Grr…
The spheres of water Bron created gradually grew.
"Run! It's coming!"
"We must hide underground!"
"It's that! That!"
Bron chuckled and spread his palm.
"This is my greeting to you, moles!"
"Kiik!"
"It's coming! Coming!"
"Hide!"[Bron used Waterfall Shamanic Spell: Torrential Rain.]
[By using moisture, create water arrows that strike the target. The penetrating power of each arrow scales with Wisdom, Intelligence, and the number of arrows summoned.]
[This spell can be maintained for up to 1 minute.]
[The spell will be automatically canceled if there isn't enough moisture.]
Swoosh!
Arrows formed from the water orb and shot toward the moles like tentacles being extended.
"Kiik!"
"Kik! Kiik!"
"Scary! Scary!"
"Hide!"
Thud…
"Kiik…"
Thwack!
"Ugh…"
The water arrows pierced through the moles’ bodies, leaving large holes. As if that weren’t devastating enough, Bron's Shamanic Spell became even more potent in extreme conditions like this.
Crack…
"Agh!"
"It froze! It froze!"
"He-help me!"
"I-I don't wanna! It's scary!"
"Kiik!"
The penetrated wounds froze and exploded from within. As a result of that…
Crack…
"AGH!"
The once-sturdy bodies of the moles were shattered, left dangling and broken. The number of severely wounded moles skyrocketed.
'So this is the power of Bron, the Great Hail…'
Although this was the first time Seol witnessed his strength, he could tell the skill he possessed with just that move.
'He's a monster…'
Bron was most likely the strongest out of all the trolls he had encountered so far.
Moreover, he handled the moles with ease. It was as if he was used to dealing with large armies like this.
"I hid!"
"I'm not going to hide!"
The moles that couldn't escape or hide in their burrows mocked Bron. After all, once they left the open area, it was easier to dodge Bron's water arrows.
This was precisely the drawback of area-of-effect Shamanic Spells—or rather, abilities specialized for wide areas.
Abilities with considerable killing power also consumed a huge amount of mana, and their effectiveness was inconsistent.
Wide-area attacks aimed to achieve efficiency by killing opponents using the least amount of mana possible. However, if any parameter were slightly off, it would be hard to inflict even a single wound on the opponent, let alone kill them—terrain, weather, compatibility, angles, geology, and resistance. All of these factors could become obstacles.
Unlike attacks that targeted a single being, every environmental condition posed a hindrance to them. Such was the case now.
As the moles began hiding, the number of casualties rapidly decreased.
'I'll have to step in.'
Bron might have other options, but the simplest solution was for Seol to assist him.
Step…
Crack…
Seol, who had fused with Jamad, placed his hand on the ground.
Since the Pillar of the Sea had shown part of his power, Jamad, the Pillar of Earth, also needed to show some of his strength.
[You use Earth Shamanic Spell: Excavation Blast.]
[A strong shockwave that travels through the ground is sent toward the target. Upon impact, it erupts in a destructive blast that destroys the terrain.]
[If there are ores in the destroyed terrain, damage is applied at 150%.]
WHOOM—!
"Eek!"
"It's coming this way!"
"Take cover!"
BOOM—!
"Kiik!"
"Agh!"
With an ear-splitting sound, the moles hiding in the rocky area exploded en masse.
Such a scene unfolded simultaneously in multiple places.
BOOM—!
BOOM—!
"Haha… There was no need for the visitor to step in."
Bron chuckled and approached Seol. To this, Seol shrugged and replied.
"I just want to rest."
"Then, I'll ask you for a bit more."
BOOM—!
The symphony of Shamanic Spells shook the earth.
Just as Seol had been overwhelmed by the scenery of Celestial Ream, this unfamiliar sight brought fear to those watching.
"Seol was this strong…?"
"Were the Frostmaw so strong?"
Perhaps Ishi and Yeva were the two closest to common sense among those gathered here. Not only did they have a rough understanding of the average transferee, but they also knew the capabilities of the Northern Federation's figures.
For them, the power of the pillars made them fearful. A fear that he might not be the same kind as them.
"Frostmaw! It's time to reclaim the fortress!"
Brutul didn't remain idle either.
"WOAH!"
"We're going to crush the moles!"
Present here were not only Bron's Frostmaw but also the current Frostmaw.
The sudden addition of two Pillars and a well-trained elite army was shocking, but right now, they needed to deal with the immediate problem—the moles in the fortress needed to be driven out.
"Kiik! Kiik! Shoot!"
"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot the arrows!"
"Hit them! Hit them!"
Annoying voices echoed through the air. The moles' voices proved that even a voice that sounded like a comical evil villain could sound majestic when united.
Swoosh—!
As the Frostmaw advanced effortlessly to the fortress' vicinity—thanks to the efforts of the two Pillars—arrows suddenly filled the sky as if they had been waiting.
"Block them!"
Since both Pillars were casting offensive Shamanic Spells, they couldn't quickly change to defensive ones.
"Raise the ice wall!"
"Yes!"
At that moment, the Great Shamans of the Frostmaw stepped forward—powerful beings who weren't at Brutul's side.
[Faction: Frostmaw's Great Shamans used Glacier Shamanic Spell: Frozen Zone.]
[Created a protective barrier around the caster. Projectiles only inflict 50% of their damage to the barrier, but magical attacks deal double the damage.]
[The barrier moves centered on the caster.]
Thud—!
As if it were a hedgehog, the barrier was struck with arrows.
Yeva and Ishi flinched when the arrows were shot. But now, they felt as if they were in a dream.
This was their first large-scale battle, and it was far beyond anything they had anticipated.
"Charge! Reclaim the fortress!"
"WOAH!"
No one could ignore the Frostmaw charging forward with a barrier protecting them.
"Eek! Eek! Send that guy out!"
"Yes!"
WHOOM…
A massive hole opened in front of the fortress, and a mole the size of an ogre emerged.
"Grrr…"
It wore a steel muzzle and was drooling as if it had lost its sanity.
"What is that…?"
"A monster…"
Yeve and Ishi trembled in fear.
They thought that even if they had an ogre, it would be reduced to pulp against that monster.
They found themselves unconsciously backing away.
WHOOM…
WHOOM…
BOOM!
BOOM!
Two more moles of similar size came out, and the hope of reclaiming the fortress grew dim.
"Oh my god…"
"Kiiii!"
"Release the restraints! Order them to kill them!"
The mole general, who oversaw everything from atop the fortress, was certainly no ordinary being, although its true identity remained unknown.
"KAAAAAH!"
The massive moles howled.
As Seol stepped forward to confront them, Bron extended his hand to restrain him.
"Let them warm up…"
"…"
Bron turned back and shouted.
"What are you sitting there and staring at?!"
"…"
"Hurry up and kill them! They're just moles!"
At that moment, the Frostmaw surged forward like bubbling lava.
"Ahaha! I'm first!"
WHOOSH—!
A mole swung its claw.
The first Frostmaw that stepped forward slid across the snow, and then the next in line smoothly took over.
Clang—!
"Throw the chains!"
"A big mole is still just a mole!"
"Hahaha!"
He once again witnessed the scene he saw at the Library of All Knowledge.
A savage was brought to its knees by a more brutal savage.
"This way!"
"Hahaha! You're slow! Way too slow!"
Crash!
Crash!
The Frostmaw leaped onto the mole's head and relentlessly slammed down an axe.
"This part is nice and tender!"
"Don't use poison! This one's for dinner!"
"Hihihi!"
Crash!
Smash!
Of course, some Frostmaw were sent flying back.
"Ugh!"
"Hey! Did you already die?"
"Pft… Who's dead?"
"Hahaha! Follow well!"
Madness—it was clear how the Frostmaw had managed to rule over Hwigeltong for such a long time. They knew how to use madness.
Perhaps only the frozen land of Hwigeltong could cool down their boiling blood.
"Kiik! Th-they're nearing the fortress!"
"Shoot! Shoot! The fortress is invincible! They don't even have siege weapons!"
They were right.
Although the moles had captured the ice fortress through their cunning schemes, it had been infamous for being unbreachable in Hwigeltong.
They thought reclaiming it would require the Frostmaw to make a considerable sacrifice.
However, there were a few things the moles hadn't considered.
They had forgotten that the Frostmaw were a group of monsters that specialized in battle. And now they were against Bron, the Great Hail, and Jamad, the Pillar of Earth.
Thud…
"Shoot!"
"Shoot! Shoot…"
Thud…
"Huh?"
Fwoosh—!
Water arrows and rock fragments were flying at them. They were projectiles created by Bron and the Night Crow.
The accuracy of their projectiles was incomparable to the moles' crude arrows.
"Kik! Kiik!"
"It hurts! It hurts! There's a hole in my chest!"
"Aah! It’s scary! I hate it!"
Even though the wide-area Shamanic Spell was troublesome, the Frostmaw warriors' astonishing tactics made any hint of laughter disappear from the moles.
"Hahaha! Drag them down here!"
"Make them crash into the walls!"
"Good! Just pin them there! We can step over them and enter the fortress."
"AAGGHH!"
They smashed the agonizing moles into the fortress, using their bodies to break down the outer walls or as platforms to climb onto the battlements.
They didn't care about things like precision or details. They just did whatever was necessary.
The commander of the mole army sensed defeat. He had forgotten—to the Frostmaw, the battlefield was merely scenery.
"Retreat…!"
"Kiik!"
"Kiik! Run!"
"We can run now!"
After giving the order to retreat, the commander remained on the battlements, notching an arrow.
Crack…
"Before I leave, I must give you a parting gift."
His target wasn't the Night Crow or Bron.
It was someone who wouldn't be able to evade his arrow.
"Farewell, Brutul."
Ping—!
The whistle of the arrow echoed throughout the battlefield.
Seol and Bron immediately sensed the malice behind the arrow.
However, the shooter had fired from outside their range, making interference impossible.
Crash—!
The arrow broke through the barrier the Great Shamans had created.
Although its strength had diminished upon passing the barrier, the arrow still posed a considerable threat.
Brutul hastily deployed a defensive Shamanic Spell.
Crack—!
Yet the arrow shattered his defense with ease.
It wasn't surprising. After all, Brutul had yet to fully recover from the injuries he had sustained in the prior battle.
The arrow was now inches away.
"Argh!"
At that moment, someone holding a wooden shield dashed in front of Brutul.
It was Ishi.
Pang…
Crash—!
The wooden shield shattered the moment the arrow connected, and Ishi rolled across the ground multiple times.
"Tsk…"
The mole commander, already anticipating the outcome, withdrew with his soldiers.
"Cough… Oof…"
Although it hurt a lot, he didn't die. And Brutul had survived.
Brutul looked at Ishi.
"Human…"
Yeva rushed at Ishi.
"Ishi! You idiot!"
"Oof… Oof… I blocked it. Did you see it?"
"You stubborn idiot! Why did you jump in?! I thought you were really going to die!"
"Hehe… I just got an achievement. Jealous?"
"Die! Just die!"
"Ouch!"
Bron watched them for a moment before turning to Seol.
"They're fun fellows…"
"I was thinking the same."
WHOOM…
The sound of the moles retreating from the snowy mountains echoed for a while.
"What a bunch of pathetic creatures. To think they would flee from the battlefield. Well, in that case…"
Creak…
A troll climbed over the fortress wall and opened the gate.
"It seems that we're back."
Following Bron, the Frostmaw marched into the ice fortress.
BOOM…
And soon, the gate closed as if nothing had happened.
Only the corpses of the moles buried in the snow spoke of the battle's outcome.
Hwigeltong—the land where blood freezes—its ancient ruler had returned… from death.
Creak…
The throne of the fortress was adorned with the bones of colossal beasts they had hunted when they used to rule this land.
Bron looked at them briefly before sitting on the throne.
Whoosh…
The majesty of the King filled the hall as soon as he took his place.
The Frostmaw's high-ranking warriors, Brutul, and Seol's group awaited his words in the grand hall.
He placed his elbow on the throne, resting his forehead on his hand, a natural gesture.
He was the rightful master of this fortress.
"Well, then… shall we start by cleaning the house?"
The first thing the terror of the polar region, the Frostmaw did…
"Let the mole hunt begin."
"WOAH—!"
The bloodthirsty Frostmaw roared.
[Faction: Frostmaw keeps a powerful stance.]
[If no hostile forces are nearby, the faction will enter a golden age.]
…
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