The next morning.
The southern expedition camp was noisier than usual.
It couldn’t be helped. Since the monsters first appeared, the southern expedition had been on the receiving end of every attack, unable even to identify what they were dealing with. Rumors had even spread that these creatures might be nothing more than ghosts—entities without a physical form.
But everything changed after the dawn raid.
Vivian confronted the monsters at the point I had designated and summoned a legion of beasts to engage them. As a result, we managed to secure multiple corpses of the creatures once thought to be mere phantoms.
That wasn’t all. I had anticipated their escape route and waited in the forest, capturing a single specimen that had transformed into a human form. For the southern expedition, which had only suffered losses until now, this was the first real victory.
This win wasn’t just a morale boost. More importantly, we had obtained two different types of monster samples.
In other words, not only could we finally reveal the monsters’ true nature, but we also had the chance to analyze their bodies.
So this morning was truly chaotic.
The analysis was already complete. After the dawn battle, I collected all the evolved and well-preserved corpses and handed them over to Istantel Row.
Han Soyoung gathered every available user and worked through the night analyzing the samples. By morning, she had shared the findings with the squad leaders and clan heads.
Of course, I received the report as well. Skimming through it, I found about 70% of it accurate—some parts spot on, others slightly off, and a few mistakes. The details on evolution were a bit lacking, but that was understandable; no one but me could be certain about that.
The rest was mostly correct: the monsters’ heightened senses except for vision, the purpose of the spines covering their bodies, and even suggested countermeasures.
Han Soyoung ordered everyone to thoroughly memorize all the findings.
She also warned that any user who disobeyed the squad leaders or acted recklessly would face immediate execution—a statement that pleased me, as it clearly referred to those who had recently carried out the fire ritual.
Despite the morning’s commotion and the time spent confirming details about the monsters, by the time the sun was high, the southern expedition had packed up camp and resumed their march.
Leading the column, I could feel the shift in momentum. Until yesterday, it felt like we were being dragged along against our will, but today was different. Even the uphill stretches felt springy and energetic. So much so that someone joked mid-march, “Are those things not coming out today?”
Without any interference, we passed what I remembered as the last mountain peak and finally faced a new landscape.
If the path up had been rough and the forest thick to the point of suffocation, the view after descending was completely different.
“This looks… like a cluster of burial mounds,” Go Yeonju said quietly, scanning the surroundings.
She was right. What we saw wasn’t dense trees or bushes, but a series of winding, sloping hills. They varied in size, but nothing else was visible, giving off an eerie vibe.
“Wow. Still, it’s nice. The view’s open, and no mountain peaks block the sight. It felt so cramped before.”
“Yeah, yeah. Maybe melee fighters don’t mind, but for priests and mages like us, climbing those mountains was tough,” Nam Daeun said, spreading her arms with a refreshing smile. Ansol quickly agreed.
I looked over the terrain and shook my head slowly.
“This isn’t exactly a safe area either. The visibility is better, but there are plenty of places to hide between the hills. We need to be even more cautious.”
The clan members quieted down immediately after my warning, their earlier excitement fading.
After surveying the hills, I turned to Seon Yuwon.
“Seon Yuwon, wait here. When the central unit comes down, relay exactly what I just said. Also, tell them we’ll be increasing our marching speed starting today.”
“Understood,” Seon Yuwon nodded calmly.
As we resumed the march, I fell into thought.
Since leaving the eastern fortress, we had crossed four mountain ranges. The area we had just entered was known as the Shadow of the Hills from the first expedition—a sort of front yard for the monsters attacking us now. If we could get through this area safely, we’d reach their stronghold.
Though we’d fought a few skirmishes with the monsters, it was hardly the main battle.
To be blunt, we’d only gotten a taste. The real fight would begin when we breached the stronghold and moved deeper to the inner sanctum where the monsters’ leader—the Father—slept. Defeating him would mark halfway through the conquest of the Steel Mountain Range.
“Hmm?”
Just then.
While I was deep in thought about the next strategy, I suddenly sensed a very faint magical presence.
We had reached the top of a hill and were starting to descend. I didn’t stop walking, only slowed my pace and glanced toward where the presence had been detected.
Sixty meters ahead. Nothing obvious. Just a tall hill casting a shadow in the sunlight.
But I trusted my magic detection. The monsters’ tentacles moved so smoothly and silently that they left almost no trace on the ground, but their movements still caused subtle vibrations.
Detecting them depended on how finely tuned the magic sensing was. Since their presence blended with the natural flow around us, I had to catch the slightest distortions—like noticing a shadow twitching briefly.
“Suhyun, what’s going on?” Go Yeonju whispered, pressing close to me. She seemed puzzled by the slower pace despite our plan to speed up.
I spoke quietly.
“Five… no, six.”
Go Yeonju’s eyes narrowed instantly.
“Where?”
“Two hills about fifty meters ahead. Four on the left… two on the right.”
“Okay, I know where. I have a good idea—leave it to me.”
“A good idea?”
She didn’t say more, but then her shadow split into multiple tendrils and surged forward. Seeing that, I immediately drew my Mukum and Ilwol Shin Sword.
The sharp clang of steel made the clan members flinch. Drawing my swords was a clear signal to begin.
After advancing about ten more meters—
“Now!”
Go Yeonju shouted sharply, raising both hands. Like fish caught on a line, six monsters shot up into the air from the two hills.
Their tentacles were tightly bound by dark shadows. Though they had hidden their bodies against the hills, they couldn’t escape Go Yeonju’s shadow.
They didn’t stay still for long.
—Kieeeeeeek!
—Kieeeeeeek!
The monsters screamed wildly, thrashing as if trying to break free.
I threw both swords into the air. The archers immediately drew their bows and fired at the airborne targets.
The swords and arrows pierced the monsters’ bodies precisely. Then dozens of shadows surged through the gaps, tearing the creatures apart. Their agonized screams echoed around us.
“Ah?”
But we didn’t kill them all. Only four were shredded beyond recognition. The other two, just before the arrows hit, tore off their tentacles trapped in the shadows and dropped back down.
They quickly disappeared between the hills. I swiftly activated magic detection again and caught two presences rapidly moving out of range.
“Don’t let them escape! Forty, forty-five, no—fifty meters ahead!”
Then—
“Terraemotus.”
With Helena’s voice, the ground ahead began to tremble violently. The shaking was so intense that the hills started to crumble.
As I felt the two fleeing presences become clearer on the detection, I silently cheered.
One of Han Soyoung’s countermeasures was to use earth magic whenever we encountered the monsters.
The creatures left almost no trace when moving with their tentacles and spines, but shaking the ground forced them to collide and reveal their presence.
With their movements now unmistakable, other users could detect them too.
“───. ───. ───. Dig in the ground!”
“───. ───. ───. Dig in the ground!”
As if confirming my thoughts, the mages finished their chants and cast the spell without hesitation.
Dig in the Ground. The most basic of basic magic—forcing the earth to part and create a pit.
But no matter how simple the spell, when dozens cast it simultaneously, the effect changes entirely. Just look ahead. Beyond the collapsed hill, the once-flat ground is being relentlessly gouged out, sinking deeper and deeper.
At first glance, it seems like random holes are appearing everywhere, but as the digging continues, it all merges into one massive pit. The monsters must be having the worst time right now. They’re barely able to keep their balance, and any attempt to move only causes the ground beneath them to be torn apart mercilessly.
Of course, it didn’t end there.
Piiiiiiiiing!
Dozens of arrows shot again, targeting the pit.
“Let divine punishment fall upon them!”
Then, Ansol’s cute voice rang in my ears.
Flash!
A few streaks of pure white lightning descended from the sky, striking fiercely inside the pit. Perfect…
“Let divine punishment fall! Let divine punishment fall! Let divine punishment fall! Let divine punishment fall!”
Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash!
Apparently, one strike wasn’t enough—Ansol unleashed the divine punishment spell four times in rapid succession.
Moments later, the two presences I’d sensed just before completely vanished, wiped out by the lightning.
I glanced over and saw Ansol, breathing hard, chest rising and falling.
“Good job.”
I praised her, and her face flushed bright red as she opened her eyes wide.
“Did I… do well?”
“Yeah. That was a great combo.”
“Wow, I got praised! Then, one more time!”
“…?”
“Let divine punishment fall!”
“…”
“Divine punishment…!”
“No. That’s enough now.”
They were already dead—why waste any more magic?
Anyway, Ansol finally stopped the spell. After a moment, someone quietly muttered a spell, and from the deep pit, sharp pillars of earth shot up, pushing the monsters’ bodies slowly to the surface.
The revealed corpses were riddled with arrows and still steaming white from the lightning strikes.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
I had to cut this off midway through writing. It’s taking more time than I expected. I’ll probably post another chapter today—should be up by morning. I’ll do my best to get it out quickly. :)