Episode 204. This is my way
somehow.
I thought the lava frozen at absolute zero was too flashy.
It’s hard to put this into words.
The red lava that waved like the sea kept its color.
A frozen landscape.
So, to put it in terms of Grandfel…
It’s like a sea of rubies.
Even if you don’t open the status window to check, it means that the touch has arrived.
Again—
it’s like walking on ice.
With more distinct shoe sounds.
I crossed over frozen lava.
Anyway, even if the liver is big, it’s quite big, Grandfel.
‘Isn’t it scary?’
Because I know better than anyone that absolute zero is Ki.
Even though I know that it will never melt.
Walking on it was a different matter.
It’s a different sense of fear from the stairs of the Mage Tower.
‘First of all, I have to walk until I see something.’
In order to manifest the teleportation portal, the coordinates of the destination are required.
But the sea of lava was endless.
It means that the portal cannot be manifested right now.
Is it more scary because you keep looking down?
Let’s start by shifting our gaze.
There was a message that came to mind just at the right time.
[Aesthetic: Above]
Open the status window to check.
The aesthetics were definitely elevated.
From its name, I wore an unusual dawning set.
Even if you don’t wear at least one jacket.
There won’t be a big crowd in the rise of aesthetics.
[The esthetic effect of reaching the top is activated.]
However, I never imagined that there would be an additional effect by taking the top.
Above all, I didn’t trigger the aesthetic.
The effect was triggered spontaneously.
‘Could it be that a passive effect was added?’
So what is the effect?
I forgot my fear of the red lava and turned on the light in my eyes to look for it… How come nothing seems to have changed except for how beautiful it is?
The effect of esthetic beauty revisited.
In magic, aesthetics were like copy-paste magic.
The complex interference process that devours mana relentlessly.
Because it could be replaced with a very small amount of mana.
‘Actually, that’s the reason why I haven’t been using it recently.’
I’m different now from when I struggled with magic in the past.
If you simply put the stats, it’s still Marcelo, of course.
Although she’ll lag behind most senior mages in magic power.
‘The non-herb is not enough, so oil it with the elixir.’
decisively.
Aren’t I the one with the [Blessing of the First World Tree] constantly active?
Thanks to that, he was able to rise to the level of the Circle and manifest high-level magic without struggling with magic.
‘I didn’t even need to activate aesthetics.’
It’s past the time to get into trouble with magical powers.
So, I was expecting a little more from the opening of the additional effect.
How is it…
‘You’re lost?’
Fortunately, the doubts did not last long.
Even if my eyes missed it.
Because there were strong clones on both shoulders to replace the eyes.
“I can see the lord’s road.”
…see the road?
path of pride.
If you talk like that, you will really cancel the summoning, Diend. you.
I swallowed my grumbling and moved my gaze.
Then I saw a really long way.
In a way that I can’t help but be surprised by.
“To think that such an elegant path could be manifested in an instant of time. Compared to Master, that high-el seems to lack aesthetics.”
What is that fancy boulevard?!
The shape of the rising lava was like a sculpture.
By analogy, would it be like the Arc de Triomphe?
Yes, complex magic like a statue is manifested.
It was also one of the characteristics of aesthetics.
But the problem is its scale.
‘big.’
Again, it is unbelievably grand.
Even considering the excellent magic efficiency of [Aesthetic] in [Blessing of the First World Tree].
Wouldn’t the mana run out?
enough to be suspicious.
however.
‘…There’s no additional magic power consumption?’
It was the same.
There was no additional magic power consumed other than the magic power consumed when the strange absolute zero was manifested. That’s why it’s different from Diend’s raucous words.
“This is the road opened by the lord…!!”
It’s not the path I manifested with my will.
Then there is only one possibility.
To open a ‘road’ to somewhere.
Isn’t that the effect of reaching the top aesthetic?
*
Kingdom of Yusra.
Explorers’ League Headquarters.
The Alliance Explorers were in the middle of final preparations.
“The competition will start in earnest, Aaron.”
“Am I competing with you? Know the subject Rhombus.”
“Well, my subject is nobler than yours.”
As well as veteran explorers Aaron and Rombus.
Even the federation leader, Fabian, who has returned as an active explorer.
There was no need to distinguish player arcana.
Because everyone was servicing themselves in tension.
Park Hwigang was also included.
“It’s finally time for us explorers to pay for their meals!”
The Hundred Thousand Caves of the Zero Mountains.
The best place for explorers to show their pride.
In the lively atmosphere for the first time in a while, Fabian’s body heated up a little.
“Strictly speaking, it’s not even the first step after returning.”
Teppern Labyrinth Rift.
Recalling the memory of that time, Fabien lost face with Ho-yeol.
Even so, I thought it was a labyrinth and was confident.
If it wasn’t for Ho-yeol, let alone attack.
I wouldn’t have been able to get out of the labyrinth.
“Is that why it feels like the first step?”
But in the Zero Range, it has to be different.
After all, the Hundred Thousand Caves of the Zero Mountains were not an unknown forbidden area like the Teppern Labyrinth. Didn’t Fabian himself have over a dozen caves he attacked?
Fabian shrugged.
“Right now, everything would have been submerged in the sea.”
Even for the legendary explorer Fabian, the middle of the Zero Mountains was a place he had never stepped on. However, while exploring the caves in the lowlands of the mountain range, I figured out the characteristics in my own way.
Pavibang stood in front of the explorers.
“I will tell you before the expedition to Zero Mountains.”
The eyes of the explorers focused on the voice.
“As you know, each of the 100,000 caves has its own rules. In the language of adventurers, it must be said that the field type is different. Which one am I right?”
Pak Hwigang answered Fabian’s question with a smile.
“Yes, you are correct!”
Fabian nodded and continued.
“The dungeon labyrinth battlefield… It is impossible to know what rules exist in which cave without entering it. Although that anticipation is the spice of exploration, we, explorers, can no longer cling to exploration just for the spice.”
Everyone nodded.
It was a bonus that there was a sense of sadness on his face.
Reality and Arcana Continent.
They learned that their world was on the verge of extinction and participated in the holy war.
However, it is almost impossible for an explorer, a non-combat class, to be active in an all-out war. Aren’t they the explorers who swallowed their regrets?
‘It’s different from the unfamiliar rift.’
‘Dungeons are my specialty.’
‘I am the one who has attracted 200,000 subscribers with the labyrinth strategy content.’
The opportunity to quench your thirst has arrived.
Fabian felt the same way as everyone else.
A laugh flowed from the corners of his lips.
“As an explorer, this must be the moment when you have to give a shot to prejudice. So, for the first time in my life, I decided to do something not like myself. So everyone, from now on, keep my words in mind.”
As you can tell just by looking at the enemies Aaron and Rombus.
The explorers were competitors with each other.
Even though the continent of Arcana is vast.
After all, the places to explore are finite.
For that reason, he did not share his exploration tips with other explorers.
Even in the Federation, which was established for the symbiosis of explorers, there was no talk of him implicitly.
kind of taboo.
“First, there is an unknown road in the field.”
However, Fabian broke the taboo as the federation leader.
“…!!!”
It doesn’t care about the astonishment of the explorers.
Fabian began to share his experience as a legendary explorer. It was a new concept that shocked even Aaron and Rombus, who had been listening silently.
“An unknown road…?”
“In a dungeon or labyrinth, there are many crossroads… isn’t it common sense in exploration that there is only one road to the end?”
“yes. In common sense, it is.”
unknown road.
It’s natural to be upset.
Even oneself who has attacked numerous fields.
It was only once that I had witnessed the unknown road.
Park Hwigang asked cautiously.
“…Then maybe it was only that place that was special?”
“no.”
“!”
what a solid answer.
A gasp came out of Park Hwi-gang’s mouth.
“Why have you only seen it once? I can only say that it is because of my lack of ability. But the reward was sure. Because at the end of the road, I grabbed the most valuable booty.”
…the most valuable loot?
“The very truth.”
Explorers who can’t get a sense even if they’ve said that.
Fabian was relieved once more.
It was also good to return to active duty.
You can’t leave everything to these newbies.
Then he kindly asked.
“Did everyone think about it?”
“What do you mean, President Fabian?”
“Aaron Rombus. Haven’t you also thought about it?”
“??”
“An entity in the Teppern Labyrinth that should not be awakened.”
Aaron and Rombus exchanged glances.
How can you forget?
that huge pupil.
However, the following words shocked the two explorers.
“The reason why he was buried in the rock wall of the labyrinth.”
“!!!”
Only then could I guess what the truth Fabian was talking about was.
Monsters exist in all fields of dungeons and labyrinths.
Fabian had been feeling a sense of incongruity while attacking repeatedly.
Why do monsters always exist in its heart?
‘That’s because it’s a game, of course…’
“…!!!”
The players who were thinking were startled.
No Arcana was no longer a game.
Park Hwigang swallowed dry saliva.
“Are you saying that everything has a reason, President?”
The Teppern Labyrinth.
At that time, Park Hwi-gang was also there.
He also witnessed it all.
[The Contractor of Teppern Black].
what kind of behavior they exhibited.
An existence that should not be awakened with them.
I also expected that there would be a story related to Teppern…
“That’s correct, adventurer. Najiman, who has conquered countless dungeons and labyrinths, all fields. There was only one expedition that could solve that question.”
“…Could it be that one time?”
“Certainly that’s right. The truth lies in the unknown.”
It’s true.
What on earth did Fabian witness?
in the pouring eyes.
Fabian’s eyes lit up.
“It means that we have reached the true meaning of the attack.”
*
Sirens.
since when
The worn-out memories of mermaids always headed for the blue sea.
A sea never seen before.
Is it really funny?
bubbling.
Looking at the red lava from the top of the rising rock wall.
In a memory that cannot exist.
The siren reminded me of the sea.
The sea was never this hot.
It wasn’t even pointlessly wide.
Not in the sea of lava, but in the real sea.
It was because other creatures other than himself used to swim.
In a space where nothing but lava was visible, the sense of time had long since disappeared. Luckily, when I imagined the sea, my mind became calm.
“!”
But often the tranquility was broken.
exactly.
The moment someone stepped into the sea of lava.
Why?
Siren used to become ferocious without even realizing it.
Why?
why am i
Are they desperately trying to protect this hot space?
It was like a curse.
The siren sincerely wished.
anyone was good
I hope that someone who can’t die will cut off his breath while he’s still alive.
Suddenly, the siren heard a sound in his ears.
Again—
the sound of someone firmly stepping forward.
It’s a strange thing.
Even in a sea I’ve never been to.
It was a strange sound that had not been heard even in lava.
Whether it was the sea or the lava, it was the same as there was nowhere to go.
What a strange thing.
A figure approaching from afar.
However, the man was clearly walking on lava.
Splash—
Regardless of his true intentions, the siren threw himself into the lava from the top of the rock wall.
There is only one mission imprinted in my head.
To protect the sea of lava.
I have to run even more ferociously.
Only then can someone free themselves from the curse.
Because that was all.
But is it really strange?
“…?”
To the point of burning the skin and scales.
The lava that was supposed to be hot wasn’t hot.
No, beyond not hot, it was cold.
“…!”
It was as if I had longed for it in my imagination.
I’m swimming in the sea
enough to be mistaken.
.
.
.
Aesthetic.
Sim to look.
beautiful me.
It means looking for and looking for beauty.
It doesn’t matter whether the path to beauty is glamorous, rugged, or complicated.
If it’s Grandfel, I’ll reach it no matter what.
like now.
[Quest: Lava Siren]
Among the thousands of crossroads.
He who witnessed only one road.
Only you can save the sirens.
—Encounter the lava siren. (Success)
– Defeat the lava siren. (Failure)
– Fulfill the lava siren’s wish. (In progress)
Of course, having to deal with that stubbornness must be quite annoying.
Still, I have no choice but to move on.
Even if it was forced to cool the lava like seawater.
─Fulfill the lava siren’s wish. (Success)
[Conditions have been met.]
[Reward will be given.]
.
.
.
Dragon’s Nest at the top of the Zero Mountains.
“…”
The old dragon lifted his eyelids secretly.
A beautiful singing voice coming from the heart of the mountain range.
It’s a siren.
“…”
Noryong chewed on his thoughts.
indeed you are my mother
World Tree, your choice was not wrong.
Soon, the old dragon raises its huge body and speaks.
“Wake up from your eternal slumber, fellow countrymen.”
The time has finally come.
“The dawn has arrived.”
