Wolves of Hader

Chapter 34

"The energy of the island feels strange."

Donnie muttered as he gazed at the island.

Urald appeared to feel the same way, but I was happy to be back after such a long time.

"I can see why they call it Demon Island."

"Is something different?"

"That island is full of the power of darkness."

A gloomy energy pervaded the entire island.

Not only was it shrouded in mist, but a cliff rose in the middle, making the island look like a massive castle.

Even the air felt damp and eerie.

This island is on the east side of the divine order's island.

So, to the left lies the island of the divinity, and to the right, the demon's island—or so the rumors go.

Donnie asked, "You don't think there are demons here, do you?"

The captain replied, "Many have claimed to see demons deep inside the island. But that's not all—so many strange things happen here that even fishermen from nearby islands never go ashore."

"Strange things?"

This time I answered, "There are bizarrely twisted and distorted places on the island. It likely resulted from supernatural phenomena that happened when demons invaded long ago."

"What the young master said is true. There are places like that in the western Arshaire mountain range as well. They say those are traces of demonic sorcery cast by demons."

Back in the game, there was no way to explain all these oddities. But knowing the history of this world now, I realize these places were where demons stirred up trouble.

At one time, this island was an international battlefield.

What began as a simple guild war escalated into a world war between massive guild alliances—all because of resources.

Amphibious assaults and defensive battles were fought on the island, while naval engagements were waged over material supply ships at sea.

It was common for control of the island to change hands several times a day.

That fierce war ended when the resources ran out.

Afterwards, the value of the island's resources skyrocketed, and the fate of entire guilds rose and fell according to the resources they possessed.

During the three years I lived on this island, both I and our guild grew immensely.

Though it was grueling, those exciting days are now fond memories.

That's why I was glad to see the island again.

"Let's go up."

There were steps carved into one side of the cliff.

They were built long ago by someone exploring the island. Climbing to the top, a surreal scene unfolded before our eyes.

"Oh! What a bizarre phenomenon."

"Is the mountain leaning sideways now?"

"The space itself is warped."

Just as Donnie said, the mountain was leaning to the side.

It wasn't a natural formation—the entire mountain really was slanted.

Even the trees grew at odd angles in the same direction.

"Stick close behind me."

"Yes."

We walked along a deserted path.

As long as we avoided the path where guild members had vanished during battles, we would be fine.

Though those guild members did turn up again after a few hours...

"Why did we come here?"

"There are lots of materials I need here."

"Left behind by demons?"

"You could say that. But not the power of darkness."

We continued walking together.

After climbing up the mountain, Donnie kept glancing nervously behind us, and even Urald looked over his shoulder like something felt off.

"How strange. The field we were just in is now slanted from here."

"Exactly. It looked flat when we arrived."

"This is that same mountain we saw earlier."

"You mean the slanted mountain is right here?"

Our group looked around.

It was an ordinary mountain. The space as a whole had appeared skewed from elsewhere, but once here, there was no distortion.

The entire mountain was affected by a spatiotemporal anomaly. There were many strange phenomena, but two in particular were most dangerous.

One was an area where you could get lost in a space with no exit, and the other was a time loop region.

With bad luck, you could wander until you starved to death.

To the people here, these would seem like demonic enchantments.

Uwooohhhh—

A wail echoed across the entire island.

"What was that sound?"

"A giant monster's cry?"

That wail was the true source of the demon legend.

Just as Urald said, it was the sound of a monster. Because of these supernatural phenomena, people began to believe demons lived here.

It was one of the [Treasure Guardians] hiding in the perilous places across the continent.

It was so powerful we couldn't even hope to defeat it.

"That monster isn't going to come out, is it?"

"It won't leave its lair."

We hurried our steps.

Avoiding the dangerous zones, we entered an area where strange trees and flowers grew. This too was a warped area.

"Why is the very air here so distorted?"

It looked as if the demons had summoned magic power from their realm into this place.

It wasn't the power of darkness—just as divinity is distinct from magic power.

Because of that, many things here had mutated.

Whether that was the demons' intent or due to the passage of time, it was impossible to say.

"The magic power is exceptionally strong here."

"This energy is magic power?"

"From the malice in the air, it's clear the demons did something here. If even small flowers are imbued with magic, there must have been an enormous magical force in the past."

"So this is where the demons emerged."

"That's possible."

We entered a field where the air shimmered. Just as Urald said, the flowers were full of magic power. Not ordinary flowers, but mutated blooms.

I headed straight for a gigantic tree.

It was an odd tree dyed entirely red.

Urald recognized it instantly by its color.

"So this is the sap of life tree that, when mixed with giant's blood, becomes an instant healing potion."

"That's right. Donnie, get the glass bottles and straws ready."

"Yes."

I drove my dagger into the tree and then pulled it out.

Red sap began to ooze from the cut in the bark.

"Huh? The tree's bleeding!"

"Just collect the sap."

Donnie stuck a straw into the wound and gathered the sap into a glass bottle.

This wasn't ordinary tree sap.

It was the blood of life, brimming with magic.

"Donnie, fill every glass bottle you brought with this sap."

"Understood."

With Urald, I moved on again.

This time, it was a small fruit tree. Blue plum-like fruits hung from its branches, another rare ingredient.

"Urald, please pick these fruits."

"What kind of fruit is this?"

"They're fruits of agility."

"A cut above any agility ingredient I've ever gathered, I presume."

"Exactly."

I moved off alone again.

This time, I reached a rocky area.

You wouldn't be able to see it at a glance, but deep in the cracks was thick white liquid flowing like honey.

I took several large leather canteens from my backpack.

Opening the stoppers, I wedged them into the crevice to collect the liquid.

This viscous, milky fluid was concentrated magic essence.

Just one sip contained as much magic power as twenty years of training.

It was likely the source of this area's magic power.

Ever since the magic tree dried up, the potency of the other plant ingredients had vanished too.

But there's no use in me drinking this magic—for me, or for ordinary people, the vessel of the body can only hold so much magic power.

I was already full, and even normal people cannot hold more than the equivalent of twenty years worth of magic power.

The only way to increase their capacity is to train or raise their level.

I moved on again.

Lastly, I came to a flower garden, a sea of red.

I immediately spread a large cloth and started gathering the crimson petals.

These red flowers contained magic to strengthen the body's muscles and bones—a strength ingredient.

With this, I had collected all the ingredients.

A total of four:

Sap of life.

Fruit of agility.

Petals of strength.

The wellspring of magic.

These were materials for skills and enhancement.

If consumed, they increased physical abilities, strengthening the user's body in proportion to its original state.

But eating them was only worthwhile once; it was better to use them as skill or enhancement materials.

That wasn't difficult, either.

As long as you had an accompanying elemental.

/ / /

I gathered the party.

We pooled the ingredients each person had collected.

"We're going to take these one by one, right here. Start by drinking the milky white liquid. When you do, you'll feel changes in your body. It's just magic power, so don't be alarmed."

"This milk-like stuff is magic?"

"Yeah."

Donnie's face lit up with excitement.

It seemed overwhelming to him to gain the magic power said to be reserved for high-ranking knights. Urald looked just as pleased.

"As the magic flows through your body, you might feel some pain. If it's too much, drink a healing potion."

"All right."

"Once the magic power settles down below the navel, focus your breath there. Just let your focus settle—you'll find you can move it at will."

"I'll do as you say, young master."

Both looked tense.

Everyone knew controlling magic wasn't easy. But just a little magic power shouldn't be too hard.

"Next, eat the fruit of agility. Your muscles and bones will start changing. Don't be alarmed if your body glows—it's just the magic spreading through every part of you."

"I'm just amazed, honestly."

"Good. After those two, finally eat the red petal. Your muscles will swell, and there'll be some pain. The important thing is to eat the fruit of agility first."

Urald nodded understandingly.

"If the muscles grow first, you'll get hurt, I guess."

"Exactly. Eat the fruit to let your muscles and bones adapt, then undergo the bigger transformation for less pain."

"Noted."

"All right, start by drinking the magic essence."

The others drank, looking somewhat nervous, then lay down in a comfortable posture.

In no time, the reactions began.

Both bodies twisted.

Pain was inevitable as brand new magical channels opened up inside them. But once the path cleared, it would be immensely refreshing.

After watching over them a while, I left.

This would take at least three hours.

/ / /

I was entering a dangerous cave.

I didn't know if it was formed by a natural volcano, or by some anomaly triggered by magic power, but all around me, lava was boiling.

When playing the game, it was impossible to enter because of the heat, but now it was fine.

I had summoned the cold sealed in my necklace to my body.

There was a time when the guildmaster had come here alone.

He was so resistant to flame that he'd ventured into this cave alone to see the Guardian firsthand.

So, since I was on the island, I decided to see the [Guardian] myself.

And yet.

Was it because of this chill in my body?

My magic flared and a crimson shimmer kept swirling around me.

"What's happening to me?"

Even my hands glowed red.

A heavy pressure gathered about me. It felt as if tremendous heat and cold were clashing, creating that pressure.

It felt as though a peculiar gravity bore down on me.

Why did I feel so heavy?

There was no pain, so I just kept walking.

Now that I'd come this far, there was no way I'd leave without seeing the Guardian.

Had it been about five minutes?

After passing through the lava zone, I saw a massive, fiery red pupil. And there—revealed in full—was the monster itself.

That was the Guardian I'd only heard of in stories.

Its immense body was entirely aflame; it looked like a gigantic bear of fire.

It stood about five meters tall.

Its crimson body crackled like a corona. It looked born of fire.

There was no way to kill such a creature now.

Did the demons summon the Guardian?

Seeing as the demons had once been here.

Right then.

The monster suddenly turned its head.

It was looking straight at me.

Kuuhooooo—

A tremendous roar!

The moment I saw it rise, I bolted the way I'd come.

But damn!

From countless holes in the cave, flame-shrouded monsters began pouring out. I sprinted faster, but more and more monsters surged behind me.

Kuaaah—

Thud—Thunk—

I lashed out wildly at the charging creatures as I ran. They came at me from every direction.

No matter how many I struck down in my panic, even more poured out. The ground writhed with lava, while monsters went berserk all around!

I was nearly buried beneath flame monsters. I had already taken countless hits. Some bit my leg, some gnawed at my sides.

Then—

"Huh?"

My necklace was glowing bright red.

When I touched it, it was searing hot.

The necklace was absorbing the heat!

And at that moment—

An epiphany struck me.

The reason my body was radiating red light!

The Essence of Rage possessed by the guildmaster!

The Berserker's legendary power!

It was—

the ultimate fusion

of ferocious heat

and bitter cold!