The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

BOOM—!

A thunderous roar filled the air as the massive hand crushed Irizard, drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield.

"What the…"

"Irizard has…"

Except for those who fled, hardly any Emon were left on the battlefield. The strength the Frostmaw had reclaimed was devastating, a force that no mere Emon, without Irizard's aid, could oppose.

BOOM—!

Irizard plummeted straight into the snowy field.

The Frostmaw hesitated for a moment. Should they rush to confirm Irizard's state? However, their deliberation didn't last long.

Whoosh…

'Hot…'

That's what Seol thought about being fused with Jamad, who had reached the Supreme-rank.

It felt as if his body had become cold fire—the power surged through his body. The energy surrounding him was so tangible that it made his presence unmistakable.

Step…

Step…

As he walked closer to confirm, he saw Irizard limp. Noticing how she still had some faint signs of life, he realized she must have passed out from the impact.

[The Raid Battle against 'Irizard of the Glacier' has ended.]

[Irizard's Power: Frozen Blood has lost its effect.]

[Shamanic Spell: Encroachment has lost its effect.]

…

'Jamad, can you sever her neck?'

Jamad shook his head.

- It's impossible for now.

Seol had already suspected that much.

Irizard was special since birth. While a Shaman might be able to harm her, they couldn't completely obliterate her. No—even if it were possible, the resulting fallout would be unbearable for the Shaman as well. 𝐫�

An Old God was a curse. Whoever ended up killing one would become cursed.

Jamad said that killing one was currently impossible. But to Seol, that was no different from saying it might be possible one day.

"For now, we must restrain her."

"Agreed."

Due to Irizard being unconscious, the force restraining Jamad and Bron had disappeared.

Crack…

Irizard's body started to turn stiff as if it had become a statue. On top of that, Bron slipped an orb of water orb into Irizard's mouth.

With the dual-layered containment, even if Irizard woke up, it would be impossible for her to escape before they noticed.

Seol felt a surge of unfamiliar power within, to the point of bewilderment. It felt as if he crossed into another dimension.

"WOAAAH!"

"Chase them! Kill them all!"

It seemed that the war between the Tribe and the Emon had also ended. The few Emon that survived dug into the ground and fled in numerous directions.

However, where could they possibly go? Hwigeltong wasn't a land merciful enough to allow the defeated to sustain their lives.

Step…

Step…

Whir…

A blizzard started to rage.

The Night Crow hoisted the fallen Irizard onto his back and returned to the tribespeople to confirm the Emons’ fate. And as expected, most of them had died.

"Hey, Bron."

Skola called out to Bron, drawing his attention. He had restrained Zakcha and was looking at them.

Zakcha muttered, "Our God has lost."

To the Emon, Irizard was a God who had descended into their realm. She granted them intellect and allowed them to dream of a future.

"What do you hope to gain by killing our God?"

Bron stroked his chin in response to Zakcha's question.

"Hmm…"

"Is it peace or justice, as the others claim?"

"Haha… I'm not interested in things like that. But if I had to pick one… Yeah, it would be freedom."

Bron grinned, "Freedom."

Zakcha tilted his head.

"Is that something worth risking everything for?"

"Worth risking everything?"

Bron corrected Zakcha.

"That is everything."

"I see. At least I've learned one thing." Zakcha closed his eyes. "That you are all a bunch of fools."

"Hahaha…"

"And we—who lost against such fools—are even greater fools."

Zakcha exposed his neck.

"Kill me. Next time, I won't lose."

What comes after death?

Bron nodded at Zakcha’s calm demeanor.

"Fine. We don't shy away from battles that come to us."

WHOOM—!

CRACK—!

Skola’s axe tore through the air and painted the snowfield red.

The dripping blood gave rise to countless emotions.

[Faction: Emon's leader, 'Great General Zakcha,' has died.]

[No one claims leadership of Faction: Emon.]

[The population of Faction: Emon has dwindled rapidly in a short period.]

[Faction: Emon has lost the war against Faction: Frostmaw.]

[Faction: Emon enters a period of decline. They will face their downfall unless something extraordinary happens to them.]

'There's too many messages…'

[Faction: Emon has been annihilated.]

[You have obtained additional rewards.]

…

Seol glanced at the war-related messages before him, then turned his head.

These were things he could review later on once everything was settled.

Step…

Step…

The Frostmaw gathered around Bron and the Night Crow. Among them were Brutul and the Old God, Madria.

- Bron!

"Madria."

- You really did it…

Madria's assistance was essential to neutralizing Irizard without receiving many penalties. Knowing her role, Madria kept silent.

Bron said to her.

"Madria, it's time to make a decision."

Madria remained silent for a moment before replying.

- Let's go to the Last Mountain.

"Won't you regret it?"

- Nope, to the Last Mountain!

* * *

Irizard remained unconscious for a while.

After binding the restrained Old God to a wolf's back, the Frostmaw started their journey.

Packing only the bare minimum of provisions, they set out for a forgotten place in Hwigeltong, the Last Mountain. It was located far from snowy mountains, closer to Irizad's castle.

Hwigeltong was the coldest region in Pandea. And within the coldest part of Hwigeltong lay the Last Mountain.

The Frostmaw headed there.

Step… Step…

"Haa… Haa…"

"Oof… Oof…"

Whir…

The blizzard made their visibility poor. They felt as if their irises would freeze whenever they lifted their heads.

At times like this, they walked with their heads down. Only the heels of the person ahead served as their guide.

The ones leading the way as their eyes in the storm were the Night Crow and Bron.

It was unbearably cold, yet no one complained.

Yeva and Ishi had come all the way here to see how the war would conclude. And for the other trolls, this path was imbued with deep significance.

This was a pilgrimage, a long-awaited journey for the Frostmaw. And thus, they were savoring each step.

Breath wasted on breath was a luxury, and harsh weather was of no concern. The procession moved forward like one long, living organism.

They were the living history of Hwigeltong.

After several days of this quiet march, the Frostmaw finally reached the Last Mountain.

Upon arrival, a commotion arose.

"What I'm saying is, we want to go!"

"You cannot. Only the sacred may ascend to the summit."

"Huh… What is he saying? We. Go. Summit!"

"Do you understand me?"

"Worry, thank you! It's fine, summit!"

Unfamiliar with the troll's language, Yeva and Ishi pieced together clumsy sentences based on the words they had learned.

Seol approached them and asked.

"What's going on?"

"Ah, Seol! I thought I was going to lose my mind. Are we heading to the summit? It seems like everyone else wants to stay behind…"

It seems they also wanted to go to the summit.

"But it will be dangerous…"

"How dangerous is it?"

"I'm not sure about that. But it will be really cold."

In truth, such a level of cold was nothing for Seol. Although the chill was harsh enough to freeze one's bones, his body brimmed with energy after achieving Great Circulation, as if it had become a steam train. If he infused them with even a fraction of his energy, such a level of cold would be trivial for them. But he was curious.

Why did they want to go to the summit with him?

Ishi scratched his beard and said.

"Should I say it an instinctive attraction…?"

"An instinctive attraction…?"

"Yes. I just… Want to see it."

Paf—!

Yeva shoved Ishi aside and interjected, "It's frustrating! I want to see how your fight ends! I want to witness it up close. Please?"

"Even if it's dangerous?"

"I don't care if I die!"

"Why go that far…"

Yeva gave a bashful smile.

"Isn't it natural to be curious about how a story ends? Especially one as epic as this!"

"…"

"I know it's rude and absurd, but…"

"Fine."

"But still… Huh? Really?"

"Yes. But don't expect me to protect you if something happens."

"That's fine! I have Ishi!"

"What? But I only believed in you!"

No one could go against the Night Crow's words, someone who had been instrumental in this war and had reached an unprecedented threshold.

"Alright! That's fine!"

Even Madria gave her approval.

And so, Seol, Jamad, Bron, Madria, Yeva, and Ishi—just the six of them—started their climb toward the summit of the Last Mountain.

Physical exhaustion quickly caught up with them.

"Haa… Haa…"

"Oof…"

The environment was so harsh that without the help of shamanic power, even breathing was hard.

Despite this, Yeva and Ishi followed without any complaints.

Seol didn't look back while ascending the mountain. The long fight of the Frostmaw Tribe was finally drawing to an end.

"Phew!"

"We made it…"

"It's cold… too cold."

He had crossed many mountains since coming to Pandea, yet each one still evoked a new sense of wonder.

Among the recent mountains he had seen, there was also the one in the Celestial World, where the Dragon lived. He couldn't tell which was more impressive.

Far below was the Frostmaw Tribe, and further in the distance were wild animals roaming the snowy plains.

'This is as if…'

From here, Hwigeltong seemed like the end of life itself, a place where those left with nothing struggled desperately to survive, only to meet their inevitable fate.

Seol turned and locked eyes with Bron.

Clap—!

Crack…

Irizard’s restraints were released. Although she had been freed, she still hadn't regained her strength. Even if she resisted, she would be quickly subdued.

They were standing at the edge of the precipice.

Now awake, Irizard slowly lifted her head to look at Madria, the Old God of the Waterfall.

- Madria… My source and mother…

While ignoring Irizad's greeting, Madria coldly replied.

- Irizard, it's over.

- Are you saying it's time I end this rebellion…? But know this. This isn't the end.

Bron and the Night Crow remained silent, listening to their exchange as Irizard mocked Madria.

- We will become one again and reclaim the power we once had. We will freeze the rivers and summon blizzards. And then… everything will once again lie beneath our feet.

Madria replied with sorrowful eyes.

- Irizard, you are me. If that is true, then you must understand why I chose the Last Mountain as our destination.

- Because this place holds significance to you.

Madria gazed down at the mountain's base.

- That's right. Do you remember? After losing against the other Old Gods and being chased away to Hwigeltong, I climbed this mountain with my children.

- How moving…

- I still remember their faces from back then. Sandrock had a hollowed expression, exhausted from the grueling journey. Duranui, although grieving, was busy comforting others. And Juto…

They were the deceased, beings who had died a long time ago.

- I don't know who they are. I don't bother remembering the names of livestock. Madria, we were born to rule. Those inferior creatures were born to be livestock.

- Do you really think that?

- …

Irizard became silent for a moment before answering.

- Madria, history always repeats itself. We will always make the same choices. Just accept…

- No…

Madria turned her head.

- I'm proud of the children who have walked crooked, twisted paths without questioning them.

She was the Old God of the Waterfall and Glacier. If she became one with Irizard again, she would regain her overwhelming power from the past.

- That's why I must make a choice worthy of their courage.

Seol felt something was off about Madria's words and couldn't help but wonder what would happen.

'Don't tell me…'

Madria called Bron.

- Bron, get ready. I need your and that child's help.

Bron replied with a hardened expression. Then he burst into laughter.

"Ha… Hahaha… Khahaha! Madria, will you be okay? You're trembling. That's so unlike of you."

- I am trembling… at the thought of sending away a part of me I have just barely reclaimed.

Bron nodded with a smile.

Just seeing his smile melted away Madria's unease.

"It's okay to be afraid. After all, I'm here with you."

They were clunky and rough; that's why they were important beings.

Madria closed her eyes and replied.

- That's right. You guys are here… So I'm not alone.

Upon realizing what decision Madria had made, Irizard exclaimed.

- Madria, don't tell me…

Madria briefly looked at Bron and the Night Crow, who sat facing her before turning to Irizard.

- Irizard, my strength and soul.

- No… What are you doing?

- I will scatter and make you flow to where you were always meant to be.

- No… No… Without me… you're going to live forever as someone incomplete!

- That's okay. Repeating the same mistakes is what the young make.

Madria smiled.

- I don't want to be just me, but us. Everyone has worked very hard for this.

Irizard asked.

- Aren't you afraid…?

- I am afraid. The me without you. But I've learned from these small lives that one needs courage to move forward.

Although Irizard was a fragment, she was still an Old God. And Madria was like a mother to her.

- I will accept my end, Madria… I hope fate grants you what you seek at the end of this path.

Psss…

Irizard's body started dissipating, releasing a massive surge of power that scattered across the Last Mountain’s summit.

It was then that Bron and the Night Crow extended their hands forward.

The two Great Shamans, who had achieved Great Circulation, began spinning the water wheel.

Whoosh…

[Irizard of the Glacier has been extinguished.]

[Madria of the Waterfall declines.]

…

WHOOM…

The mountains, the earth, and the sky started to transform.

"There's… no way…"

"This…"

Before Yeva and Ishi's eyes, a sight they could have never imagined was unfolding.

Irizard's power started to reshape a lot of things.

[The power left by Irizard of the Glacier has become bound to Hwigeltong.]

[Snowman’s great achievements have caused changes in the world.]

[Large and small changes happen in Pandea, The World of Eternity.]

[Hwigeltong's geography is changing.]

[Life is being born in Hwigeltong.]

[Hwigeltong's frozen lands start to melt.]

[Hwigeltong's eternal snow starts to melt.]

[Hwigeltong's rivers flow into the sea.]

[Wild animals that had fled Hwigeltong's extreme cold return in search of food.]

[Hwigeltong's soil becomes fertile.]

[Hidden resource-rich lands of Hwigeltong have been revealed.]

[Disaster: Blizzard will no longer happen in Hwigeltong.]

[Secret Labyrinth 'Ruins Asleep Beneath the Glacier' has opened.]

[Secret labyrinth 'Snowy Mountain's Peculiar Castaway' has opened.]

[Faction: Northern Federation has grown tense over the events in Hwigeltong.]

[Concerns grow over the influence of the Frostmaw, who have taken hold of Hwigeltong.]

[Hwigeltong's geographical changes draw the attention of surrounding forces.]

[The Northern climate becomes slightly warmer.]

[Faction: Frostmaw has entered an unprecedented gold age in history.]

[All players can now select 'Birth of All Things' Adventure from their locations.]

[All players can now select 'Madria's Choice' Adventure from their locations.]

[You have acquired a huge amount of Adventure Points.]

[The curse of the fallen Old God, Irizard, has been ended.]

[You have received additional rewards.]

…

Everything in Hwigeltong has changed—the earth, the rivers, and even the sky.

Very few would believe this land was once called ‘the land of death.’

"Haa… Haa…"

WHOOM…

It wasn't only that.

Massive arms emerged, encircling the Last Mountain from its base to its summit as if embracing it.

Madria smiled.

"A gift."

The arms bore the texture of earth and ocean.

The Night Crow and Bron smirked while they approached the edge of the precipice.

The transformed lands of Hwigeltong stretched out before them in a breathtaking panorama.

"Haha…"

"Coming back to life was worth it."

Everything came full circle—from life to death, and from death back to life.

Seol took a brief moment to take a deep breath upon witnessing this new page of history.

"It's over…"

Bron chuckled at his words.

"Hahaha… No."

Hwigeltong's long winter was over, and spring had come.

"This is just the beginning."

[Hwigeltong has entered a new era. History: The Age of Great Prosperity.]

[The historic Adventure has been successfully completed.]

[You have obtained a small amount of Era's Might that has a purpose you don't know.]

[You have obtained additional rewards.]

[You have earned the inaugural achievement, 'Ice Melt.']

[You have earned the inaugural title 「Liberator」.]

[The middle settlement of the Great Journey has been made.]

[You have acquired Distorted Natural Sediments.]

…