“…I have none.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Livio answered in an uncharacteristically small voice. It was evident he was forcing himself to respond.
“Your words are short?”
“…I’ll follow the Major’s orders as we agreed beforehand.”
A sound of teeth grinding was heard in response to the casual disrespect. Hoo, Livio let out a heavy sigh as if suppressing the indignation boiling inside him, barely managing to use honorifics. He couldn’t count how many times he had been humiliated today.
Guk.
He clenched his fist, his face red with shame. He wanted to burn Iberis rather than the Black World Tree.
The expected win rate was fifty-fifty, no, slightly lower than that.
Livio bit his molars as he calculated the probability in his head. The overwhelming power he had witnessed until just now was clearly etched in his mind. Moreover, there were far fewer people on Livio’s side compared to Iberis.
If he gave in to his hot temper and rebelled in a situation where he was at a overall disadvantage, he could lose everything he had achieved so far. Livio felt bile rising in his throat, spreading in his mouth. His solar plexus burned with unresolvable anger.
“Good. Since you’ve acknowledged me with your own words, I’ll immediately execute you under military law if you disobey my orders.”
Iberis warned Livio, having finally obtained the words he wanted. He intended to punish him immediately if he further provoked him. Even if someone questioned it later, he had enough justification since Livio had verbally accepted his command.
He turned his gaze towards the Black World Tree, suppressing the rising murderous intent. If he exchanged more words with Livio, he felt he might not be able to resist the urge to kill him.
“…It will go berserk soon. Let’s end this before that happens.”
The Black World Tree, having grown by feeding on the corpses of monsters, had become too grotesque to be called a tree. Iberis observed the roots writhing like mollusk tentacles. There were too many to count, but that wasn’t all of them. About a third were still hidden underground.
“We’ll stick to the original plan. When I pull the Black World Tree’s roots to the surface again, Guild Master, burn them with all your might.”
Iberis spoke as he stepped forward, having assessed the situation in the blink of an eye. After this one-sided announcement, he leapt high into the sky. He had put on a brave face in front of Livio, but he was starting to feel the strain.
Iberis’s eyes rolled unconsciously as he turned his head. It wasn’t hard to find Lucas. He shone brightly even in the battlefield filled with the stench of blood and dust.
A faint smile appeared in his gray eyes as he spotted Lucas treating a fallen soldier’s ears. Seeing the only person who could free him from pain, he felt a desire to go to him.
Just then, Lucas looked up, feeling Iberis’s gaze. But what he saw was only black hair fluttering in the wind and a straight, sturdy back.
“…I need to end this quickly.”
Iberis muttered to himself as he drew up the mana that had started to rampage inside him. He wanted to finish this before the aftereffects hit and quickly be in Lucas’s arms.
Kiaaaa!
The Black World Tree, sensing the strong mana wave, lashed out with its branches like whips. But they were blocked by an ice wall that suddenly appeared in mid-air.
Kwaaang! Bang!
Thunderous sounds rang out as the branches imbued with ominous mana clashed with the barrier Iberis had created. The thick ice cracked from the violent collision, but it repaired itself as if nothing had happened.
The result was the same no matter how many times they collided. The ice wall Iberis created was an unbreakable shield as long as mana was continuously supplied.
“Haa…”
Iberis clenched and unclenched his slightly trembling fingers. It was a precursor to going berserk. Realizing he didn’t have much time left, he closed his eyes and concentrated. A white whirlwind arose from his feet, bringing a cold wind.
Following the chaotically swirling snowstorm, the ground shook and groundwater burst forth. It quickly transformed into various stalactite-like formations, piercing and binding numerous tree roots. Simultaneously, icy rain in the shape of icicles poured from the sky.
Kiaaa…!
The Black World Tree, attacked from above and below, twisted its entire body, roaring in pain. Pueok, pak. Each time a sharp ice shard pierced it, its rock-hard surface burst open.
“Hwup.”
Iberis took a deep breath and stretched his right arm to the side. At that moment, the gently falling snow was sucked into his hand, instantly transforming into a giant ice spear.
Calmly aiming at the Black World Tree, Iberis threw the spear with a short shout. Ppeeok! The spear, condensed with his mana, pierced the center of the tree. Not content with that, it rotated fiercely like a drill, catching several central roots trying to escape underground.
“Now!”
Iberis shouted, signaling to Livio, who had been concentrating mana in both hands. A pillar of bright red fire shot up from the cracked ground.
Kaaaak…!
The Black World Tree let out a screeching wail as it severed its own burning branches and roots. A ground-shaking explosion followed, and acrid smoke rose.
“Gasp! It’s dangerous!”
“Everyone, retreat! Get as far away as possible!”
“Make sure the injured don’t get left behind!”
The soldiers, who had been entranced by the marvelous display of abilities, frantically fled as burning tree fragments fell on them. However, some with severe injuries couldn’t escape in time.
“Eek!”
“No!”
The lagging wounded were dumbfounded by the fireballs pouring down on their heads. Just then, a mana barrier imbued with brilliant sunlight appeared, protecting them.
Kuung! Bang! Kwagwang!
The tree fragments exploded one after another as they hit the barrier Lucas had created. After securing the safety of the surrounding soldiers, he looked up to check Iberis’s condition.
“I told you not to overdo it…”
Lucas’s brow furrowed as he saw Iberis’s pale face and bluish lips. Tsk, he clicked his tongue and shouted as if scolding.
“What are you doing! Why aren’t you retreating to the safe zone with the injured!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Thank you!”
The soldiers, snapping back to their senses at Lucas’s shout, quickly evacuated the wounded. Meanwhile, the Black World Tree’s roots, engulfed in flames that reached the sky, writhed as if in seizures. Some thrashed about as if trying to shake off the fire, while others tried to escape into the ground.
But it was a futile resistance. The ground, now covered in snow and ice, was frozen solid, preventing the roots from burrowing in.
Above all, even amidst the flames that seemed to burn everything, the ice spear piercing the Black World Tree’s center didn’t melt, steadfastly holding the enemy in place. This was because Iberis was continuously pouring mana into it.
Realizing escape was impossible, the Black World Tree struggled this way and that to remove the blazing fire. But the more it struggled, the faster its body burned to a crisp.
Kiiiii…
Consumed by the fire demon, the tree eventually burned completely, not a single root remaining. And it turned entirely to ashes.
“It’s over.”
Iberis withdrew his mana after confirming the Black World Tree’s life signal had completely disappeared. He looked down at the ground, now red as if boiling lava, and steadied his ragged breathing. For the first time in a long while, his entire body felt cold.
“I’m going to get scolded later…”
Iberis made a troubled expression as he felt his limbs spasming uncontrollably. Muttering as if already worried, he raised his mana one last time. There was still something to do.
Chiiik!
The flames, which had been flickering as if still hungry even after burning the Black World Tree completely, gradually died down, raising misty steam. Iberis had extinguished the raging fire by surrounding it with ice.
Livio’s eyes hardened as he watched the flames he had created being put out by Iberis. It felt like proof that Iberis was stronger than him, making his chest tighten uncomfortably.
“Operation complete.”
Iberis, now back on the ground, lightly waved his hand through the mix of pure white snowflakes and floating ash. Then he calmly announced the successful subjugation. Immediately after, cheers erupted from all directions.
“Woah!”
“Well done, Major!”
“You’re amazing!”
The soldiers expressed their gratitude to Iberis for completing the mission with minimal casualties. Some whistled or applauded.
“You overdid it.”
“Luke.”
Iberis, who had been calmly catching his breath, smiled softly as he felt warm clothes wrapping around his cold shoulders.
“I wanted to finish quickly…”
Wearing Lucas’s coat, Iberis chuckled and leaned against him. Despite being covered in dust and blood, Lucas’s unchangingly fragrant scent permeated Iberis’s nose. Then, a warmth as cozy as gentle sunlight enveloped him.
Only then did his tightly tensed muscles fully relax. Iberis lightly rubbed his cheek against the broad chest, then gently raised his chin to look up at Lucas.
“Are you angry?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
