The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

"Hmph…"

The Great Shaman Krom became wary of Seol upon feeling his gaze. Seol quickly looked elsewhere, concealing that his true target was the crystal.

'This is my chance. A chance that was given by the heavens.'

No—he knew what kind of beings lived in the heavens, so he decided to think of this as just good luck.

'If I can get that without much trouble…'

The clash against Irizard was something he promised to a Sworn Friend—something he could not break. Whether he obtained the Crystal of Dawn now or later was just a matter of timing. He would get it either way.

Still, he thought it would be better to secure it now if possible.

- So that's it… Indeed…

Ur urged Seol with an insidious voice.

Seol agreed with Ur but knew it wouldn't be that easy.

'This is the Icemaw's domain. Moving recklessly could be dangerous.'

If he caused a stir in the domain of others, he risked not only turning the moles but even the Icemaws into his enemies.

'If there's no way, I'll have to wait for the next opportunity, but…'

Seol had a remarkable thieving ability called Shadow Theft. Amazingly, the power of that ability increased as Seol's threshold did.

While it still activated randomly during clashes against enemies, he also gained the ability to trigger it at will. Now, real theft was possible.

Seol pondered for a moment whether he should like or dislike it but ultimately decided it was better than not having it at all.

Ur said he could fix the part where it activated randomly. Since he didn't have many opportunities to clash with transferees, having this ability was more advantageous than harmful for now.

"…"

Seol continued glancing at Krom, thinking of a way to make contact with him.

'If I get caught, I'm going to regret it… What should I do?'

Regardless of Seol's intentions, the conversation continued.

Bron looked at Zakcha and laughed. "Haha… I was wondering where you went after surrendering the fortress. So this is where you were."

"Bron… so you really did come back alive."

"Do you know me?"

"I am Zakrom's son."

"Ah, that guy. Now that I look at you, you do resemble him. No, actually, I'm lying. I can't distinguish the moles at all."

A mole under Zakcha's command said. "Kiik! Zakcha is a Great General! Zakcha is young!"

"Ah! Is that so? A young mole general, huh…? Haha… Now that I think about it, Irizard was always fond of playing soldier."

Bron taunted the moles. Although it seemed that conflict could erupt at any moment, nothing much happened.

"Do you want to die here?"

"Oh, my. Did that upset you? To think you would try to send me back to the grave when I have already died once."

"Hmph… You are all talk."

"Well, I was dead for a while."

While looking at them exchange words, Seol evaluated Zakcha.

'A Great General… He's certainly different from the other moles.'

The energy he exuded was extraordinary.

Just as Bron said, he couldn't distinguish between the moles, but since they said he was young, he must be quite young.

Considering his youth and the fact that he was a mole, there was no way he could reach this plane without paying a price.

'The Old God must have played some trick…'

No power came without a cost. Zakcha would most likely realize this. If not now, then at least before his death.

As he thought about it, Zakcha's build caught his attention. He was smaller than a troll but bigger than a human.

Although he was insignificantly small compared to a Frostmaw, he was still sufficiently monstrous.

Clank…

Zakcha placed his hand on the sword hanging from his waist.

"I can send you back to your grave right here, right now."

Boom…

Boom…

Skola approached Zakcha and leaned in close.

"Mole, choose your place to die wisely. Irizard isn't here, so there's no one you can go to cry over to…"

"Skola…? I see. What Irizard said was true."

"What…?"

"She said fate got twisted. That those who shouldn't have returned had come back."

Seol's brow twitched.

'She knew but still didn't stop them?'

Since Irizard was a fragment of an Old God, it wasn't surprising that she noticed Bron's plan. He already found it strange that she hadn't interfered, but they were able to hear the reason from Zakcha's mouth.

"Hmph! If she knew, why didn't she stop us?"

"She said it was an unstoppable flow. Instead, she instructed us to observe closely."

Swish…

Zakcha turned his gaze, settling on Seol.

"Is it you, human? The one disrupting our plans?"

"…"

The atmosphere grew tenser as if a fight was about to break out at any moment.

Seol, who Zakcha had suddenly marked, made a troubled expression.

'We're at a disadvantage…'

While he had Skola and Bron on his side, the other two transferees and Brutul were unreliable.

On the other hand, the opposing side had a Great General and other generals who all exuded a great presence.

'They have most likely hidden forces nearby as well.'

Ishi and Yeva were trembling.

"A-are we fighting…?"

"Th-there was no mention about something like this possibly happening…"

At that moment, a booming voice shattered the frozen atmosphere.

"Hahaha! I wanted to sit back and watch, but unfortunately, patience isn't one of my virtues…"

WHOOM…

It was Bram.

The exiled Chief of the Icemaw looked at Bron and asked.

"Bron… my brother. Tell me why you came here."

Bron nodded and spoke honestly.

Although there were moles beside him, he didn't seem to care.

"I want to kill the moles and Irizard. Lend me your strength."

"Th-that bastard!"

"Kiik! I'm going to kill you!"

Although the moles were outraged at his words, for some reason, Bram just laughed.

"Haha… Hahaha… Khahaha!"

"Why are you laughing?"

Bram answered Bron's question.

"The moles said something similar. Hey, Zakcha! Tell me again why you're here."

Zakcha also replied without hesitation.

"We're planning to sweep away the Frostmaw. If you add your strength, Irizard will commend you afterward."

Grin…

Bram said while smiling wickedly.

"It seems things got quite noisy while I was holed up. So… whom will the Icemaw ally with…?"

A lot depended on the Icemaw’s decision. Their size was far greater than what Seol had imagined.

'And this man called Bram… He's inherited Branka's power.'

He hadn't heard for certain if he was Bron’s true sibling, but Bram bore a striking resemblance to Branka, even in strength.

"What should I do…"

Bram scratched his chin for a moment and then smiled.

Grin…

"This is what we’ll do—strength. The Icemaw will follow the strong."

Bron and Zakcha replied in unison to those words.

"I can handle the moles before lunch."

"This time, the Frostmaw will be destroyed for good."

"Haha… Since I can't tell who's right, I'll just have to see for myself."

Bram waved his hand.

"Fight here and now."

"…"

"…"

"You don't have to fight directly. You may send out your underlings instead."

At these words, the two leaders hesitated briefly before replying.

"Good."

"It isn't a bad idea."

* * *

Creak…

Unlike Bron, who was preparing himself by loosening up, Zakcha looked at his close aide, Krom.

"I shall go… Kikiki…"

"Krom. Yes. There's no way you would lose."

"The power bestowed by Irizard has awakened this old body. How could I lose to a mere Shaman?"

"You're right. Go ahead."

It seemed that Krom would represent the moles.

'Jamad, I have an idea…'

After Seol explained his plan to Jamad, he also agreed to it.

- That will be amusing. Their expressions will be worth seeing.

Having set up a plan, Seol tapped Bron's shoulder.

Tap, tap…

"Huh?"

"I'll go."

Bron stepped back in surprise at Seol's response.

"Are you sure? He doesn't seem like an easy opponent."

"Yes. I'll handle this."

Bron withdrew, taking Skola with him, who was also eager to step in.

Seol looked around.

All of the Icemaw's members were watching. They were wary of the stranger and expectant about what strength might be displayed.

Seol scanned the many eyes watching him and finally focused on the mole shaman, Krom.

"Kiki… Are they going to involve humans now?"

"Seeing how they've sent an old mole into the war, it doesn't seem like things are going well on your end either."

"How foolish of me to exchange words with a lowly creature…"

"Agreed."

Whir…

A blast of frost swirled forth as the Great Shaman waved his staff.

Whir…

Krom looked over to Bram.

"Can I kill him?"

"It doesn't matter. If you can."

Seol was about to ask something but ultimately decided to prepare for the fight without speaking.

"Kik… Were you going to ask if you can run away?"

"Think whatever you like."

Bram announced, "Begin!"

Crash—!

Krom planted his staff into the ground as soon as the battle began.

In that instant, all the snow covering the ground leaped upward.

Swoosh—!

Spikes of ice hidden beneath the snow surged upward at Seol.

'So they've prepared in advance. This is how you're going to play, huh?'

CRACK—!

Seol quickly merged with Jamad and covered himself with Earth Armor.

CRACK!

CRACK!

The spikes that struck the Night Crow's body failed to achieve their goal and shattered.

Seol and Jamad had frequently fought against Shamans. However, the ones they had fought until now were all physically formidable. That's why the fights tended to be more brutal.

In contrast, the Great Shaman Krom relied solely on Shamanic Spells, giving the impression of facing a Magician.

'There won’t be an opportunity to use a big technique.'

Crack—!

A blade made of ice struck the Night Crow.

Krom seemed determined to prevent close combat, bombarding Seol with all sorts of Shamanic Spells.

[Krom used Glacier Shamanic Spell: Glacier Fishing.]

[Shatters the ice around you, creating a shockwave.]

[Those caught in the shockwave are exposed to Abnormal Status: Stunned.]

CRASH—!

Countless ice fragments as large as a human torso shattered, blocking the Night Crow's sight and restricting movement.

"Kiki… You're struggling to move properly, aren't you?"

"Certainly…"

Krom was experienced. He could hold his own against any warrior, not just the Night Crow.

However, one question lingered.

'This alone shouldn't be able to defeat me, though.'

The Shamanic Spells Krom used so far could cause trouble to a seasoned warrior but wouldn't be fatal.

[Krom used Glacier Shamanic Spell: Frost Web.]

[Enemies exposed to the cold will get bound.]

CRACK—!

Krom's Shamanic Spell quickly encased the Night Crow in ice.

"Kik… It's over."

Whoosh…

An ice stake targeted the Night Crow's heart.

At that moment…

Whoosh—!

[You use Sulfur Shamanic Spell: Hyperhidrosis]

[You generate immense heat.]

[The heat causes the Abnormal Status: Burn.]

Tsss…

Crack!

Seol emerged by shattering the ice instantly.

Paf—!

He even grabbed the incoming stake.

Tsss…

Bram expressed his admiration as he watched the stake melting.

"How interesting… multiple Primal Powers?"

In contrast, Krom mocked him.

"Kikiki… Multiple Primal Powers? Impressive, but…"

Krom's staff vibrated.

"Nothing stands before the power bestowed by Irizard."

Swoosh…

Bron frowned upon feeling an ominous energy emanate from Krom's staff.

"What is that power…? Don't tell me!"

"Can that power of yours protect you?"

The power of Frost encircled Seol.

"Hmm?"

[Krom used Shamanic Spell: Encroachment.]

[Prevent your target from using shamanic powers.]

Creak…

Creak…

Chains of ice formed, wrapping around both of the Night Crow's arms.

"Kikiki! How about that?"

"…"

Seol tried to channel his shamanic power while being entangled by the chains.

Creak…

Creak…

However, his shamanic power didn't budge.

Upon seeing that, Bron shouted.

"That's Irizard's power! He's freezing your shamanic power to neutralize you!"

"What difference will telling him make? How foolish…"

Kron sneered, assured of his victory.

'Not bad…'

To be honest, he was shocked. To think he would freeze his shamanic power to the point it wouldn't budge.

The Lightning Primal Power, the Sulfur Primal Power that opposed the frost, and even the Earth Primal Power he trusted the most were helpless against Irizard's authority.

'Huh…?'

While pondering how to escape, the Night Crow found an easy solution and smiled.

"Now, admit your defeat. Otherwise…"

Crack…

Crack…

While all the Primal Powers of the Night Crow were frozen, one wasn't.

Whir…

An immense chill emanated from the Night Crow's body.

"Impossible…!"

Upon witnessing it, Bram got up from his seat. Not only him but the Icemaw were stirred too.

"That's…"

"It can't be… There's no way…"

The energy Seol emitted was related to the Icemaw—it was Branka's Ancient Shamanic Spell.

The chains of ice binding his arms got covered with even more ice.

Crack…

[You use Ancient Glacier Shamanic Spell: Midwinter.]

…

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