Chapter 21: Mutant Subjugation (3)

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[Fire Resistance]

Grade : D

Type : Passive

Reduces damage from fire-based attacks by 20%.

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‘Hmm…….’

To be honest, it wasn't a trait I particularly needed since I had the Orb of Water, which was a hard counter to fire-based attacks, but it wasn't bad to have.

Later, if the Fire Resistance trait reached a certain level, I could use that to suppress the cold energy that was weakening the power of the Orb of Water.

‘That aside…….’

I assessed the situation.

As the Burning Hars met its end, the environment of the area, which had been precariously maintained by it, naturally began to change.

From a place full of sweltering heat to the severe cold climate unique to the North.

Naturally, the bodies of the other Flame Tail Lizards that had been able to endure because of it began to freeze rapidly.

[Grrrgle…….]

[Kru! Kru!]

The Flame Tail Lizards that still had some warmth left in their bodies turned to flee, but there was nowhere for them to run in this harsh, cold climate.

“Uwaaaaah!”

“These X bastards…… die!”

Conlan and Albino, filled with rage, swung their weapons wildly, but the terrified Flame Tail Lizards couldn't even fight back.

[Kruk!]

[Kuk!]

An axe and a dagger danced wildly behind the backs of the Flame Tail Lizards, splattering blood over the half-melted snow.

The situation had flipped in an instant, from being on the defensive to one-sidedly massacring them.

However, it was a situation where a reckless pursuit could lead to a counterattack.

But the massacre did not last long.

“Stop─!”

Conlan and Albino, who had been rampaging covered in all sorts of blood just a moment ago, stopped in their tracks at Edric's single shout.

I didn't know if it was because the military discipline was that strict, or if it was the power of the man named Edric.

However, what was certain was that Edric's shout brought the half-crazed Conlan and Albino back to their senses.

“Flame Tail Lizards are a species that can't originally live here. Even if we leave them be, they will self-destruct.”

I also thought the same as Edric.

The reason the Flame Tail Lizards could withstand this climate was solely due to the special environment created by the mutant, not because they had adapted to the northern climate.

“Still, wouldn't it be better to make sure?”

“It's more important to check on the condition of the squad members. It looks like the burns and injuries are severe.”

Edric himself was in no position to talk, but he chose to look after the others instead.

“We will return immediately after first aid. The mission is a success. Everyone worked hard.”

Only after hearing Edric's declaration of mission success did Conlan and Albino collapse to the ground.

“……A success?”

“Huu…… We caught that monster.”

As if they had only just realized the state of their own bodies, Conlan and Albino groaned in pain.

“Ugh…… Do you have any spare herbs?”

“I don't have enough for myself.”

“Come over here.”

Despite his own not-so-minor injuries, Edric applied herbs and wrapped bandages on Conlan, Albino, and Alicia in turn, giving them temporary treatment.

“Go to the medical unit as soon as we get back. The burns and wounds are not shallow, so you'll have to be careful if you don't want them to get infected.”

He said they might get infected, but in this world with almost no antibiotics, an injury of this degree was a matter directly connected to death.

Of course, magic or miracles existed to substitute for antibiotics, but it wasn't easy for an ordinary soldier to receive such things, even in Winter Castle.

Edric's gaze, after checking the injuries of the Special Task Force members, turned to me.

“And you, Vell…… are fine.”

“I got signed here.”

“Where?”

“Right here.”

“Just put some spit on it.”

“…….”

I felt a bit discriminated against, but it was a natural reaction since the injuries and burns I sustained were minor, almost nonexistent.

Above all, I had the Orb of Water, which could heal a wound of this degree in an instant.

“Then let’s head back now.”

“Are you sure you don’t need treatment, Captain? Your wound looks severe……”

“This much will heal if I put some spit on it.”

Geez, he really loves his spit.

As the one leading the 4th Special Task Force, Edric had taken on the most dangerous role, and the injuries he sustained were by no means small, but he tried hard not to show it.

That was probably what they call the responsibility of a leader.

Edric said.

“Let’s hurry for now. If we stay here, we could be surrounded by other demonic beasts.”

I agreed with him, but I still had something left to do.

I had to take the Ascension Stone Fragment that was on the Burning Hars's forehead.

‘Hmm, what should I do…….’

When I took the Ascension Stone Fragment from Harakka, the situation was chaotic, so no one paid any attention to it, but things were a little different now.

Everyone here was watching each other, and also paying attention.

If I did anything unnecessary in this situation, I would inevitably draw attention.

‘I guess there’s no choice.’

Rather than moving clumsily, it's better to move openly.

“Captain.”

“What is it?”

“Shouldn't we take that too?”

When I pointed to the corpse of the Burning Hars, Edric spoke as if surprised.

“That? Of course it has value, but we have to hurry right now.”

“Shouldn't we take the proof that we've defeated the mutant?”

“That's true. Understood.”

There was no hesitation.

As soon as Edric's sword flashed, the Burning Hars's neck was cleanly severed.

Truly a demonic skill.

“I will carry it.”

“Go ahead.”

I got my hands on the head of the Burning Hars with surprising ease.

All that was left was to watch for an opportunity and take the Ascension Stone Fragment on its forehead.

‘I just need to find the right moment.’

To me, it was an Ascension Stone Fragment, but to them, it was merely a byproduct of a mutant.

Of course, since the species called mutant itself had appeared recently, it would have some research value, but in the current chaos, no one would care much if it disappeared.

Thus, the journey to return to Winter Castle began in earnest.

Albino, whose already pale face had become even paler, cautiously approached and spoke.

“You, are you alright?”

“About what?”

“I saw you using magic earlier. As I knew, it had incredible power. I'm asking if you're okay after using that much magic so recklessly.”

It was a valid question.

In fact, Albino seemed much thinner and older due to the magic he had used in this battle.

“I'm fine.”

“……I don't know what kind of price you're paying. It's probably an enormous price beyond my imagination.”

For some reason.

The bitterness I felt in Albino's words didn't seem to be just my imagination.

“That might be so.”

However, if there was one difference, it would be that the price I had to pay was not postpaid, but prepaid.

Because I had already paid a fitting price for it.

A price that could not be expressed in words.

***

The way back was chaotic.

The war was not over yet.

That was inevitable because, although we had succeeded in the mission to subjugate the mutant, a fierce battle with a horde of demonic beasts was still ongoing at Winter Castle.

Thump!

Kwoooong!!!───

Roars, loud noises, screams.

All of it was mixed together, shaking Winter Castle.

-Kaaaaaaak!

-Kill them all!

It felt a little wrong to say this, but from my perspective, it was a good thing.

‘Now should be fine.’

While the other squad members were distracted, I gently placed my hand on the Ascension Stone Fragment on Hars's head.

Ssssss…….

With that, the Ascension Stone Fragment embedded in Hars's brow emitted a strange light and began to be naturally absorbed into me.

[Absorbing ‘Ascension Stone Fragment’.]

[You have once again taken a step on the path to the great heavens.]

.

.

.

[Bulletin Board level increases.]

[Lv.1 → Lv.2]

[Current Bulletin Board level is ‘Lv.2’.]

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[Accessible Bulletin Board List]

[Anonymous Bulletin Board] [Lv.1]

[Auction house] [Lv.2]

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‘Hoo…….’

A level up for the Bulletin Board grade.

It seemed that the size of the Ascension Stone Fragment held by the Hars I hunted this time was quite large, so it filled up the remaining required experience.

‘The Auction House……. This is also just as I knew.’

I was worried what I would do if the information I saw on the Anonymous Bulletin Board was wrong, but the rumor that the level 2 privilege was the Auction House was true.

‘Now I can receive the reward from DoDo too.’

I didn't know yet whether DoDo had checked my answer or not, but if he did, there was no way he wouldn't know that my answer, a compilation of all sorts of know-how, was genuine.

Of course, whether DoDo would dine and dash or not was something I would only know when the time comes.

‘And…….’

The halo of light that arose from the Ascension Stone Fragment had not yet stopped.

Meaning there was still more change to come.

As if to prove it, a change began to occur in my trait shortly after.

[The ‘Weapon Summon(??)’ trait grows.]

[The trait level of ‘Weapon Summon(??)’ has increased.]

[Lv.1 → Lv.2]

[The ‘Lv.2’ weapon list is added to the summonable list of ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]

[Currently summonable weapon types : 1 → 2]

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[Weapon Summon]

Grade : ??

Type : Active

Level : 2

Summons weapons and ammunition.

The types of weapons and ammunition that can be summoned increase according to the level.

Currently summonable weapon types : 2

Currently summonable ammunition types : 1

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‘This is…….’

A level up for the Weapon Summon trait.

The fact that the way to raise the Bulletin Board grade was to collect Ascension Stone Fragments was already known information within the Anonymous Bulletin Board, so I was well aware of it, but I had only vaguely guessed the method to level up the Weapon Summon trait and wasn't certain.

But this time, I found out for sure.

The condition for the Weapon Summon trait to grow was to absorb Ascension Stone Fragments, just like raising the Bulletin Board grade.

No, seeing that they leveled up at the same time, perhaps the condition was the Bulletin Board grade itself leveling up, but the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, wasn't a very important issue.

What was important was that the level-up condition for the Weapon Summon trait, which had been hidden in the fog until now, had finally been revealed.

‘If I had my way, I'd want to test it right now... but that's probably impossible.’

In a sense, the Weapon Summon trait was something I obtained by sacrificing every price I had.

That's why I was so curious about the Weapon Summon trait, which was even marked with '??' for its grade.

How far will this trait grow?

What kind of weapon would be summoned at Lv.2?

Also, did that weapon share the reuse standby time and cooldown with the existing Lv.1 weapon?

There were many other things I was curious about, but for now, it was time to return to Winter Castle.

Because this place was far too dangerous to be experimenting with this and that as I pleased.

‘Then…….’

I moved my feet.

To return to Winter Castle.