The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-163

Pooour…

Craaaackle!

The rain grew heavier as thunder raged throughout the highlands.

Bzzzzzzt!

“Kraaaaaaah!”

The lightning emanating from Ungus thrashed violently, as if it was intent on burning Jamad down.

“Snowman!”

“I-Is he alright?”

“Kuaaargh!”

As Seol was in the Night Crow form, combined with Jamad, he was not free from the pain.

“Krgh…”

He drooled in pain.

‘It hurts so much… My brain feels like it's melting.’

Under immense amounts of pain, coherent thought becomes impossible. While people may grow accustomed to pain over time, intense pain like this only becomes more and more unbearable.

‘Krgh… does it hurt this much for Jamad each time he tries to grow stronger?’

It was even possible that it hurt more when Jamad absorbed Magra’s shamanic spells. He was repeatedly engulfed in flames then, to the point that his body couldn’t stop shuddering.

Crackle… Crackle…

As Seol was in awe of Jamad’s endurance and uniqueness, the lighting slowly grew weaker.

Seol might have been freed from the pain, but Jamad had yet to open his eyes.

Just then, he began to hear Jamad’s voice from the tattoo near his mouth.

“You’ve been through a lot, Ungus. Now, I will bear your burdens.”

Rumble!

Lightning struck the earth as the sky cleared, and Night Crow shined brightly.

[Jamad absorbed Ungus’s shamanic spells.]

[Jamad, the Volcanic, has improved to Jamad, the Rain of Fire.]

[Jamad’s rank is improved to Transcendent.]

[Jamad has now attained the qualifications to become a Great Shaman.]

[Great Shamans are able to use Primal Power.]

[Jamad awakens Primal Power: Mountain.]

[Jamad awakens Primal Power: Sulfur.]

[Jamad awakens Primal Power: Lightning.]

[Volcano Stance has improved to Rain of Fire Stance.]

[Jamad awakens Passive: Static.]

[Jamad awakens Passive: Quick Reflexes.]

[You are the first to acquire a Transcendent rank ally.]

[You have earned the Inaugural Achievement 'I Bet You Don’t Have This~'.]

[You have earned the Inaugural Title 'Transcendent Owner'.]

There was one thing that caught Seol’s eyes more than anything else.

‘Primal Power!’

They were skills a Great Shaman awakened once they reached a certain level.

It was a distinct kind of strength, similar to the difference between a Magician and an Archmage.

‘But how did he learn it already?’

Even though Jamad had just become a Great Shaman, he was already capable of wielding Primal Power.

‘Maybe… it’s because he can use both Magra’s and Ungus’s powers?’

While there were Great Shamans who solely focused on one field for their entire lives, other shamans, like Jamad, sought to master a variety of powers. Those like Jamad might not possess the same depth as the specialists, but they wield a diverse array of abilities that can be utilized in various situations.

Crackle…

Craaackle…

After absorbing Ungus’s powers, Seol and Jamad were separated from the Night Crow form.

“Haah… Haah…”

“I’m sorry for making you share the pain.”

“That was only half of how much it hurts normally?”

Jamad nodded.

Seol reflected on the excruciating pain he had just endured, then chuckled upon seeing Jamad's peaceful composure.

Jamad closed and spread his fists.

Crackle…

He created lightning.

Flare…

Then fire.

Crumble…

Then, lumps of rock.

“So this is… Primal Power…”

“Think you’ll be able to use it?”

“It looked so fantastical when the elders of the alliance used it… but it turns out it's nothing much.”

“......”

- If I can do it, it’s easy.

- Do you want me to hit you? Huh?

- Jamad’s the GOAT for saying that…

As Jamad confirmed his new skills and powers, Seol also inspected Jamad.

First, he checked Jamad’s stats.

‘Hm… They’ve increased overall by about 50%.’

Even though Jamad was still the same level, his stats had increased overall by 50%.

‘He can probably kill most monsters with just a punch now…’

Jamad already had his Shadow Summon penalty removed upon reaching Legendary rank.

But now, with Seol’s skills and item effects that give bonus stats, Jamad was even stronger than most boss monsters of the same level.

‘Well, his levels still aren't that high yet, though…’

However, this was mostly because Seol was taking on Adventures one or two levels higher than he was supposed to.

[[Passive: Static]

- All attacks are imbued with Lightning Shamanic Energy. Lightning Shamanic Energy holds the Thunder, Lightning, and Light attributes.]

[[Passive: Quick Reflexes]

- Lightning Shamanic Energy enhances your reflexes, greatly boosting both your physical and mental reaction speeds.]

‘This essentially means that each successful attack has a chance to apply an Abnormal Status.’

It could deal additional damage through Shock or cause panic through Tinnitus.

‘And Quick Reflexes… essentially increases your combat ability? Or at least that’s what I can tell so far… it’s clearly good, but I need to experience it myself to know for sure.’

Seol inspected the skills carefully.

After all, Jamad’s skills were also, in turn, his skills now.

‘And the title…’

[[Inaugural Title: Transcendent Owner]

Related Achievement: I Bet You Don’t Have This~ (Adventure: N/A)

Bonus Effect: For each Transcendent rank summon, both the summoner and their summons have their stats increased by 10%.]

‘...That’s insane.’

Transcendent Rank.

It was the rank right above Legendary for monsters and summons.

In The World of Eternity, Transcendent rank also held additional significance beyond combat. However, since even Seol didn’t know the specifics, he could only speculate.

One thing he was certain of, though, was that if he encountered a Transcendent rank monster at his current state, he would have no way to defeat it.

Well, at least in normal situations.

‘However, if Jamad was his enemy now…’

Seol would have to face him to be sure, but he knew victory wouldn’t be in his favor.

Even if the Twin Knights were exceptionally strong, they wouldn't stand much chance against overwhelming stats and skills.

Seol was thankful once more that Jamad was his ally and not his foe.

- If he grows any further than this, Snowman won’t grow anymore…

- Jamad’s going to take down the Black Thunder Tribe on his own…

- Magra was scary, but I think Jamad’s scarier now LOOOL

As Seol and Jamad were lost in thought, Ungola approached them.

He was walking toward his older brother’s, Ungus’s, corpse.

“...Brother.”

A black and sturdy corpse.

Even in death, his dignified appearance remained.

Ungus, the hero of the Black Thunder Tribe, was scorched black from head to toe. And now, even on his lifeless corpse, his eyes were seared black.

Ungola closed his eyes after seeing his older brother.

“Rest well, brother.”

As Ungola gave his final words, Seol saw more messages.

[A Charming Individual activates. You receive additional favorability.]

[You have acquired ‘Ungola, the Black Thunder’ as a helper.]

[‘Ungola, the Black Thunder’ is a Heroic rank.]

[Helpers have a chance of appearing in all Adventures.]

[They will help you differently based on their favorability toward you.]

[Your influence in Faction: Black Thunder Tribe increases.]

[Your influence in Faction: Troll Tribe Alliance increases.]

[You now have a friendly relationship with Faction: Black Thunder Tribe.]

[Faction: Black Thunder Tribe is deeply interested in your actions.]

* * *

They returned from the Thunder Highlands to the tribe.

“We’re behind schedule,” said Frannan. “We need to leave immediately.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Seol and Jamad told Ungola about their objective.

“Alcatron?” questioned Ungola back. “Are you referring to that ominous ruin?”

“Yeah, Ungola. We’re going there.”

“Hm…”

Ungola had a strange expression on his face after hearing Jamad’s words.

"There is a road to it, but I'm concerned."

"About what?"

"There was a significant earthquake recently. There's a bridge on the way to the ruin, but it was built a long time ago. I'm worried if it's still intact."

“...I guess we can only check.”

“We will also send some of our men.”

Seol and the expedition party were relieved upon hearing that they would be safe to leave tomorrow.

“Phew… I thought it was over after the trolls caught us.”

"Hahaha, the Black Thunder Tribe are not savages as people think. It's just a misunderstanding from how harshly they punish the people who trespass into their lands,” said Mael.

“Didn’t we trespass into their land, though?” coldly responded Chameli.

“Hahaha, did we?”

“I feel like we don’t get along at all, Mael…”

“Hahahaha… I feel like we get along quite well, though?”

“Urgh…”

The expedition party slept well that night. They were exhausted after seeing Seol’s incredible fight at the Thunder Highlands.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

The carriages were back on the road the following day.

Clatter clatter…

“But… Why is the Black Thunder Tribe following us?”

“I know, right… It’s likely because of what Snowman and Jamad did for them.”

“Wait, really? Did they do something wrong?”

"It's quite the opposite. Snowman did so well that they're volunteering to guide us there on their own accord."

“...I guess it was the right decision to come here.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that… We had to spend time forging a friendly relationship with the Black Thunder Tribe, meaning the expedition party that took the roundabout path could be arriving first.”

“Shouldn’t we still be faster?”

“Well…”

A few days later, the carriage stopped.

“D-Did we arrive?”

“I… don’t think so.”

Everyone stepped out of the carriages.

The Black Thunder Tribe and the expedition party all stood before a steep cliff.

Everyone was at a loss for words.

Seol and Jamad turned around to Ungola.

“What happened?”

"So my concerns were justified. It appears the bridge collapsed due to the earthquake.”

“Ah!” said Mael while clapping his hands together. "So that's why there was a landslide on the roundabout path. That explains the breakdown."

Chameli had tears in her eyes.

“But Mael… Our road is broken too.”

- ???: I thought only their house broke down?

- But we can now see that our house broke down too. I cried when I saw it.

- Seriously, what are these guys going to do LOL

Seol and Frannan sighed after seeing the ruined bridge.

Frannan looked especially sour.

“This is… quite troublesome. If we go back, we’d be a week late…”

“Not to mention the fact that the expedition party that used the roundabout path would have arrived by now.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Pooourrrr…

The rain continued to pour on them as they looked across to the other side of the cliff.

Seol then saw a few options.

[[The bridge from the Wet Fog Hills to Alcatron has been destroyed by an earthquake. What do you do?]

1. Circle around for the indirect path.

2. Give up on the expedition.

3. Abandon the carriages and focus on getting the people across at least.

4. Look for another route.

……]

‘Hm…’

Seol read through each and every option to find the best answer.

‘Going back is a problem too, though…’

Who could have known that the bridge to Alcatron from the Wet Fog Hills would have been destroyed.

If they knew this ahead of time, making everyone use the roundabout path would have been much better.

‘Well, I suppose we don't know if anything happened to them yet either.’

As Seol was deep in thought, Ungola spoke up.

“There is no need to worry so much, human. Jamad, let me help you.”

“Huh? You?”

“Ungola is going to help us?”

“We have managed these lands for a long, long time. The ones who built this bridge were our ancestors.”

“But judging by how it was built… it wasn’t built ordinarily. Am I right about that, Ungola?”

“You are exactly right. It was built with shamanic spells. And fortunately enough, we have records of the spell used to create that bridge.”

“Then…”

Before Jamad could finish, Ungola turned around to face his tribe.

“Shamans of the Black Thunder Tribe! We will be rebuilding the bridge!”

“Yes, chief!”

“Bring out the shaman stones! We will be using them as guidelines!”

“Yes, chief!”

Thud…

The trolls unloaded two massive shaman stones and placed them near the foundation of the bridge.

Ungola, seeing them, spoke out loud.

“That should be about the right size. Let’s use the rocks in the vicinity.”

“Let’s begin!”

“Yeah!”

Wooosh…

The shamans' eyes turned white as strange energy began to flow all around.

CRASH!

Lightning shot out and struck the massive rocks, causing them to crumble into smaller pieces.

Crumble…

However, since they couldn’t break every single large rock in a short amount of time, this process took an entire two days.

“Haah… Haah…”

“This much… should be enough.”

Ungola nodded.

He then stepped forth and placed both his palms on the ground.

“I’m ready as well.”

Ungola placed his hands on a line made from animal blood, with the shaman stone on one side and the shamans on the other side.

“Let’s begin.”

CRACKLE!

Rumble…

The readied rock fragments began to levitate.

“Krghhhhh…”

The Black Thunder shamans all focused, veins forming on their foreheads.

Rumble…

Rumble…

Rumble Rumble Rumble!

Shards of stone began to fly, weaving together to construct a bridge. Chameli was shocked.

“Oh my god… how are they…”

Frannan, too, was curiously rubbing his chin.

“How interesting. Is that the essence of shamanic spells? It really is different from magic.”

They couldn’t believe what was happening before their eyes.

A bridge was forming in thin air.

It didn’t take long for the bridge to be completed. In fact, the preparation took much longer than its actual creation.

Rumble Rumble…

“All done.”

Though it wasn’t a large bridge, it was still enough for a carriage to safely cross to the other side.

“Test it out with a grypto.”

“Yes, chief!”

The trolls sent forth a grypto to slowly cross the bridge. It was perfectly fine.

Ungola, after confirming that the bridge was safe, began to shout.

"Now, prepare shaman stones on the other side as well! It will be fixed into place the moment we install it!”

Rumble…

* * *

A bridge was made in just a couple of days. And even though the expedition party saw it with their own two eyes, they still couldn’t believe it.

‘It only worked out because the Black Thunder Tribe decided to help us… If it wasn’t for them, we would have been screwed.’

Everyone seemed to have similar thoughts as they returned to their carriages.

“What a relief! We could have been late…”

"We might have even had to turn back when we were mere moments from Alcatron..."

“I doubt I could keep my head high if that happened.”

“We would have failed for sure if they didn’t help us.”

“Yeah, I don’t even want to think about what would’ve happened if we just ran away from them…”

Creak…

One by one, the carriages took turns crossing the bridge.

And finally, in the last carriage, Seol and the others were about to board.

Ungola approached them to say his farewell to Jamad.

“Jamad, please do not forget Ungus, my brother.”

“Ungus is with me now, Ungola.”

“...I look forward to seeing you again. I shall wait for your ambition, brother.”

“Yeah.”

Seol’s carriage safely crossed the bridge as well.

Now, Alcatron was truly within arm's reach.

Everyone was silent in the carriage.

It was because they all knew that the real dangers would soon begin.

“Do you think they’re there?”

“If it didn’t take long for them to restore the path, then yes.”

"Still, we should be arriving at around the same time. We might begin our search in Alcatron together."

“......”

Chameli, to lift the heavy mood, asked Mael a question.

“Mael? What are you looking at? You’ve been looking at that since the expedition started.”

“Ah, I was comparing the Artifact Association’s records of Alcatron to this ancient document.”

“Ah, really? But even so…”

“But now… I’m sure of it.”

“...Hm? Did you find something?”

Mael's expression had darkened considerably compared to before.

"I've… just learned Alacatron’s original purpose.”