Awakening
A bath after battle was as refreshing as a sip of water in the desert.
'Hahh, now I can finally breathe.'
It was nothing more than washing in hot water, yet the fatigue that had clung to his body seemed to melt away.
'Well, I guess it's mostly thanks to leveling up.'
Reaching Level 10 had fully restored his depleted stamina.
'Still, there's some mental exhaustion left… but this is good.'
Ingong threw himself onto the cot inside the tent, a towel draped over his still-damp hair.
'Not sleepy anyway. Might as well study my skills.'
With a wave of his hand, the skill window appeared, showing a far greater number of skills than before.
His eyes immediately turned to the magic-type skills:
[Mana Control Lv1][Fire Arrow Lv1][Ice Arrow Lv1][Heal Lv1]
'Just looking at these makes me happy.'
Perhaps it was because he had earned them through blood, sweat, and rolling around on the battlefield, but they felt all the more precious.
'So now I've acquired aura, magic, and psychic powers?'
If he added divine power and spirit arts to that, he'd be a true all-rounder.
'But psychic power and magic are still weak… aura's the only thing useful in real combat right now.'
He fiddled with the newly acquired skill points, pondering whether to invest in aura again or spread them out elsewhere.
'My hidden card is definitely psychic power.'
Of the three powers he possessed, both aura and magic were already revealed—Caitlin and Chris knew of his aura, while Felicia knew of his magic.
'Psychic power should stay hidden.'
That would become his trump card, something the enemy couldn't even predict.
'Secrets are power in themselves.'
Murmuring the line he'd once heard, Ingong nodded contentedly and began practicing telekinesis. Like push-ups, it was better to do a little at a time, but often. With so many skills to train, grinding whenever possible was essential.
'Soon Chris and Caitlin will teach me Beast God Fist and aura techniques. Better save my skill points—might be more profitable to invest there.'
Having made up his mind, he shifted his gaze to the other skills—those that couldn't be leveled up with points.
[Protagonist Buff Lv2]
What exactly was the effect of leveling that up? Couldn't be just the "Blessing of the Battlefield" he'd received earlier.
'No, there must be more.'
Aura skills increased overall attack power with each level, so Protagonist Buff surely had hidden effects as well.
'Maybe I get extra stat boosts every time I level up? Or maybe some protagonist-like events trigger more often.'
He chuckled, shaking his head at the thought of "events." But just then—
"Shutra."
"Hm?"
A woman's voice from beyond the door. Unless his ears deceived him, it was Felicia.
"Shutra, can I come in?"
'What's she doing here at this hour?'
Could this really be… an event?
Flustered, Ingong quickly sat up straight, took a deep breath, and answered.
"Uh, yeah. Come in."
The door opened, and as expected, Felicia stepped inside.
"Manage your subordinates better. They can fight, sure, but their discipline is pathetic."
At her words, he glanced toward the open doorway and spotted Karak nodding off while on watch.
"Karak must be tired too. There are other guards on duty."
"Well, I did sneak up quietly."
Shrugging, Felicia entered soundlessly—whether because she was a dark elf or had used magic, he couldn't tell.
"So… what brings you here?"
Ingong hurriedly pulled off the towel covering his head. Felicia's silver hair was still damp, her cheeks and neck flushed from a recent bath.
She was dressed not in her usual dark elf garb but in a plain white tunic like Caitlin's lieutenants wore.
Closing the door, Felicia stood at an angle, then jerked her chin toward him.
"Take off your shirt."
"…What?"
He blinked in shock. Take off his shirt? Out of nowhere?
Seeing his wide-eyed mix of surprise and hope, Felicia frowned and sat down beside him.
"Your shirt. I'll check your wounds. Didn't get a chance to heal you properly earlier."
'Ah. That's all it was.'
Relieved and a little disappointed, Ingong obediently stripped. Yet he still felt her gaze lingering.
"What?"
"…For a 'Shutra,' your body's not bad."
Looking down, he realized she was right. Where once there had been only skin and bones, now well-shaped muscles had formed.
"Been working out."
Though, of course, it was just the effect of leveling up.
When he grinned, Felicia chuckled lightly and smacked his shoulder.
"Anyway, lie down. Let me see your back."
Suppressing a shiver at her words, he lay face-down on the bed.
"Good. No wounds. Looks like the healing magic worked."
Indeed, his body bore no trace of injury. Leveling up had helped too—perhaps the ultimate healing magic really was leveling itself.
'This is my chance.'
He couldn't miss the opportunity to learn healing magic.
"Just to be safe, could you cast a healing spell anyway?"
"I already gave you a Massive Heal. You're not hurt."
"…Feels like I might have some status ailment."
Felicia's eyes widened.
"Frostbite? Hold on."
She hastily formed hand signs, and green light flowed over him.
[You have acquired Cure Lv1.]
'Ohhh!'
Cure—status ailment recovery magic!
"How's that? Better?"
"Yeah. But… can you treat poison too?"
"What? There's no poison on ice arrows!"
A stretch, but Ingong pressed on.
"Uh, I think I got poisoned fighting the orcs…"
"Where?"
"My back. The wound's gone thanks to you, though."
He muffled a groan for effect. Felicia sighed, then cast again—this time purple light.
[You have acquired Cure Poison Lv1.]
'Excellent!'
But he wasn't done.
"…Could you also cure diseases?"
"Shutra?"
Her voice turned cold, but he pushed.
"Please."
With a sigh, she raised her hand once more—yellow light glowed.
[You have acquired Cure Disease Lv1.]
Three new spells, all immensely useful.
'Better not push further…'
He wanted dispel curses too, but that would be too suspicious.
'Still, she complains but does everything I ask. Maybe she's the real pushover, not Caitlin.'
Felicia finally stood. "All right, satisfied? Get some sleep."
"Thanks."
Pulling his shirt back on, Ingong smiled brightly.
"You've gotten manlier… muscles, magic. Not bad."
Fortunately, she didn't question his sudden acquisition of spells—after all, it would be stranger if the Demon King's child couldn't use magic.
'She's warming up to me. If I play my cards right, I might draw her into my side.'
Patience, he reminded himself.
—
The next morning, Chris gathered everyone.
"Kairam ran."
He explained their enemy had withdrawn swiftly to join Yakuzan, slipping away before dawn.
Felicia smirked. "Didn't you say you wouldn't let him leave alive?"
Chris bared his teeth in a savage grin, beast-like despite his human face.
Afterward, he laid out their plan: join General Vandal to crush the Red Thunder Tribe head-on.
At the mention that dark elves awaited with Vandal, Felicia hesitated. "Can you tell me… the casualties?"
Her usual pride faltered, and Chris answered with uncharacteristic gentleness: they'd fought fiercely, and losses were inevitable.
Her expression darkened but soon steadied.
Chris then turned to Caitlin. "Teach Shutra aura control and Beast Fist."
She agreed, and Ingong's eyes lit up. But Felicia interrupted in surprise.
"Wait—you can use aura too?"
Her gaze now held the same hungry gleam Chris had once shown.
'The abyss looks back, huh…?'
Who would recruit whom?
—
Among lycanthropes, most were martial artists rather than weapon users. Their shapeshifted forms made weapons impractical—thus, Beast Fist became their signature martial art.
Caitlin explained calmly: "You'll learn the werewolf style. It's what Chris and I learned, and it's the foundation of Beast God Fist."
Ingong nodded.
Caitlin continued, "Beast Fist uses both external and internal aura. Today, I'll teach you basic internal aura control."
It wasn't just physical technique but akin to inner energy cultivation.
Caitlin extended her hand. Ingong clasped it, and her dark-blue aura guided his pure white one.
Aura—the power of life, close to the soul, and at its peak, soul-force itself.
[You have acquired Passive Skill – Protagonist's Body Lv1.]
'…Huh?'
He quickly opened his skill window:
[Protagonist's Body Lv1]Lv1: Greatly increases training efficiency of physical skills.Lv2: ???Lv3: ???Lv4: ???Lv5: ???
Even higher levels awaited.
'As expected… the protagonist.'
Not the Heavenly Demon's Body, nor the Yin-Yang Body, but the Protagonist's Body. And even though it was only at Level 1, its effect was undeniably fitting for a protagonist.
'So the Protagonist Buff's level-up effect wasn't just one thing.'
Apparently, simply beginning the practice of Beast Fist had triggered this skill's activation.
'If I raise its level, will it surpass Zephyr's Extreme Magic Body or Locke's Hero's Blood?'
Those two were both broken-tier passives that drastically increased the efficiency of mana and divine power use.
[You have acquired Beast Fist Lv1.]
So far, nothing unusual. He had learned Basic Swordsmanship just by swinging a wooden sword once, after all. The real question was how much faster his training speed would be.
"Shutra, focus."
Caitlin tightened her grip on his clasped hand, her expression stern despite her closed eyes.
Ingong closed his eyes again, concentrating on her aura. After following the same route about five times, Caitlin slowly released his hand.
"Now, move your aura along that path while copying me. I'll show you the eight basic movements of Beast Fist. Pay attention to your breathing too."
She stepped back, moving slowly so he could watch.
Ingong didn't know much about martial arts, but even he could tell Caitlin's demonstration wasn't easy. He'd heard before that true martial artists practiced techniques in slow motion to refine them, and now he saw it firsthand.
After repeating the basic movements three times, Caitlin straightened and gestured for him to try.
"You don't need to do them all. Just the first three."
Ingong recalled her forms and began to move. Since he already had Beast Fist Lv1, copying the basics wasn't too hard.
But unlike with swordsmanship or dagger-throwing, this felt completely different. His aura naturally flowed into his movements.
'So this is aura.'
What he had thought were "punches" before now seemed like fakes. With aura, his strikes carried real weight.
'This is Beast Fist.'
Even barehanded, it felt like he was wielding a deadly weapon. He half believed he could shatter stone with just a single blow.
Aura-based martial arts.
Now he understood why Chris and Caitlin had been so shocked when he first awakened aura. Aura was a miracle. Its very existence created an enormous power gap.
He shivered.
His Beast Fist was only Lv1. His aura was only Lv3. And yet he already felt such a difference. How powerful, then, was Caitlin? How terrifying was Zephyr, the strongest and most ruthless of the Demon King's children?
Learning a few spells had been fun, but it was nothing.
Even back in his old world, training alone could create massive gaps in strength. Here, with aura and magic, the potential difference was unfathomable.
'I have to get stronger.'
Survival instinct mixed with ambition, becoming a fierce drive. His mind grew calm—eerily so.
And the world grew quiet around him.
Caitlin and Felicia were watching him without a word.
Startled, he asked, "Uh… did I mess up?"
Maybe his movements were wrong? But his strikes had felt strong and precise.
Caitlin blinked, then shook her head.
"No, you did well. Shutra, you're incredible. I didn't expect you to master the basics in one try."
All three forms had been executed with proper aura. They were only basics, but it was no small feat.
"…Are you really Shutra?"
The voice came from behind. Ingong turned to find Felicia's face full of surprise, not suspicion.
She couldn't use aura herself, but she wasn't ignorant. Her twin brother Silvan was a powerful aura-user.
Objectively, what he'd shown was only decent. But to do it immediately after learning—and as Shutra—was shocking.
Felicia composed herself. 'No, think rationally. I saw him fight yesterday. If he learned aura, he must've had other training too.'
She calmed down. It wasn't such a big deal. Shutra was still a child of the Demon King—he should show this much.
"Felicia?"
"…Nothing, I was just surprised. Keep going."
Waving it off, she sat back in the corner.
"Shall we continue?" Caitlin asked awkwardly. Ingong nodded just as awkwardly. Even Felicia seemed uneasy now.
Each of them had their own reasons, but all three shared the same awkwardness.
"Prince! We're setting out now, hauu!"
A rough voice broke the tension. Ingong's face lit up as he turned to the source.
"What's with those looks?"
Karak stood there. Not just Ingong—Caitlin and Felicia also seemed oddly relieved.
Ingong grinned. "Nothing, just glad to see you."
Karak tilted his head but, being a proper orc, let it go.
Through the dwarf portal, they marched east from the Red Thunder Tribe's ruined stronghold.
Though all infantry, the orcs and lycanthropes marched swiftly thanks to their stamina.
Ingong trained with Caitlin during the march, and thanks to the Protagonist's Body, he pushed Beast Fist to Lv3 within three days.
Felicia kept watching, her eyes gleaming, though she didn't interrupt again.
'Is Chris showing me off to her? Or does she have her own agenda?'
It was hard to tell. Better to just treat it as bonding between him, Caitlin, and Felicia.
On the fourth day, he finally met Vandal.
'He's huge.'
Vandal's camp was massive, but the true spectacle was Vandal himself—and his tent. Nearly six meters high, clearly made for an ogre. Beneath it stood Vandal, his broad back and shoulders making his already massive frame look even larger. Ingong felt like he could believe the rumor that Vandal had once nailed the sun and moon into the sky.
At least twice his height and ten times his bulk, Vandal surveyed them before bowing lightly.
"Welcome. I am Vandal."
His growling voice came from above.
Chris nodded curtly, Caitlin smiled, and Vandal turned to Felicia.
"Sixth Princess. It's been a while."
"Your tone is still the same. Yes, it has."
So they'd met before.
"And you must be… the Ninth Prince?"
He tilted his head uncertainly. Their first meeting, then.
'Vandal…'
In Knight Saga, Vandal was one of the five retainers he had always relied on. With that in mind, Ingong found the towering four-meter monster oddly familiar. He even extended his hand with a friendly smile.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Shutra."
Vandal blinked at the warmth in his tone, then chuckled and offered a single finger. They shook—hand to finger—and both laughed.
The sight was bizarre, but Chris nodded approvingly, Caitlin smiled warmly, and only Felicia looked flustered.
Once greetings ended, Vandal gave his order.
"Bring the dark elves."
Moments later, a black-haired elf woman tumbled inside.
"Your Highness!"
"Delia!"
She knelt before Felicia, eyes wet with tears.
"Thank goodness you're safe!"
"And you as well." Felicia's own voice trembled.
After a brief reunion, Felicia composed herself. "Delia."
The woman understood immediately. She bowed to the group.
"Forgive my rudeness. I am Delia Trident, attendant to the Sixth Princess."
Comparable to Caitlin's Seira, Ingong thought. Chris replied, "You're forgiven."
Felicia then told Delia, "Gather the troops. I'll meet them once we're done."
Delia bowed, still teary-eyed, and left.
Vandal wasted no time. "Then let us begin."
The war table was enormous, though thankfully of normal height. An orc soldier shifted the figurines across the map.
As Chris had explained before, the Red Thunder Tribe had settled at the edge of the Jishuka Mountains, with a vast swamp and a passage to the human realm to their southeast.
"They number around 2,500 to 3,000. More if you count women and children, but that's their fighting force."
"And their reinforcements?" Chris asked.
Vandal frowned. "Scattered. Too many small groups. If we could crush them separately, it'd be ideal, but our numbers aren't quite enough. Only Kairam's unit is large enough to matter, and its path doesn't suit our main force."
Chris studied the map and nodded. "Best to finish this before they unite. Kill Yakuzan, and the rest will scatter."
The expedition's goal wasn't extermination—just executing the ringleaders and breaking the tribe apart.
"When can we march?"
"Tomorrow morning," Vandal replied, shoving the Red Thunder figurines aside.
"Don't train tonight. Sleep early."
Back in their tent after the meeting and dinner, Karak advised him. He had noticed Ingong staying up late grinding for three nights straight.
Tomorrow was battle. Better to rest.
Ingong nodded reluctantly. "Fine, fine. What are you, my nanny?"
"Something like that, isn't it?"
Ingong almost argued but closed his mouth. He had to admit, Karak wasn't wrong.
'Truly, a logical orc.'
And it was all out of concern.
"All right, just one set before bed."
His "basic set" was: three rounds of Beast Fist basics, thirty aura circulations, fifty telekinetic lifts, and ten spell casts. Of course, Karak only knew about the martial arts and aura parts.
Karak frowned but finally nodded. "Only that, then sleep."
"Got it."
Once Karak left, Ingong began circulating aura.
'If I'd worked this hard in school, maybe I'd have gone to Seoul National University.'
But he had no choice. He had already faced death twice, and more crises were bound to come.
Besides, training was fun.
Thanks to the Protagonist's Body, his skill levels rose quickly. His Beast Fist grew sharper, his aura stronger, his telekinesis steadier. Visible progress stoked his motivation.
'I want to be stronger.'
Not just to defeat Zephyr, but for himself.
In this world, individuals could rival armies. Why not him?
He feared Zephyr's strength, but unlike before, he now believed he was climbing. Someday, he would stand atop that mountain.
'Okay, enough fantasizing. Back to training.'
He calmed himself and began Beast Fist drills. Tomorrow's battle came first.
In a world of darkness, two women faced each other: one with white hair and a golden crown, the other with red hair engulfed in crimson flames.
Were they glaring at each other, or chatting casually? It was hard to tell.
Ingong watched them. Their outlines sharpened, revealing their clothes—
The white-haired woman wore priestly robes, like the pope's vestments he'd once seen online.
The red-haired woman wore armor: crimson plates over dark tights.
Conquest. And war.
The moment the words conquest and war surfaced in his mind, both the white woman and the red woman turned their gaze upon Ingong.
"Prince! Wake up! I told you to sleep early, but you stayed up late again, didn't you?!"
Karak's booming voice shattered his ears. Ingong flailed awake, blinking blearily and blurting the first thing that came to mind.
"Wha—no, I was just dreaming… Hey, wait, I didn't even wake up late!"
The clock beside the minimap showed just past five in the morning. But Karak was already tugging away his blanket.
"Doesn't matter. Hurry up. We'll eat, let our stomachs settle, and then march right out."
He really was like a nanny. Especially rude for dealing with a prince, but then again—
'That's just Karak.'
Sighing, Ingong washed up in the basin Karak had prepared and straightened his clothes. The cold water and morning air chased away his drowsiness, but the images in his head lingered.
'That red woman… what was she?'
Beautiful, yes, but like the white woman, too inhuman to be mistaken for mortal. The white one had felt oddly familiar. The red one radiated hostility. Why? And what was their connection to him?
"Prince, let's go. Can't let the other princes and princesses outpace us—you're the youngest, after all."
Karak pressed him again, and after steadying his breath, Ingong stepped out of the tent. The immediate concern was the coming battle against the Red Thunder Tribe.
At General Vandal's tent, they shared a simple breakfast and held the final war council.
The formation was somewhat complex, but the plan itself was simple: a straightforward clash of main forces.
Vandal's army would hold the center.
Chris and Caitlin, commanding the lycanthropes, would form the right wing.
Felicia, with her dark elves, would act as a mobile strike force behind the main army.
Ingong, with the orc troops, would take the left wing.
As the expeditionary army advanced, the Red Thunder Tribe swiftly formed ranks in response—as if they had been waiting.
Time blurred. Before he knew it, Ingong stood in the heart of a battlefield with thousands arrayed before him.
"Nervous?" Karak asked, his voice steady. Mounted on a great wolf, Ingong's eyes were level with the towering orc.
"And you?"
"Of course I'm nervous."
They exchanged small grins. The familiar voice helped ease his pounding heart.
This was different from the raid on the tribe's camp. He had thought five or six thousand troops were nothing compared to the tens of thousands in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. But standing here, the scale pressed down on him. To imagine all of them colliding was suffocating.
"Stick close to me."
"Got it."
As they smiled one last time, the blaring of war horns cut through the dawn.
"Advance!"
"Advance!"
The armies surged forward in unison. Everything proceeded as planned—until the anomaly struck.
"Kuoooo!"
"Kiaaaaa!"
From behind the Red Thunder lines came roars that shook the earth. Heat shimmered in the air, and massive red orbs of mana split the skies.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Mana projectiles rained down like meteors, exploding across the field. Orcs and lycanthropes alike were torn apart, fire sweeping the ground.
And then they appeared: colossal beasts lumbering forward amidst the Red Thunder warriors.
"Swamp Mammoths?!" someone cried.
Titans of the marshes, far larger than any mammoth, reaching nearly twenty meters in length. And the mana projectiles fired from their backs were siege weapons incarnate.
'How?!'
Swamp Mammoths weren't beasts that could be tamed, let alone controlled.
"Get close! Stop them from firing!" someone shouted. Sound logic—if it became a melee, they wouldn't risk indiscriminate bombardment.
But could orcs or mammoths be trusted to care about friendly fire? And their roars carried a force like dragon fear, sapping courage itself.
There was no time to think. The bombardment continued. Ingong's wolf panicked, thrashing beneath him. Orcs screamed in terror.
"Prince! Dismount!"
Karak's shout snapped him to action. Ingong leapt off just before his wolf bolted and was obliterated by an explosion.
"Charge!"
"Charge!"
The Red Thunder Tribe surged forward. The Swamp Mammoths advanced, and reptilian humanoids poured from their lines.
"Lizardmen!"
Denizens of the swamp.
Ingong understood. The tribe hadn't risen blindly, assuming the frontier would be ignored. They had their monsters of the swamp as allies—and the magic to hide them until now.
"Prince! Keep your wits!"
Karak's roar steadied him. Ingong clenched his teeth, aura flaring.
The slaughter began.
Death, destruction, chaos.
Mana shells shattered the battlefield, warriors screaming as they tore into one another.
Blind strikes fell everywhere—an orc speared in triumph was crushed an instant later by a mammoth's step.
Ingong forced himself to focus. He listened only to Karak's voice, raising his aura like a blaze. He had to survive.
He smashed an orc's skull with his fist, opened his minimap, and searched for flow amid the chaos. He guided Karak, who in turn led their soldiers, carving a path through the madness.
Blood coated his fists, his ears rang deaf from the thunder. When Karak was slashed across the side, Ingong healed him and pressed on.
The tide was clear: the Red Thunder Tribe pushed forward, the expedition fell back.
They ran, driven by the current, until at last—
The battle ended.
The expedition had been crushed.
The Red Thunder Tribe did not pursue far. The lizardmen lacked stamina, and the mammoths could not march long distances.
Even so, the losses were catastrophic: nearly a third of the army dead or crippled. Survival itself was a miracle, thanks to Vandal, Chris, and Felicia's desperate efforts.
"We underestimated them," Chris muttered bitterly. They had dismissed the Red Thunder too easily, never imagining they'd harness swamp monsters. Victory had bred arrogance.
"At least none of us were badly hurt," Felicia said, trying to lighten the mood. Her cheer was forced, but Caitlin's eyes glowed with gratitude. Even Ingong managed a small smile.
But defeat was defeat. The army was broken.
"We cannot win like this," Vandal said calmly. "Either retreat entirely or call for reinforcements."
It was as good as admitting defeat. Their achievements were gone, their reputations at risk. Chris grimaced, but forced a wry smile. "Better that than throwing lives away for pride."
Then he turned to Ingong. "Sorry, Shutra."
Ingong shook his head. "It's fine."
For him, it was just a reset. He had allies now, had learned much. Even if the great library would be beyond reach for a while, it wasn't all loss.
Vandal concluded, "We'll withdraw and request counsel from the Demon King."
But before they could move—
"…I have an idea."
Felicia raised her hand timidly.
"Speak plainly," Vandal urged.
Clearing her throat, she unfurled a parchment, her eyes flicking toward Chris.
"I came here for ruins research. At the edge of the Jishuka Mountains was once the lair of the earth-dragon Enkidu. And Enkidu's treasure guardians… included the Swamp Mammoths. They're not natural beasts, but chimeras."
She traced the map. "Among Enkidu's guardians were dwarves. They forged a weapon for him. The Anvil That Gives Birth to Thunder."
On her parchment, eight dwarf statues encircled an octagonal altar with a massive anvil at its center.
"A weapon that can control the guardians—like the mammoths—and cast large-scale magic. That's what I came here to find."
Vandal narrowed his eyes. "And it's near?"
Felicia nodded. "Almost certainly. I joined the army because the tribe blocked my excavation."
Chris frowned. "Too risky. We can't gamble everything on a sudden treasure hunt."
But Ingong spoke up. "It exists. The Anvil is real."
"Shutra?"
He knew it—he had suffered through it in Knight Saga. In the human campaign, the hero Locke had been forced to pass this very gauntlet, where the mammoths and the anvil combined into a nightmare.
'I thought it was just a Demon King weapon… but it's an ancient ruin.'
He couldn't explain that, so instead he said, "I came across the tale studying dwarf runes. Even the Gandharvas whisper of it. And I trust Felicia wouldn't chase false research."
Felicia beamed at his support. "If we seize the Anvil, we can turn the mammoths against them."
Vandal frowned, then nodded. "You'll have one or two days. No more."
"General Vandal?" Chris said in shock.
"I'll stake it on the Sixth Princess and the Ninth Prince. If there's a chance, we must try."
Two royal heirs and the general in agreement. Chris sighed. "How many soldiers?"
"Fewer is better," Felicia replied quickly. "No more than ten."
Chris looked at Ingong. "Shutra, go with her."
He trusted him. Ingong nodded. "All right. But Caitlin should come too."
Caitlin answered without hesitation. "I'll go."
Chris finally relented. "Then Vandal and I will hold the line. The mammoths can't attack endlessly. We'll manage."
Vandal asked Felicia, "Can you depart at once?"
"We have no choice."
She glanced at Ingong. He smiled back.
They all turned to the map—their hope fixed on a single point.
Though exhausted from defeat, they had no time to rest.
After dividing recovery potions and snatching a few bites of dried meat, Ingong headed to Felicia's tent, where Caitlin was already waiting.
The team was small: Ingong and Karak, Caitlin and her lieutenant Seira, Felicia with Delia and an unnamed dark elf male.
Ingong considered asking who the stranger was, but Felicia offered no introduction, and Caitlin remained silent. So he held his tongue.
"Good, let's move out."
Without further comment, Felicia strode out of the tent and marched straight toward the outskirts of camp.
"Huh—don't tell me we're walking there?"
Karak whispered into Ingong's ear, sounding genuinely alarmed. For him, who never complained, to be saying this showed just how worn out he was after the last battle.
'Should I ask Felicia?'
But before Ingong could decide, Felicia flicked her long ears, turned back with a smirk, and formed a hand seal.
"Don't worry. We'll fly. Delia, Katuin."
At her call, Delia and the dark elf man, Katuin, joined her in casting. Ingong instinctively glanced upward.
'Mana's gathering…!'
But this wasn't an attack spell or healing magic. Dark smoke rose and coalesced into shape.
'Phantom Steeds!'
The ghostly mounts of the sky.
Seven spectral horses with glowing green eyes appeared in formation.
"Too many people would've been a problem, right? Let's hurry."
Winking at the group, Felicia mounted first. Karak shuffled nervously despite his massive frame, while Caitlin's eyes shone with fascination as she stroked the phantom steed's mane.
'Zephyr used these all the time.'
Cold seeped into Ingong's body as he mounted—appropriate for ghostly steeds.
'Not like I can just learn this spell by riding one… it's summoning magic, after all, needs a catalyst.'
When all were mounted, Felicia looked around.
"I'll guide the steeds. Just hold on tight and don't fall. Ready? Then let's go!"
She didn't leave a pause between "ready" and "go," so Karak had no choice but to clamp his mouth shut and cling to the steed's neck for dear life. Ingong crouched low against his mount, steadying his breath as the phantom steed's hooves left the earth and cleaved into the air.
Darkness had fallen; the ghostly steeds melded naturally into it. A bitter wind rushed from the ravine, so Ingong ducked his head and focused on the minimap, where their blue dots hurtled toward the edge of the Jishuka Mountains.
'The Red Thunder Tribe!'
For a moment, clusters of red dots filled one corner of the minimap—then vanished just as quickly. If even Ingong had barely glimpsed them, the enemy surely hadn't noticed.
After nearly an hour of flight, the steeds descended. They had reached the mountains' end, where Felicia had indicated on the map.
Karak tumbled from his steed in a clumsy roll—almost a collapse. Felicia summoned a light spirit to illuminate the surroundings.
"Climb down carefully. I'll dismiss the steeds—we walk from here."
She had narrowed the location through research, but they still had to search on foot.
But Ingong stopped her. "Wait, sis."
"Hm? What is it?"
Still half-dismounted, she tilted her head. Ingong urged his steed closer.
"The entrance is nearby, right?"
"Very likely. I'm almost certain."
Her tone brimmed with conviction. Ingong swallowed, locking eyes with her.
"Then… will you follow my lead? I don't think we need the entrance."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Yeah, Prince, what's that supposed to mean?"
Karak asked quickly, his footing steady now that they were on the ground. Delia and Katuin, however, scowled. Before Felicia could scold Karak's bluntness, Ingong pressed on.
"When I studied the dwarf portals, I noticed their tunnels had a certain pattern. Same with the ones I'd seen before."
Utter fabrication, of course. But it had to sound convincing.
"Taking the terrain, the tunnel patterns, and the legends of the Thunder-Birthing Anvil together… I can pinpoint where it should be."
"You mean the chamber holding the Anvil itself?" Felicia asked in shock.
Ingong nodded. "Exactly. So we don't need to use the front door."
Her frown deepened; Delia and Katuin's eyes said what nonsense is this? Karak, though, grasped it immediately.
"So instead of the door… we smash a hole through the wall?"
"Right," Ingong grinned. "It's practically a dungeon. Traps, guardians—better to cut a shortcut."
He believed it wholeheartedly—because in Knight Saga, that was exactly how it was done. The Anvil event was mandatory for the human campaign, and he had played it five times with Locke. He remembered every detail.
But he couldn't say that, so he had to patch together excuses.
Felicia studied him, then shook her head. "No, it's too much—"
"It's possible. Shutra can do it."
Caitlin cut in firmly, making Felicia blink.
"Shutra's sense of terrain is amazing. He can find it. Right, Seira?"
Startled, Seira hesitated, then nodded. She recalled his uncanny map-drawing ability—it was no mere memorization.
"Yes. I believe it too."
Caitlin looked back at Felicia with an expression that all but said See?
Ingong delivered the final push. "Felicia, just trust me once."
His earnest expression lent unexpected weight to his words.
Felicia bit her lip, glancing between him and Caitlin, then sighed.
"All right. I'll take the risk. Where do you think it is?"
"Thanks. Just a sec."
Leaping down, Ingong grabbed a branch and sketched a rough map in the dirt. Thanks to Mapmaking Lv2, even his "doodles" looked convincing.
"We're here, and it should be here."
He pointed. Caitlin, Seira, and Karak all nodded. Felicia frowned, but she had already agreed.
"Fine. You give me directions, I'll guide the steeds."
"Thanks, sis."
His bright smile drew an unwilling chuckle from her. "I must be crazy."
Muttering, she raised the phantom steeds again, and they soared into the night.
Navigating in darkness was difficult, but Ingong's minimap made him the perfect navigator. Felicia, once doubtful, began to trust his calls. Caitlin shot him a proud smile.
At last, they reached the target. This part of the mountains lay dangerously close to the swamp, though.
"Don't worry," Karak muttered. "They won't be here. We pushed them back uphill, and the swamp's farther than it looks."
Felicia nodded and dimmed her light spirit slightly, then turned. "Shutra, where to?"
Ingong zoomed his minimap, found the coordinates, and strode ahead.
Through the brush, a massive cliff face emerged, riddled with cracks.
"A cliff?" Felicia muttered, narrowing her eyes.
Karak shot Ingong a wary look, as if to ask, Seriously? Ingong just grinned.
"Your turn, Caitlin."
"…Huh?"
"Smash it down. You can, right?"
Caitlin froze, sweating despite the cold wind. She clenched her fists, unable to refuse his expectant gaze.
But before she could act, Felicia smacked Ingong on the back of the head.
"Idiot! She's not a siege weapon! You think she can punch down a cliff?"
"…She can't?" Ingong stammered, stunned. Caitlin lowered her head, whispering, "Sorry."
Felicia sighed and stepped forward.
"Move aside. Let me show you how it's done."
She summoned two spirits—wind and water.
The wind spirit, in a woman's form, slipped into the cracks. After a minute, Felicia nodded. "Good enough." She recalled the wind and commanded the water spirit next. It flooded the fissures.
"Freeze."
Ice filled the cracks, expanding with a sharp cracking sound. Then, melting them away, Felicia pulled out several flasks from her pouch.
"Final touch: explosives. Every ruin explorer knows destruction is part of the job."
She wedged the flasks into the cracks, turned, and grinned.
"Boom!"
The cliff face collapsed in a thunderous roar, dust scattering as the wind spirit swept it clear.
"Something like that."
Her flawless execution earned spontaneous applause from Ingong and Caitlin.
"Ooooh! A hole!" Karak cried. Sure enough, a gaping opening nearly two meters wide yawned before them.
"No way—seriously?" Felicia spun back, eyes wide. Delia and Katuin looked just as stunned.
"I told you, right here." Ingong smiled smugly. Caitlin nodded proudly at him.
"Let's check it."
Felicia rushed to the opening, sending her light spirit inside—then let out a shocked laugh.
"My god."
A vast chamber lay within, walls etched with dwarven runes, and at its center sat a massive metallic dome.
Ingong entered after her. The high ceiling and wide, pillarless space looked just like the game. But one thing was different.
"Prince, what's this dome?" Karak asked, pointing at the metallic hemisphere in the center.
Ingong's memory held no such object.
'Must be a seal. The Anvil should be inside.'
Felicia ran her hand across its surface. "A final safeguard. The Thunder-Birthing Anvil is inside, no doubt."
She tapped it—thunk. Not something that could be broken easily.
"No guardians?" Caitlin asked, eyeing the side passage.
"Not in the final chamber," Felicia explained. "Guardians usually defend the path to the treasure, not the treasure itself."
Like locks on a chest—you didn't put locks inside the chest.
"So we just smash this dome?" Karak asked.
"No, we can't risk damaging the Anvil."
Instead, Katuin, reading the runes near the statues encircling the dome, called out.
"Your Highness."
Nine dwarf statues stood in a circle. Three held real metal swords. The other six were empty-handed.
Felicia sighed. "As I thought. They all need swords—dwarf-made swords."
Her tone soured. Where could they possibly find six dwarf-forged blades now?
"Should we return? Since we skipped the dungeon, we saved time—we might afford it," she suggested.
Ingong grimaced. But then realization struck.
'I already have them.'
If it was a Dwarven sword, then yes—there were. Not just one, but dozens of them!
Ingong quickly moved his fingers to activate the inventory window he had forgotten about for the past few days. The weapons he had secured on the very first day he discovered the Dwarven burrow were still neatly stored inside.
"Wait, hold on."
At his sudden words, everyone's eyes turned to Ingong. For an instant, he almost carelessly pulled out a Dwarven-made sword from his inventory, but barely stopped himself and instead approached Karak.
"Karak, put your bag down for a second."
"Hm? The bag I'm carrying?"
"Yeah, that bag."
Karak tilted his head curiously but lowered the bag. As far as he knew, it only contained dried rations and water—certainly no weapons.
But Ingong shoved his hand deep inside and pulled out a rather short Dwarven-made metal sword.
"Shutra?"
Caitlin gasped and rushed over to Ingong. But the most shocked of all was, of course, Karak.
"What the—when did you put that in there? I'm sure I packed it myself!"
Instead of answering, Ingong reached back into the bag and, using the inventory, pulled out more Dwarven-made swords one after another.
In total, six blades.
For Karak, who had personally carried the bag all the way here, it was nothing short of sorcery.
Ingong said calmly,
"I picked these up during the Dwarven burrow exploration and brought them as spares. I stashed them while you were out doing the headcount."
"Seriously?"
"I couldn't carry all six of them myself."
Though Karak still looked puzzled, he accepted it in true Orc fashion.
It was odd, of course—who carried six spare swords around? But the thrill of finding the key to solving their problem outweighed his doubts.
"Anyway, this is good. Let's set them up quickly."
Felicia, her face that of an eager ruin explorer, drew one sword herself. With Delia, Katouin, Ingong, Caitlin, and even Seira joining in, each Dwarven statue was given a sword to hold.
Nine statues, nine swords.
The moment everything was in place, something happened. A grinding mechanical sound echoed, and the entire room quivered slightly.
Startled, Ingong flinched, but Felicia merely lowered her stance without panic. She spoke in a low voice.
"Everyone stay calm and step back. The device is activating."
She was right. As they retreated a few steps, the statues surrounding the dome began to move. Once facing away, they turned halfway around to face the dome, and from it, new mechanical sounds seeped out.
"The dome is opening."
Caitlin murmured quietly. The dome split down the middle and opened like a stadium roof.
"The Anvil that Births Thunder."
The mighty magical relic bestowed upon his treasurers by the Earth Dragon, Enkidu.
Felicia's lips curved into a smile. As the dome fully opened, a massive black anvil, glowing with blue light—the very symbol of magical power—stood revealed before them.
The anvil was enormous. Nearly a meter tall, with a surface broad enough for even Karak, the Orc, to lie flat upon.
It was unmistakably the Anvil that Births Thunder.
But… now what?
Caitlin, eyes sparkling, turned expectantly to Felicia. Just moments ago smiling brightly, Felicia now narrowed her eyes and answered,
"Wait. It's not complete yet. There's a final step to activate it."
The records stated that the Anvil that Births Thunder held at least three great spells within. Simply striking it wouldn't unleash them.
Felicia cautiously approached the anvil, examining the runes carved across its surface. They shimmered with blue light, mysterious and arcane.
'Her speed is on another level.'
Though Ingong had raised his Dwarven script proficiency to Level 2 through notebook grinding, he was still only Level 2. Outpacing Felicia, an expert ruin explorer, was impossible.
'Better leave it to her.'
After all, some things were best left to the experts.
Ingong watched calmly as Felicia worked. Kneeling before the anvil, she sweated profusely while deciphering the runes.
"Alright, I got it! I understand now!"
Having finally unraveled the engravings on the anvil's side, she leapt up and declared,
"Everyone, step inside the circle the statues form. Delia, Katouin… and Caitlin?"
There was the faintest hesitation in that last name, tinged with unease. But Caitlin just gave her the same bright smile she gave Ingong.
"Yes, sister."
That familiar address drew a smile from Felicia in return. She gave instructions in a lively voice.
"You see the floor markings? Delia, stand at three o'clock, Katouin at six. I'm at twelve, so Caitlin, you take nine."
"What about us?"
Ingong asked on behalf of Karak and Seira. Felicia replied instantly,
"Just stand wherever, as long as it's off the circle."
They were, apparently, extra hands. Ingong followed her instructions, standing near Caitlin, while Karak and Seira took positions nearby as well.
Felicia spoke,
"Alright, starting with me, we'll inject mana into the floor one by one clockwise. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Mm-hm."
In order: Delia, Katouin, then Caitlin.
Felicia let out a long breath to steady herself, then pressed her mana into the circle. At once, the anvil and the entire altar glowed softly.
It looked promising. The others quickly followed. Once Caitlin too injected her mana, the glow deepened, and then—a new mechanical rumble rose from below.
"The altar's rising!" Karak exclaimed.
At that exact moment, the anvil burst into blinding light that engulfed them all—
The sky burned.
It was neither day nor night. Beneath the crimson heavens, an impossibly vast being sprawled.
A black dragon.
Its body was clad not in scales but in plates of black steel and stone, from the cracks of which molten lava streamed endlessly.
The Earth Dragon, Enkidu.
The great wyrm born of magma.
Before him, Ingong was a speck of dust. He couldn't even fit Enkidu's full frame into his vision.
Enkidu lay across the Zishuka Mountains. His body of steel and stone seemed one with the range itself.
At his feet gathered countless Dwarven treasurers, helmed in black, paying homage. Behind them stood Swamp Mammoths and various mighty chimeras.
Their duty was singular:
Guard the nest of the great Enkidu.Stand as the gatekeeper between the Demon Realm and the Mortal Realm.
Enkidu opened his jaws, and thunder rolled across the Zishuka Mountains. The voice was so vast that Ingong instinctively clutched his ears. Then everything around him was swept away by a tide of molten lava.
"Gah!"
Ingong jolted upright, gasping as though vomiting out his breath. His entire body was drenched in sweat as if he had nearly drowned.
He kept panting. His heartbeat thudded violently in his ears.
It had been a dream. An illusion, or something—but not reality.
The black dragon. Surely Enkidu.
One of the six Elder Dragons of Night Saga, beings said to wield the power of gods.
But he wasn't in the Demon Realm now. In Night Saga, he had only ever been mentioned in lore, never appearing directly. Perhaps he was already dead.
Ingong covered his face with both hands, breathing deeply until he calmed somewhat.
"Alright."
He muttered, then lowered his hands—only to leap to his feet. Karak lay collapsed like a corpse. Ingong snapped fully alert.
"Karak! Karak!"
He shook the Orc's muscular frame and slapped his cheeks.
"Ugh… uhh…"
Like Ingong, he too had lost consciousness. Relieved, Ingong turned and hurried to another.
"Caitlin! Are you okay? Wake up!"
He carefully lifted Caitlin's torso and called her name. After a few shakes, she too stirred.
"Ugh… Shu… tra?"
Her voice was groggy, like waking from deep sleep.
"Can you hear me now?"
"Y… yeah."
She nodded weakly and sat up on her own. Ingong let her go and looked around. As expected, everyone on the altar had collapsed.
"Caitlin, I'll check on Felicia."
"Mm, okay."
Still pressing her temple, Caitlin nodded. Ingong vaulted over Karak's legs and rushed to Felicia.
"Sister, Felicia!"
Thanks to prior experiences, he knew they weren't in mortal danger. He patted her cheek lightly, and sure enough, she responded faster than Caitlin had.
"Hah!"
Like Ingong, she bolted upright, gasping. Sweat drenched her.
"You okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. No—wait, I need to confirm something."
At first her voice was sluggish, but soon her eyes and tone sharpened. She grabbed Ingong's arm.
"Shutra, did you see Enkidu? A colossal black dragon with lava flowing through his body!"
"Yeah, I saw him."
As Ingong answered, Felicia turned at once to Caitlin.
"Caitlin, you too?"
"I think so."
"I saw him too."
Karak was the last to affirm. Felicia's face lit up, and she clenched her fist.
"Good, perfect. It matches the records. It was sudden, yes, but this was just the authentication ritual. Now we only need to use the anvil."
She seemed to be reassuring herself as much as the others.
Felicia rose unsteadily. Ingong supported her.
"So it's done now?"
"Yes. All that's left is for me to control the anvil. You trust me, right?"
She grinned playfully. Strength returned to her legs, and she stood on her own.
Meanwhile, Caitlin and Karak roused Seira, Delia, and Katouin. Each of them spoke of seeing Enkidu's vision as well.
Felicia strode to the anvil and placed her hands upon it.
"Everyone, grab onto something! I'm activating the anvil now!"
Ingong grabbed a nearby Dwarven statue. The others too braced themselves.
Once she confirmed they were ready, Felicia poured her mana into the anvil. This time, not just the anvil but the entire chamber shook. The altar began to rise, the ceiling split, and sunlight poured in.
"Sunlight? Noon already?!"
Seira shouted, squinting.
It had been late at night when they entered. Moonlight, maybe, but sunlight? Yet it was real.
Ingong checked the clock near his mini-map and gasped.
'What the—twelve hours passed?!'
The altar continued ascending, breaking through to the outside.
Blue light and fierce wind erupted from the anvil. Felicia, eyes shut tight, chanted in Dwarven tongue, sweat streaming down her face.
But the effort bore fruit. Four discs on the altar rose into pillars, and from each bloomed a great window of light.
"The Expeditionary Army!" Karak exclaimed.
Within each window, scenes of the army locked in battle with the Red Lightning Tribe appeared, as though broadcasted live.
The army was still struggling. Swamp Mammoths spread powerful Fear magic and fired mana blasts, while Lizardmen ravaged demoralized Orcs.
These were the battlefield visions seen from the Mammoths' perspective.
Something had to be done. Ingong turned desperately to Felicia—just as Caitlin screamed,
"Felicia!"
"Your Highness!"
Delia and Katouin shouted as well.
Felicia's state was dire. Trembling violently, blood trickled from her nose and ears, yet she couldn't remove her hands from the anvil. It wasn't feeding mana into it—it was draining her by force.
"We must control the anvil! Help Her Highness!" Delia cried. She and Katouin pressed their hands onto it too. But it was no use—the same fate befell them.
The anvil devoured their mana, glowing even brighter. Caitlin grit her teeth and stepped forward, and Ingong followed without hesitation.
Their hands touched the anvil together.
At once, their minds linked. Ingong felt everyone through the anvil—and screamed in agony.
His mana was being wrenched away entirely. The storm of power within the anvil shredded at his mind.
"Prince!"
Karak shouted, seeing blood gush from Ingong's nose and ears. But Ingong couldn't hear.
His consciousness was inside the anvil. Felicia and Caitlin cried out within the vortex. Delia and Katouin had already fainted.
Enkidu's mana.
The trial of one unpermitted!
It was overwhelming. Resistance seemed impossible. No wonder Felicia couldn't handle it alone.
But Ingong did not break. Even as the vortex tore at him, he roared and stepped forward.
A voice, deep within his soul, held him up.
A white-haired woman with a golden crown. Eyes of red and blue. Her voice!
Conquer.
Ingong roared again. Though wracked by pain, he seized Caitlin's and Felicia's hands, fusing their mana and will, and hurled it into the storm's core.
Conquest.
To rule. To subjugate by force—the power of a king!
In an instant, the raging maelstrom vanished. Instead of harm, Enkidu's power released them.
"Prince! Prince!"
Karak's voice rang. Ingong opened his eyes. He saw Caitlin and Felicia, exhausted and clinging to the anvil. Delia and Katouin lay unconscious below.
Felicia forced herself upright, leaning on the anvil. She understood what Ingong had done. With a bitter smile, she spoke the final command.
The black hammer, twin to the anvil, coalesced in Ingong's hands from Enkidu's dark mana.
Ingong met Felicia's eyes. She nodded.
"Do it."
And he knew how. Enkidu's mana whispered the method.
Conquest too stirred.
The power of the Anvil that Births Thunder, subdued and ruled, was his to command.
First—subjugate the Swamp Mammoths.
Chanting swiftly, Ingong swung the mana hammer down upon the anvil.