Chapter 104 : Chapter 104
Chapter 104
【CHAPTER 2. The Silver Demonic Beast at the Forest’s Boundary
At the boundary between Washerd Forest and Sliana Forest, a colossal demonic beast is summoned, driving the forest’s inhabitants into terror!
■ gathers companions to subjugate the beast and heads toward the forest path—but the moment he steps inside, a winter out of season unfolds!
The massive silver wolf that awakens from its slumber is no easy opponent!
Will ■ be able to stand against the demonic beast, defeat it, and save the eastern forest?
This quest fails if the player falls.
Success: ???
Failure: Death】
【You have entered the exclusive field ‘Forest Where Winter Has Arrived’!】
【If you defeat the monster, the forest will return to its original state!】
【If you fail the main quest, you will suffer a severe penalty or the fate of the story will be drastically twisted!】
【Clear all quests and please save this world!】
【Good luck this time as well!】
A shrill, chilling scream resounded, and an icy cold surged toward them, enough to make their skin crawl.
White frost bloomed over the trees and grass, freezing them solid in an instant.
“Ghk……!”
Someone sharply inhaled.
White vapor mixed with every exhale.
All of them stared at their surroundings in stunned disbelief.
They had merely taken a few steps inward, yet the forest had transformed as though winter had descended.
Ding!
【Note from Joreumi: 77H !ㅁ!(He's up!)】
“I can see that.”
Aquila scowled irritably at the Great Spirit’s message.
The moment he, positioned at the very rear of the party, stepped forward, a howl rang out and the scenery shifted.
Which meant—
“…It was waiting for me.”
Aquila clicked his tongue as he surveyed the frost-covered landscape.
There were quests that only began when the player stepped into a designated location.
This must be one of them.
Which meant Fenrir had not been adapting to the eastern climate.
It had been waiting for the chapter to begin.
And that created a problem.
“C-Cold……!”
“Ugh……!”
They had not prepared for this.
The Blue Scale Descendants shuddered as the sudden cold seized their bodies.
The eastern region, while not as warm as the south, was still relatively mild.
Moreover, Sliana Forest was usually sheltered by dense trees. Frost of this magnitude was unheard of.
“…This cold is somewhat similar to the Frost Forest.”
Porzelin muttered in disbelief.
She was correct.
The chill enveloping them now was on an entirely different level from the winters of the east or central regions.
It bore the ruthless edge of the north.
Of course, it was still milder than the deadly cold near the Frost Forest itself.
“M-My fingers won’t move properly……!”
The Blue Scale Descendants had never experienced the merciless northern cold.
They had yet to glimpse even the tip of the demonic beast’s fur, yet the terror of the cold alone clawed at their composure.
Just as panic began to set in—
Whoooosh!
A wave of heat burst outward, driving back the cold.
“Calm yourselves. It is only cold.”
The warmth radiated from Aquila Reschenhardt.
Golden formulas coiled around the Spirit Tree Branch in his hand, scattering light.
He had cast a spell.
A stable and gentle veil of fire.
The biting frost retreated, and soothing warmth enveloped them.
The Blue Scale Descendants turned to him in astonishment.
“I did not anticipate the environment changing like this. But we formed our plan assuming Fenrir would awaken. If we warm our bodies with magic and avoid mistakes, we still stand a chance.”
Aquila’s face was calm, yet utterly cold as he looked at them.
“…He is correct.”
Tesser flexed his fingers, feeling warmth return, and nodded.
He had been startled as well—but this was only the beginning.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
“For now, we remain within the veil cast by the blood of Reschenhardt. Once battle begins, we will scatter. Those in the rear will each be assigned someone to support and maintain a veil of fire to dispel the cold.”
Though there were few aura-using warriors, they would not be able to protect themselves from the cold otherwise.
The Blue Scale Descendants nodded.
But Aquila shook his head.
“I know a seal that repels cold. It has a time limit, but the warriors of Igrail carve it during the Frost Forest subjugation. Its effectiveness is certain.”
“…Are you sure you may teach that to us?”
“It exists to be used. And wasting mana unnecessarily is far more dangerous now.”
At his words, Porzelin nodded in agreement.
Supporting others was commendable—but in a place where a monster lurked, losing awareness of one’s surroundings meant death.
And that would endanger those being supported as well.
“The cold here is weaker than in the Frost Forest. There is no need to layer it excessively. I will show you the formula.”
Since they were all adept in magic, detailed explanations were unnecessary.
As Aquila projected the golden formula, the Blue Scale Descendants studied it and carved it onto themselves.
“I will handle the two of you personally.”
He gestured to Heinen and Porzelin.
“…I had only heard rumors, but you truly can use mana, Young Master. Are you truly all right?”
“I am much better, thanks to the necklace you gave me.”
“If it was of help, then……”
Porzelin trailed off, unable to finish.
After all, the one who had given that necklace was also the one who had sent them east.
Aquila silently inscribed the seal onto their bodies.
“It truly suppresses the cold. Thank you.”
Heinen extended his arm beyond the veil to test it and expressed his gratitude.
Though he showed little reaction, he must have been startled at the front.
Aquila nodded and stepped back.
“I will maintain the veil only as we advance. Let us move.”
With the seals in place, they reformed their formation.
The silence was sharper than before.
The spirits that had illuminated their path seemed to vanish in fear, and the surroundings grew darker—and colder.
At the front, Heinen kindled a faint light with Divine Magic.
They walked.
Then—
Without a sound, Fiana leapt into a tree.
“……Target spotted.”
Heinen whispered.
In the distance—
Even within the dense forest, something shone pale and sharp like moonlight.
A massive form loomed at the edge of their vision.
Grrrrr.
Each breath it exhaled billowed white.
A low growl scraped across the ground and reached them.
But something was wrong.
“…It is far too large. That size is at least two or three times that of Fenrir.”
Aquila frowned.
It was nothing like the Fenrir he knew.
“Let us approach slowly.”
“W-Wait…….”
Just as Aquila moved to stop Heinen—
The silver beast wandering the clearing suddenly lifted its head.
Its gaze snapped toward them.
And—
“GRAAAAAAH!”
It threw its jaws wide and roared.
Blue light, gleaming like crystal, flashed in its eyes.
Then it charged.
“…We have been detected! Supporting mages fall back! Warriors, forward—follow me!”
Tesser shouted.
THUD! THUD!
Each step of the silver wolf thundered against the earth.
“…Engaging!”
Heinen roared, stomping forward and launching himself ahead without hesitation.
He raised his weapon—
Flash!
Blinding radiance burst forth.
A shout of light imbued with the Sun God’s brilliance.
A taunt skill meant to draw the monster’s attention.
“Fiana!”
“I know!”
The Mithril Arrowheads coated in poison.
Fiana drew the bowstring taut.
Her yellow eyes narrowed to sharp vertical slits.
The beast grew larger with each bound.
The ground trembled as though a small hill were leaping.
Even the tree beneath her shook—but her draw did not waver.
A faint blue light shimmered in her grip.
Her aim: the center between its eyes.
She wanted one precise, powerful strike.
“At that size…… my arrow will never miss!”
She released.
Fweeeee!
The poisoned arrow tore through the air.
And then—
A scream of agony shook the forest once more.
***
Fiana’s arrow struck the silver beast’s forehead dead center, burrowing more than halfway in.
The beast twisted violently, releasing a strangled shriek.
Crack!
The crystal embedded in its body—once pure mana essence—fractured.
Blue fluid dripped out and began to blacken.
“Krrgh—KWEAAAAGH!”
Yet even struck by the poison that had felled the Demonic Dragon, the colossal beast did not fall.
What they had failed to consider was not only its size—
But the cold.
Cold like a fragment stolen from the Frost Forest itself.
It froze even the spreading poison meant to course through its body.
To do so, the beast had frozen a third of its own head.
In the process, whatever intelligence it might have possessed seemed to vanish entirely.
Instead of focusing on the small creatures attacking it, it began smashing everything in its vicinity.
“Ghk—ugh!”
Worse, frost began forming on the warriors’ bodies as the cold intensified.
“Layer the seals! Quickly!”
“Fall back! Avoid contact!”
“Bind it!”
The Blue Scale Descendants shouted until their throats burned.
Blue formulas flared from their fingertips.
But the beast was too large.
Even binding magic could not fully envelop it—and its resistance was immense.
“It is too large—we cannot find an opening!”
Porzelin shouted, face contorted.
They had planned for Heinen to draw its attention while the swordsmen struck from behind.
But the beast was rampaging madly.
“…Damn it! We do not have enough people for something this size!”
Even if several latched onto it, would it be enough?
There were only fifteen of them.
Aquila was scarcely the size of one of its toes.
Where had such a monstrous beast come from?
Was this another error in this iteration?
“What grand spell from my archmage days could help here—!”
As he retreated from the rampaging beast, Aquila’s mind raced.
At this rate, the entire forest would be destroyed.
Then—
Ding!
【Note from Joreumi:°HㄷL.ㅇm(Delivery is here)】
The Great Spirit, which had vanished at some point, returned.
With reinforcements.
“The spirits say they will help suppress Fenrir!”
At Zelik’s shout, a blinding tide of light surged forward like a wave.