NOVEL NEXT Chapter 185
The tilt of the island didn’t take long to return. The mages poured their magic to level it out. But that doesn’t change anything.
“……”
In the end, the floating island will still crash. And I know that the hideous monster won’t die just from falling from this height. The creature that’s already hiding underground will soon show itself again. In other words, there are two problems.
“Getting out of the Square safely and…”
“Running away, I suppose.”
Winter’s Master acknowledged Aster’s words. Neither task is easy. It’s not a problem to escape the island since mages can float it. But mages who can fly dozens of kilometers with floating magic are a rare breed.
“If the Square crashes…”
A massive island spanning several kilometers. The mass is unimaginable. They will try to slow down the descent, but it’s bound to have an effect greater than that of an asteroid collision. It’s only natural for the area to be devastated.
It’s tough enough to escape, and now we have to figure out how to avoid the aftermath and escape the disease… Just then, a low voice interrupted their thoughts.
“Isn’t there any way to stop it?”
All eyes focused on the Black Marang that had appeared atop the Square. As the murmurs grew louder, the Master of North Wind stomped his foot, restoring silence.
If only the magic circle was broken, they could just redraw it. But the island itself has become a wreck. That means the place to draw the magic circle is gone.
Adding to that, the colors of the city are changing. If the Butterfly of Covenant hadn’t been blocking it, overlapping spaces would have unraveled and flowed down from the floating island to each Square and city.
In this situation, a crash is an unavoidable fact. That premise cannot be changed.
At that conclusive statement, the faces of the mages paled. Regardless of how the floating island rose, their territory has been the Square for a long time…
Just as they were reminded of the grim situation, someone swallowed hard.
“……”
Meanwhile, the Wolf calculated the crash site based on the direction and speed of the floating island. To the Wolf’s eyes filled with magic, the scenery hundreds of kilometers away looked as close as if it were right in front of him.
Approximately 20 minutes to crash… If they can’t change the premise of the fall, they at least have to change the conditions.
It’s possible. The Square is still absorbing magic.
As the Wolf emitted magic, surprised mages raised their hands, but Aster shook his head to stop them.
“Just stay quiet and watch.”
As magic was released, the floating island rose slightly. The problem is that they’ve exhausted most of the magic taken through absorption. Given the damage to the island, its efficiency is abysmal compared to before.
However, it’s not impossible. If they gain altitude, they naturally gain more time. They can dictate where to crash… The problem is the direction.
The Wolf looked around the floating island again, realizing there was something else he needed to do first.
There sat a small red-headed girl with little horns growing out of her head. The Wolf extended his tentacle to wipe her forehead, and at the same time, someone let out a gasp.
“…Are you okay?”
Despite the calm voice, Hong Yu-ri’s eyes flickered with worry. The look on her face seemed to ask why he was asking when it was obvious she was not okay. The Wolf slowly nodded.
There are no visible injuries. But…
[Hong Yu-ri(Transforming… 91%)]
[Height 143.8cm] [Weight 37.1kg]
[Strength 269] [Agility 279] [Stamina 355] [Magic Power 689]
[Skills]
[Tracking Magic Eye (B)] [Great Magic (B)] [Dragon Blood (C)] [Magic Amplification (C)] [Magic Concentration (C)] [Superior Magic Regeneration (C)] [Instinct (E)] [Judgment (E)] [Weak Poison Resistance (F)]
As she becomes a polyp, her status is sharply rising. From a simple number, the transformation is a positive change.
Draco Pale. The race she will become as seen from the divine vision. A dragon with faint dragon blood… She has started to grow horns, but the transformation is not yet complete. Though it can be called a dragon race even in her current form, it can still be stopped.
The Wolf glanced around for a moment… She must be around here somewhere too. He didn’t want to show it, but this was the only way.
As the Wolf opened a space, he took out a flask, causing a few perceptive individuals to gasp.
Not because they knew what it was, but because they couldn’t even comprehend what it was. Even now, it’s hard for the Wolf, in his current state, to decipher its true nature.
—Mimic Elixir. The pinnacle of magic and alchemy that imitates divine blood. It’s infused with unprecedented power, something that cannot even be quantified in value, and the Wolf presented it without a moment’s hesitation.
“Drink it.”
When he finally opened the stopper, Hong Yu-ri just stared blankly at it. …What is this? She had no idea. But it was clear that it was no ordinary item just by looking at it.
“If I drink this…”
“You can still come back.”
At those words, she swallowed hard. So if she drank it, it would all be over? Unknowingly, Hong Yu-ri took the flask and peered inside.
…She couldn’t see it. It wasn’t a skill like judgment or emotion; it was simply impossible to confirm with the naked eye.
Her brain refused to accept the overwhelming complexity of it. An unfathomable amount of information left her mind struggling to keep up. What the hell is this? Looking up with a bewildered expression, the Wolf merely nodded.
“Don’t worry.”
In response to words meant to reassure her, Hong Yu-ri remained silent.
“……”
After contemplating and hesitating, she eventually closed the flask. The Wolf, looking into her eyes, soon sighed, knowing what she was trying to say.
“If you don’t do it now, you won’t be able to come back. Are you still okay with that?”
“……I need it.”
“……”
That was a stubborn statement. Even those around her suddenly realized that Hong Yu-ri has changed, and everyone’s gaze turned to focus on her. The Wolf quietly stepped in front of her.
From behind Marang, Hong Yu-ri gritted her teeth.
Transformation and great magic have intertwined within her. If one disappears, the other will vanish as well. If she loses both the power of the dragon and the great magic, she knows better than anyone that she won’t be able to help here.
—She’d rather become a dragon or anything else. She had no intention of being a burden.
“So just shut up and keep your promise.”
At the insistence in her voice, the Wolf briefly closed his eyes before nodding.
The promise wasn’t to give her the Mimic Elixir but to help her no matter how she changed. Not just for Hong Yu-ri, but it was a promise made under the moonlight as well. He had no intention of breaking it.
To devise a new method or…
Suddenly, he turned his gaze to where Dorothy was trembling. She looked like she might faint any moment, shivering like prey before a predator.
But she didn’t collapse like before. It wasn’t her own will, but simply her red eyes clung to consciousness, refusing to let go.
“Don’t fall.”
With a low voice, Dorothy swallowed hard, still trembling. Many were scared, not just her. Anyone else would be fine, but Dorothy mustn’t faint. A mage of her caliber might somehow help in the upcoming battle with the disease.
Shaking her chin and chattering her teeth, when Aster rested his hand on her shoulder, she seemed relieved enough to muster the strength to respond,
“…Yes, yes!”
She answered in a barely audible voice, staring at the ground. The Wolf felt a sense of déjà vu when he turned his head to someone who shot a disapproving glance. He could have sworn he saw a similar person not too long ago.
For just a moment, the Wolf briefly looked up at the highest point and then shifted his gaze to the gathered Square Masters.
“Can we change the direction?”
“If only a little…”
Pointing his tentacle toward a distant location, the Wolf indicated a lake. Although it was called a lake, it was dry and barren. In other words, it was an empty lakebed. While there would be a shock, it would be better than crashing into solid ground.
“Namak Lake…”
Close to Tehran, right next to the national park. There’s no way anyone would still be there. The damage could be minimized, at least.
“It seems possible. No, it is possible.”
As the answer came back, the Wolf nodded. If they could change the direction and gain altitude, adjusting the landing spot would be pretty easy.
The remaining issues were avoiding the impact and surviving the disease… In the Wolf’s eyes, the scenery hundreds of kilometers away was still vividly visible. The figures of fairy-type monsters flying in swarms were not too distant either.
—Hong Yu-ri’s judgment to call forth the ancient dragon was not wrong.
“Kkyuuuuu~!”
The Wolf nodded at the fairies. No matter how he looked at it, this was the only method.
To evade the shock waves and move to the Fantasy World. Sure, the floating island crashing would still happen in the Fantasy World, just like a mirror world, but at least the monster known as the disease won’t exist. It would be incredible if they could transport the floating island to the Fantasy World, but they could never move an island several kilometers wide. It was a regret.
“……”
But still, preparations were complete. The Square Masters and successors would join them, so there was no need to worry about the mages. It would be a simple matter to transport them to the Fantasy World the moment the fairy-type monsters arrived. As they moved to Namak Lake, the distance to the fairy-types in the far distance would also shrink. This meant they had nothing to do but gather the mages in the plaza beforehand.
As this explanation concluded, the mages began releasing their magic, each vying to be the first to rise in altitude.
Below, the ground was still shaking.
***
No one in the floating island would refuse the command of the Square Master. Even if they thought for a better method for a short while, they decided to adopt the Wolf’s approach.
Thus, the mages gathered in the center of the plaza, with those who had released their magic first repeatedly moving to the Fantasy World alongside the ancient dragons.
As they kept rising in altitude amidst the crash, time slowly passed, and night began to fall.
As one by one, the mages began crossing into the Fantasy World, inevitably—
“……!”
Hong Yu-ri was taken aback by the arms that suddenly wrapped around her, her fingers twitching before she awkwardly returned the embrace.
“…Why are you making such a fuss?”
She tightened her grip on the arms that were holding her. The Wolf gazed at her quietly until he noticed Anela walking toward them, at which point he waved his tentacles.
“Was it you, Master?”
To the Wolf’s question, Anela shrugged playfully.
“Why? Are you unhappy?”
The Wolf simply shook his head in silence, but Anela laughed wryly.
“Come on~ I’m just the one teaching the basics. It’s not like that person will be the one teaching her to walk, right?”
…The Wolf understood and nodded. The two embraced joyfully, sharing the happiness of reunion. As he met Baek So-yul’s gaze over Hong Yu-ri’s shoulder, all he could see was unwavering trust in her eyes.
Even after witnessing Hong Yu-ri’s transformed state.
“……”
They didn’t exchange words. They didn’t take action. Still… all the Wolf could do was swallow hard.
“Kkyu~!”
The frustrated yelp pulled the Wolf from his reveries. He realized that solving the immediate issues was more urgent than any thoughts he had.
As the Wolf watched Baek So-yul leave for the Fantasy World, he cast his gaze down toward the floating island.
Namak Lake was now close enough to reach. The fall wouldn’t take more than five minutes. Still, the land continued to tremble, and the altitude was steadily decreasing.
“Get ready.”
Finally, the fairy-types flew in to join them. Countless fairy-types perched on their shoulders, and at the Wolf’s command, the mages nodded in agreement.
As the wreckage of the crumbling floating island began to fall slowly, the moment everyone disappeared into the Fantasy World, the floating island plummeted to the ground at an accelerated pace, crashing into Namak Lake.