Chapter 197


    Kalken, who had been pushed back, suddenly smiled with satisfaction and extended his greatsword towards his feet.


    “Here we go! Ivory Tusk Block!”


    Kalken’s greatsword drew arge circle on the ground around him. Along the carved line, green aura burst out explosively, and a barrier of aura surged upwards. The flow of the rising aura deflected all the rapid strikes of the rapier.


    Tatata-tang!


    “Hahahaha!”


    Laughing loudly, Kalken swung his greatsword, continuously emitting des of aura. The green aura des flew across the ground, tearing it apart. Being dragged along by his opponent’s intricate swordsmanship, Kalken decided to simply push through withrge-scale destruction.


    “Your attacks are sharp, but theyck thickness!”


    The situation changed drastically.


    The woman continuously stepped back, deflecting the aura des. Although her swordsmanship was clearly superior, Kalken’s aura maniption skills were equally matched, and his aura capacity was far greater. With an overwhelming amount of aura, she couldn’t find an opportunity to counterattack.


    However, even in the midst of this, the woman skillfully redirected the green aura without a scratch as she retreated. It seemed that the battle would not easily be decided.


    Kalken admired her and grinned, revealing his fangs.


    “You’re strong, Elven warrior! I can’t help but acknowledge it!”


    Despite his praise, the woman maintained a cold expression. Kalken lifted his greatsword with both hands and held it upright.


    “Let’s y a little more!”


    He threw his greatsword into the air and roared.


    “Go! My fiercepanion, Magnum!”


    * * *


    The greatsword, which was over two meters long, sliced through the air, imbued with green aura. The soaring greatsword circled in the air, firing green aura sts. The woman, startled by the attack from above, reached out her hand.


    Buuuuung!


    A silver shield materialized, blocking all the aura sts. Taking advantage of this moment, Kalken charged forward. He tore through the ground, thrusting his fists repeatedly.


    “Fist Scale Breaker!”


    Green aura shot out from his fists extended into the air like cannonballs. The woman twisted her body to dodge, and the missed aura st struck the cliff within the canyon. With a resounding boom, part of the cliff crumbled, and rocks tumbled down.


    Urrrrrng!


    Even as debris fell over their heads, Kinzir, Hadatoum, and Russ, the three aura users, did not think of evading. As if they had an agreement, they simultaneously reached out their hands and created an aura shield above them.


    Thump, thump, thuthump!


    Blocking the debris as casually as one would use an umbre on a rainy day, Hadatoum muttered.


    “That guy is having a st.”


    Kinzir responded, eyes gleaming.


    “Indeed. Do you think I could have a bout with herter? It looks fun.”


    It was an attitude befitting the warlike leaders of the orcs. Well, Russ didn’t feel much different either.


    ‘Honestly, I want to have a go too… There seems to be a lot to gain from it…’


    Meanwhile, Kalken, who had approached the elf woman, began to throw punches. His fists, brimming with surging green aura, were thrown repeatedly.


    “Leather Tanning!”


    Straight punches and hooks from the left and right targeted the woman’s entire body. With astonishing reflexes, the woman twisted her waist and lowered her head, continuing to dodge the attacks. Even as she did, her rapier kept aiming sharply at Kalken’s vital points.


    Kuuuuung!


    The green aura from his fists and the silver aura from her rapier mixed, creating a storm. The scattered waves of aura destroyed the cliffs on either side, leaving traces of formidable destruction. Because of the sh between the two aura users, the surrounding area was no longer a canyon. A wide-open space had formed between the narrow valleys.


    Shouting a battle cry, Kalken swung his left arm widely.


    “Huuup!”


    A massive left hook aimed for the woman’s chin. As she barely dodged the attack, Kalken’s beloved sword, Magnum, thrust from behind her. With two opponents, the situation hadpletely tilted. The woman frowned slightly at the movements of Magnum, which flew through the air, firing aura and swinging its de.


    “This must be the orcs’ traditional technique. It’s definitely troublesome.”


    Suddenly, the woman performed a somersault, soaring into the air. While airborne, she ced her hand on her rapier and murmured softly.


    “Rosia, Shade. Embody my sword.”


    Saaaa…


    For a moment, Kalken was taken aback. The woman’s rapier, through its silver de aura, emitted a chilling cold.


    “Huh? Is this spirit magic?”


    The water spirit Rosia and the dark spirit Shade infused themselves into the silver aura.


    The merging of the two spirits created an intense cold.


    The silver aura transformed into cold particles, turning into a blizzard that surged towards Kalken. The sudden cold caused Kalken’s limbs to freeze, slowing his charge.


    Russ, who had been watching, clicked his tongue.


    “To imbue aura with elemental power!”


    Aura, by nature, was fundamentally the energy of life, unable to transcend its basic nature. It could change forms and possess attributes like destruction or healing, but not elemental power. While he had often seen Siris infuse spirit power into her sword, he never imagined it could be done with aura.


    “Huh? Then that means I can’t use that. Tch.”


    Russ, who had been admiring, openly showed his disappointment. Having copied so much, he seemed to no longer feel any pangs of conscience.


    “Amazing technique! But if it’s only this… Haaap!”


    Kalken, covered in frost, enveloped his entire body in aura, shaking off the cold. Ice fragments scattered and sparkled in all directions.


    Seizing the opportunity, the woman threw her rapier at Kalken’s greatsword, Magnum.


    “Freeze!”


    With a chilling shout, the rapier collided with Magnum. The green aura shed with the cold aura, neutralizing each other. Semi-transparent ice rose from the rapier, covering Magnum entirely.


    Thunk!


    The two swords, now encased in ice, fell to the ground with a thud. Kalken grinned as he saw their weapons neutralized.


    “So we’re both barehanded now? You’ve made a mistake, Elf warrior!”


    That technique which sealed the Spirits Weapon was indeed remarkable. However, if both were barehanded, the battle between the 2.3-meter-tall, thickly-muscled Kalken and the slender elf woman was a foregone conclusion.


    “Taaah!”


    Confident of his victory, Kalken gathered all his aura.


    “Haaaah!”


    The elf woman also faced him, wrapping herself in silver aura.


    The two aura users flew at each other. Kalken swung his fists, letting out a roar.


    “Leather Tanning!”


    Dozens of punches upied all the space in front of the woman. She dodged every attack, swaying like a willow branch. As she lightly stepped to evade, she simultaneouslyunched a sharp counterattack with her hands imbued with silver aura.


    “Ho?”


    Kalken was momentarily surprised. Despite being unarmed, the woman’s skills were not inferior to his. Russ’s eyes sparkled.


    ‘Wow, if you use swordsmanship like that, it immediately turns into unarmed martial arts. I think I could replicate that footwork too.’


    If Kalken’s technique was the epitome of strength, the elven woman’s movements were the pinnacle of finesse.


    Even as they exchanged attacks continuously, the oue was not easily decided.


    Green shes and silver streaks wove through the air, shing fiercely as they flowed, curved, and blocked each other.


    Bam! Bam! Bam!


    The aura collided in midair, producing explosive sounds.


    “Hoo-hoo, it’s been a long time since I’ve had such an enjoyable fight.”


    Kalken smiled with enthusiasm as he rubbed his neck. At that moment, the woman suddenly gestured toward him, who was deeply excited.


    “Let’s stop fighting.”


    Kalken, about tounch himself, asked with a disappointed expression.


    “Why? It’s fun, let’s continue fighting.”


    The elven woman shook her head and turned her gaze inward to the canyon.


    As the two spirits within her sword departed, the ice melted. With a gesture, the sword flew through the air and returned to her hand.


    She sheathed her sword at her waist and calmly posed a question.


    “Isn’t this enough to prove myself?”


    The woman no longer had any fighting spirit left. Kalken, whose enthusiasm had also diminished, sheathed his greatsword. As he strapped the Magnum on his back, the woman suddenly asked him.


    “Am I a warrior?”


    It was a somewhat out-of-the-blue question. Blinking, Kalken nodded.


    “Of course! You are a splendid warrior, no, a fighter!”


    Although he did not know the reason, the elven woman was undoubtedly a powerful fighter. There was no reason not to acknowledge her.


    The woman asked again, this time directing her question not only at Kalken but also at Kinzir and Hadatoum.


    “I heard that to earn the trust of orcs, you must fight. Have I shown my trust to you?”


    The orcs looked at each other. Indeed, the elven woman had proven herself by matching swords and fists with Kalken. They confirmed that she possessed the pride and spirit of a warrior.


    As if in a chorus, the three orc warriors spoke simultaneously.


    “Of course!”


    “You are now our sister!”


    “We are pleased to meet a strong sister!”


    The faces of the orcs were filled with expressions of goodwill. The elven woman murmured as if relieved.


    “I was a bit doubtful since it was an old story, but it seems it was true.”


    Only then did Russ nod.


    “Ah, were you performing the Ritual of Hotu?”


    The woman nodded. Russ shook his head inwardly.


    ‘I wondered why she suddenly wanted to fight…’


    He had heard that elves were a rational race, but he didn’t expect them to be so straightforward. Usually, you’d at least introduce yourselves first, right?


    The orcs seemed to have thought the same. Kalken thumped his chest and spoke.


    “I am Kalken of the Blue Bear Tribe.”


    The others introduced themselves as well.


    “I am Kinzir of the Dirt Boar n.”


    “I am Hadatoum of the Grey Hawk Tribe.”


    The woman ced her hand on her chest and opened her mouth to speak.


    “My name is Iniya. I am the leader of the Stiria Tribe.”


    She then pointed above the canyon and continued.


    “Those are my tribesmen.”


    Shadows of people began to appear one by one above the canyon. In an instant, everyone present, including Kalken and Russ, showed expressions of astonishment.


    “Huh?”


    “Were there that many people up there?”


    There seemed to be at least hundreds of figures revealed above the canyon. Like Iniya, they all had white skin, blue eyes, and purple hair. Their attire was also simr, mixing fur and white cloth.


    So many people had been hiding there, and the aura users hadn’t noticed?


    Russ squinted slightly as he looked at them. It was already deep into the night, so visibility was poor, but a faint darkness swirled around them. Yes, it felt somewhat simr to Siris’s ability.


    ‘Did they conceal their presence using spirit magic?’


    Turning her gaze, Iniya spoke again.


    “Our tribe hase from the northern tundra to meet the one who resurrected the World Tree. Warriors of Antares, will you guide us?”


    * * *


    The nameless tundra of northern Fend.


    In a ce untouched by humans for many years, there was a vige made of snow and ice. Dozens of houses built with snow bricks stood tall among ice pirs, and the sunlight on the tundra made the entire vige look like a beautiful ss artwork. This was the home of the elves, the Stiria Tribe, who lived hidden from human eyes.


    Throughout the vige, elves with purple hair and blue eyes were busy with their respective tasks. Some were repairing houses, drying harvested fish and seaweed, or tanning leather.


    A man walked through this scenery. He was an extraordinarily handsome man with sleek ck hair flowing down to his waist.


    The man looked around the vige with his obsidian-like eyes. An elf woman who was preparing seaweed noticed him and brightened up.


    “Oh my! Repenhardt!”


    He was the Archmage Repenhardt, the youngest in continental history to master the 9th circle of magic.


    Repenhardt, who had amazed the world by entering the 9th circle at the age of thirty, eventually seeded in reaching the pinnacle of magic by the age of thirty-five. It had been nearly a hundred years since a ‘Master’ of the 9th circle, rather than just a practitioner, appeared on the continent. Thest one was Dreza, the Archmage of the Lastil Principality, who had lived to an old age and died a few years ago. Even he had mastered the 9th circle after turning seventy, so all the mages on the continent could not help but marvel at Repenhardt’s tremendous achievement.


    Everyone paid attention to Repenhardt’s movements.


    Since bing an Archmage in histe twenties, many countries had tried to recruit him. However, Repenhardt had declined all offers, choosing to remain a dungeon explorer to further his magical prowess.


    Now that he had be a 9th circle Master with no higher realm to reach, everyone was curious about which country he would go to.


    But contrary to everyone’s expectations, as soon as Repenhardt became a 9th circle Master, he suddenly disappeared from the world.


    All sorts of spections circted. Some said he had be indifferent to the world and secluded himself, others imed he died from the side effects of mastering the circle at such a young age, and some even suggested he was secretly assassinated by a fearful magical faction.


    In reality, however, Repenhardt was traveling through remote areas with Siris and Tassid, seeking out various non-human races.