed towards with the members.
She didn't know what he was preparing, but Ceres felt a strange trust in Erich's plan.
For that reason, she let a faint, idle smile touch her lips.
She even found her own change surprising.
Whatever he was preparing, Erich's plans never missed their mark.
He'd already proven it countless times.
Such groundless trust crept down Ceres' spine.
***
Erich headed up towards the peak, accompanied by Frederick, Barnes, Mikhail, and several outstanding members.
Included among them were the Hrung-ga he trusted and the Barbarians.
Along the way, he didn't forget to remind the members,
"Since Ceres said the spell she placed on you is weakened because she's preparing another spell, don't approach the dead wreathed in frost too closely."
Everyone nodded — except for Mikhail, who could already ignore frost with his own aura.
Until now, Frederick, Barnes, and the other ordinary members had been immune to the frost thanks to the heat magic Ceres had cast on them.
Of course, this didn't make them invincible — they wouldn't die the instant they touched the frost like someone unprotected, but...
If they made direct contact, the heat would weaken enough to render them combat incapable.
But even that was something.
Erich, of course, could sense the difference, but the average members had no way of perceiving such things.
Mikhail added,
"Well, if you feel like you're about to die, you might finally burst out your aura using every ounce of strength, right? Isn't this a great opportunity? Heh heh."
At Mikhail's not-quite-joke, the members' faces darkened. If it were that easy, they'd have unleashed their aura long ago.
Still, Erich didn't entirely disagree.
'Aura always manifests in the fight between life and death.'
In Erich's view, Barnes had the potential to awaken his aura.
His characteristic regenerative power was one thing — he had also continuously trained under Mikhail — but he'd always had innate talent for swordsmanship.
On the other hand, Frederick was unfortunately not quite at that level.
Erich thought perhaps, with great luck, he might develop some sense for it, but he didn't expect Frederick to gain such power.
Well, everyone has their own role. Erich knew that better than anyone.
Frederick excelled at commanding and managing soldiers. That alone was enough reason for Erich to keep Frederick on.
'Perhaps Barnes, at least, will gain something from this.'
In any case, Erich continued leading his subordinates toward the summit, doing his best to avoid encounters with the dead.
Soon, Hrung-ga asked,
[But Erich, why do we keep going up? Didn't you say you'd rescue the shamans for Aung-ga and break the ritual?]
[I have a plan. A plan.]
[... I figured as much, but it sounds like it's another weird plan.]
Hrung-ga looked at Erich with a sour expression. He always thought all sorts of outlandish things must spring from this guy's head.
Erich answered with a faint smile.
[If you call it strange, it is strange, I suppose. But we don't have time. We can't save everyone one by one, nor break every ritual, nor do we know how many dead are in Haratakan. We can't take them all on.]
[That's true, but who doesn't know that? If there was some clever way around it, we'd use it.]
Of course, as Hrung-ga suspected, Erich's plan wasn't just bizarre. He had his own countermeasures as he ascended.
Erich's gaze rested not on the dead dotting the area, but on the terrain of Haratakan itself.
'... Hmm. That place will do.'
Erich instinctively rested his hand on his sword and released a killing intent.
As he pictured swinging his blade, a faint afterimage of the expected result flashed before his eyes.
His sharp gaze conjured those afterimages. As they neared the edge of the peak, Erich slowly raised his hand.
Frederick shouted,
"Everyone halt!"
In an instant, the members stopped in their tracks. Not knowing what Erich intended, they looked to him with shining eyes.
Erich slowly gauged the distance from one end of the peak to the other.
'... If we run, ten minutes?'
It would take about ten minutes to make a loop around the peak. Precisely what Erich wanted. He gave instructions to the members,
"Frederick, you brought the items I asked for, right?"
"... What exactly do you need these for?"
Frederick took out thick spikes and ropes from his waist. He'd brought them as ordered, but he didn't quite understand what for.
Erich gave a peculiar smile.
"Drive them into solid ground. Then tie the ropes around your body and secure yourself so you can't be shaken."
"... Damn, this is getting more and more worrying."
Despite his grumbling, Frederick instructed the members. Their reactions weren't much different from his.
They all hammered spikes into the firm ground and fixed themselves in place.
Hrung-ga exchanged glances with the barbarians and followed suit.
Erich then turned to Mikhail,
"Chief Mikhail, aren't you joining in?"
"I'll pass. Don't need any of that."
A grin tugged at Erich's lips. Indeed, Mikhail had no need for such measures.
If it came to it, he could plant his sword in the ground and withstand a natural disaster.
-*Clank.*
Erich drew his sword. The dragon fang's wavy blade shimmered. As he suddenly drew his weapon, unease flickered across the members' faces.
"... Hmm?"
Erich swiftly plunged his sword into the ground. Crimson light surged from his eyes.
Immediately, a massive force welled up and pulsed through the earth.
The members sensed a subtle vibration underfoot. But as they wondered what was happening—
― Tadadadadak!
Erich, with his sword embedded in the earth, dashed toward the opposite side of the peak.
Where he ran, golden aura sprayed like a fountain from the fissures he left behind.
― Kwagagagagak!
Unlike the earlier faint tremors, the members now felt a colossal shaking.
With each stroke Erich drew across the ground, Haratakan's foundation trembled.
In an instant, Erich sped so fast the others couldn't see him.
At the same time, the dead, drawn by his radiance, fixed their gazes on him.
― Grrraaaaa!
Black dots rushed at Erich from all directions, but none could catch up with his full sprint.
Their flailing hands just sliced air, and they only flailed at Erich's golden afterimages.
― Kwagagagagak!
Erich's sword arm bulged. Immense power shook Haratakan's peak.
At the same time, Haratakan itself began to shake, as if groaning in pain at Erich's blade.
Erich unleashed his aura to the fullest and drove it deep into Haratakan's earth.
There, his aura caused small explosions that shattered the mountain's foundation.
― Kwagwagwang!
A fierce tremor shook the area where Erich had passed, erupting from the deep scar left behind.
The explosive power of his aura turned the ground to wreckage.
But this was exactly what Erich intended—a simple fact of nature.
If you drop a small stone from the top of a mountain, those below are struck by giant boulders.
This was Erich's butterfly effect.
The rituals were fixed in the land, and the shamans were trapped. So, how could he save them all at once?
Erich had but one answer.
― Dudududududud!
Haratakan roared violently, causing avalanches in every direction.
Not a natural avalanche, but one instigated by Erich's aura, sending a massive wave surging down the mountain.
A faint smile lifted Erich's lips.
He hated troublesome things.
The avalanche would gather the shamans needing rescue, the dead, and the rituals that needed destroying, all into one place.
Soon enough, everyone on Haratakan witnessed it: the avalanche Erich caused swept down the mountain as a colossal snowstorm, engulfing everything below.