Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

[Failure Penalty: Common Quest: If you beat the grass, the snake will emerge]

The ‘Forest of the World Tree’, which was preventing the exchange of magical energy, was trampled by Toon’s massive power. Now, magic would spread unimpeded across the New Continent Erika, north, south, east, and west.

The Demon King’s Army were becoming even more energized by this news from across the sea.

[The Forest of the World Tree has become extinct across the entire Old Continent Lope, and New Continent Erika.]

[The seeds of the World Tree are preparing to sprout somewhere in the Old Continent Lope.]

[All races born from the demonic land of the New Continent Erika have become 30% stronger.]

[All monsters on the Old Continent Lope have become 25% stronger.]

[There is no change in the experience and rewards gained by killing monsters.]

Clearly, Toon, the second heart of Bluebeard Le, is following some sort of directive from Le. To maximize the effectiveness of Toon’s ‘Soul Gathering’ ability, he is trying to awaken his minions.

If Toon’s march is not properly stopped, every architectural civilization on the New Continent will be destroyed. The Paleos, too, are losing sleep at the news of Toon’s resurrection.

[At a certain probability, monster waves are approaching the ‘Four-nation Jointly Managed Village’ on the New Continent Erika.]

[All Paleos in the New Continent Erika, who have no existing affinity, are hostile towards players.]

[Depending on affinity and common reputation values in the New Continent Erika, the attitudes of the Paleos will differ.]

[If you approach a Paleo settlement without holding any affinity or common reputation in the New Continent Erika, you will be attacked.]

Meanwhile, the health of the Pope who had been directing all of these operations has worsened. Every human who believes in the main god Ahlo spends day and night praying for the Pope’s speedy recovery.

However, in contrast to their good intentions, there are also people within the papacy who see this as an opportunity.

[The influence of the Ezwen Church on other countries has weakened.]

[Communication with the NPCs inside the papacy and with other players has become difficult.]

“Damn… what is this? What’s – ” Kijung had heard of the basic circumstances. Monsters getting stronger, the possibility of the New Continent’s kingdoms being in danger.

That was enough for Leeha to easily anticipate and calmly accept with a nod.

Leeha: Kijung! Why is the penalty so big?

Kijung: That’s what I told you.

Leeha: You summarized all of this in just two lines?

Kijung: I can’t remember it all, how am I supposed to tell you all of it. At any rate, how’s Donghwa’s situation?

Leeha: Ah…

Leeha exhales a sigh and then has a brief conversation with Kijung. Of course, he conveniently omitted any parts pertaining to Ram Hwayeon.

After ending the whispering conversation, Leeha went through the notification window meticulously.

While several things were within his expectations, others were beyond his wildest imagination.

‘I expected monsters to get stronger. After all, it’s a penalty, and of course, they wouldn’t provide more experience. But the Paleos…’

Although it is not clearly stated, it was clear that the Paleos consider Toon’s rise to power is the humans’ fault for coming to the New Continent.

[Eventually, this penalty alone strengthens the forces of the Demon King faction. In addition, the Pope’s health is deteriorating.]

This was one more headache.

‘Now, getting quests from there and carrying them out will also become difficult.’

This was a big setback for Leeha’s plan to stick to the papacy to extract the “Argos’ Eye”.

Of course, it wasn’t just that.

Until now, the Ezwen Papacy had been leading the plans to capture the fragments of the Demon King on the New Continent. What does another penalty mean that weakens the influence that the papacy has on other countries?

‘If only the Pope would take his eyes off the New Continent for a moment…’

The thing that Leeha had been worried about was going to happen.

Now, the power struggle is only happening within Juma Village, but if the Pope can no longer interfere, uninformed aristocrats and politicians of the old continent, who still aren’t aware of the situation of the New Continent, might start reckless developments and looting within the crucial areas of the New Continent in order to secure some land.

“What a seriously crazy quest.” Leeha let out another sigh and closed the hologram window.

A curtain falls and the world changing dramatically is a natural occurrence. What’s important right now isn’t to worry about things that cannot be intervened at this moment.

Blaugrunn-ssi, can you come here for a second?

Shwaaaah…!

A turquoise light flashed beside Leeha. Blaugrunn immediately responded to Leeha’s call.

“Yes. What can I do fot you?”

“Actually, I’m thinking about using a growth stimulant now.”

“Lord said that I couldn’t use-“

“No, I’m not going to use it on you, Blaugrunn-ssi. But I think I’d be at ease if you’re by my side.”

Blaugrunn, who was making a face as if saying, ‘Don’t make me repeat myself’, suddenly puffed out his chest and shoulders, proudly.

“Finally, Leeha-ssi, you’ve recognized my worth. I thought you would realize it sooner since you’re an intelligent person.”

“Haha, you have quite a knack for humor. What’s with that pose, like someone who’s been to the gym for three days.”

“Gym?”

Leeha simply laughed at Blaugrunn’s question.

The place where he re-logged in was still near the north gate of Gaza City, near the shelter where the seed of the World Tree was planted.

In a place where there were very few users around, Leeha took out the growth stimulant.

“Step back. I need to call the one who’s going to ingest this.”

Just from Leeha’s simple statements – stepping back and calling soneone who’s going to eat – Blaugrunn figured out what Leeha intended to use the growth stimulant on.

“…Leeha-ssi, you couldn’t possibly be planning to give it to- that arrogant bear cub-”

“[Soul Link]”

And he cast the skill. A red light exploded.

“Kroo-“

“Shh, shh! Be quiet, Koma!”

“-ong.”

The cub, which had just materialized in the present world, wanted to roar with all it had. However, it had no choice but to suppress its breath due to Leeha’s warning.

“Grrrhh.”

“Are you really going to give that precious growth stimulant to this uncouth beast?”

As soon as Koma, who was filled with air, had a cheap shot, Blaugrunn made a disgruntled face. In any case, Koma could only smile as it approached him.

“Krowww, krowww- Krong!”

“Hey, get your paw off me, you beast! Do you even know who I am?”

“Krong? Krowwwww.”

Blaugrunn slapped Koma’s paw away, but it remained unmoved. The cub found Blaugrunn’s frustrated expression rather endearing, and just kept looking at him.

“Little one.”

“Krung?”

“I’m not sure what will happen after you consume this – but you certainly won’t die. Drink up.”

“Kro, Kron? Kron!”

You won’t die, but you’re not sure what will happen? The cub shut its mouth tight at the sound of that. But it was hopeless against Leeha, who was already gleefully approaching him.

“Krooo- Krowww-!”

“Drink this, you fool! This is extremely precious! Ugh, ugh-”

“Kron, kron-”

As Leeha and Koma wrestled over it for a moment, Blaugrunn who was sighing at the side, intervened.

“Oh, well. Calling me was an excellent decision after all. [Power Hold].”

“Kro, Krow?! Kr?”

“Phew. Why does a damn bear have such strength? Thank you, Blaugrunn-ssi.”

If a field boss ‘Fire Bear’ does not have strength, who would?Leeha did what needed to be done. While the helpless child was frozen, he forced a growth stimulant into its mouth.

“Now, swallow it. Swallow!”

“Grrr- Grrrrrr!”

The child struggled with all its might, but it couldn’t resist Blaugrunn’s magic.

Immobile, the growth stimulant trickled into Koma’s mouth. It was impossible not to swallow it.

Instinctively, the bear’s throat accepted the food.

“Done, it ate. Blaugrunn-ssid! Quick, come over here!”

Leeha hastily distanced himself from Koma. But Blaugrunn glanced back at Leeha with a lethargic expression.

“It’s the Power Hold anyway. It’s different from a general Hold. To break this magic without a Dispel-“

“…Ch, change.”

“-at least a dozen ogres combined strength is required- What?”

Grrrrr- Grrrrr.

Even Blaugrunn was momentarily surprised by Koma’s groaning. Leeha looked at Koma with worried eyes.

He remembered the reaction when Blaugrunn had taken the growth stimulant.

‘Did something go wrong because it was half-dose? When Blaugrunn took it, he just popped and changed… That wasn’t such a painful scene! ‘

The child’s body seemed to shudder with convulsions. The fur of the massive bear shone intermittently.

“Oh… The combined strength of a dozen ogres is needed-“

The Power Hold was crumbling, making a grinding noise.

The child’s convulsing muscles were slowly but surely moving.

“Uh, something’s wrong. Blaugrunn-ssid! Do you have Heal?”

“Of course, I have a Heal but- this doesn’t seem like a situation that can be resolved with Heal?”

“Then that- Hold? Try to release that magic! I can’t just watch Koma in so much pain- Ugh!”

Whooosh—————–

Suddenly, Koma was engulfed in flames.

The Power Hold was completely shattered, and Koma, now free, took a deep breath and roared.

It was very much like the roar of a Toon.

Even Leeha was startled by the unusual flaming roar.

“Fi, fire- the fire is changing! The color of the fire is changing!”

But what was surprising was what happened next. The blaze that was burning red gradually began to change. The spreading red turned from orange to yellow, through white to ultimately a pure white radiance.

‘I remember! The flame magic used by Bailephus ‘

Leeha remembered the flame magic whose destructive power changed according to the temperature of the burning flame.

But his surprise didn’t end there.

The light that was so bright he had to turn his head away had gradually taken on a different color.

“It’s hot! ‘Resist Fire’!” By that time, even Blaugrunn had to retreat, casting a fire resistance spell on himself and Leeha.

Leeha was watching the light that dyed the floor blue.

Bailephus who used the white flame.

‘And the one that used a stronger flame magic…

Who was that being that used an even stronger flame magic than Bailephus? The flame resistance barrier created by Blaugrunn’s magic began to sizzle.

‘Kuzgunak’shi.’

It was a juvenile’s body, but it was Blaugrunn with the power of an adult. His fire resistance magic was able to melt the intense heat in an instant!

The flame that began to turn blue was now emitting a complete blue light. It was stable and a flickering blue light.