The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Tancreed, the Elder Dragon revered by the Rock Molar Tribe that lived in the Pointy Thorn Mountain.

She was one of Pandea's protectors and was the owner of the honorable nickname 'Earth Mother.' Anyone who looked at her scales, tail, wings, or majestic maw would be awestruck by her.

'No way… Why is Tancreed here…?'

Yet, for some reason, Tancreed was now imprisoned within the Crimson Prison and being pursued.

It was hard to find someone as strong as her, which made things even worse.

- Please! This… isn't something about helping me.

- What…?

- This might be about helping the world.

If the being trapped within the Crimson Prison was Tancreed, her words were shockingly close to the truth.

After all, wasn't protecting the guardian of Earth basically helping the world?

Jamad approached the Crimson Prison.

"Tancreed… have you come seeking for me…?"

Tantuinu interjected, "All of Mother's close-aids have been stained. I'm the sole survivor among her descendants."

"That can't be… Who would dare challenge Tancreed…?"

Grrr…

Tantuinu's eyes gleamed with sorrow.

"We slowly fell into despair. Mother grew feeble, and the invaders were strong. We… drifted, relying on the faintest hope. It was during that time… that Mother sensed your presence."

"What…?"

"She sensed your immense energy from the North and remembered you."

"…"

"Mother wanted to see you. She thought you might remember her—that there might still be hope."

"Th-that's…"

Seol fell into thought while listening to their story.

'This feels like…'

An old story often found in books. An old person nearing death seeking a connection from their past.

Although the details might vary, the overall sentiment conveyed was the same—yearning and melancholy.

'This is where the promise ends. If the guardian of Earth is in such danger, the best decision would be to step away, but…'

The success, failure, or difficulty of this task was now secondary. What Seol needed to consider first was… whether this was something that could be refused.

And, of course…

"Seol…"

Jamad turned to Seol.

"I knew it…"

Seol let out a deep sigh.

"Alright. I'll figure something out."

"Thank you, Brother…"

After hearing Seol’s response, Jamad turned back to the dragon. Tantuinu said words that stunned everyone.

"The one pursuing us is… Azanic."

"…"

"The Sky Dragon, Azanic."

Hearing the answer, Seol felt the weight on his heart grow heavier.

He was undoubtedly the only being with the power and motive to drive the Earth Dragon Tancreed into such a corner.

'Azanic… so you've survived. I wondered where you were hiding…'

Seol had faced Azanic before—no, the word faced didn’t suffice. The two had clashed in a grand, bloody battle so monumental that its legend still echoed as an oral tradition in the region.

The battle between the Winged Mountain's Owner and the Dragon Lord—Azanic, was one of the protagonists of that story.

'Anyway, it's now clear that taking on this task is like an act of suicide.'

Fighting the dragon without Tancreed's help was suicide.

Facing Azanic was a completely different matter from dealing with the East's Evil Dragon, Hwagmu.

Azanic's name was synonymous with death.

"What is it you want?"

Jamad asked the young dragon.

"What…?"

"Do you want to escape from him?"

"That's…"

Tantuinu hesitated.

Seol took note of her hesitation.

'So she's still hiding something. What could that be?'

She nodded.

When Jamad turned around to look at Seol, he nodded in return. With this, they resolved once again to commit themselves to the chase.

Crack…

Jamad watched Tantuinu shrink back into her fairy form, his eyes drifting to the Crimson Prison hanging around her neck.

The one he served was now asking for help, and the only ones who could help her were him and his companions.

Jamad's eyes were brimming with emotion. Seol approached him.

"We'll have to revise our plan."

"Do you think there's a way?"

Seol scratched his chin.

"We must go to the Underground Garden of the Forest of the Slumbering. And once we get there…"

"I don't know where that is."

"Really? Then…"

Seol turned to Jamad and said.

"You can just trust me and follow."

Grin…

Their trust in each other was absolute. No challenge could stand in their way.

"That's good to hear."

[You have obtained new information.]

[Sudden Adventure 'Dragon's Ally' is now active.]

[Adventure 33-(Special). 'Dragon's Ally'

Dragons—the most mysterious beings to ever walk this land.

One such dragon has sought your help. But who could become the ally of such a being?

Yes, it's you.

You have discovered that the one imprisoned within the Crimson Prison is Tancreed. You have also learned that her encounter with you was no coincidence. She had been seeking out your party all along.

Your goal is to divert the pursuers from seeking Tancreed, even if the plan seems a bit far-fetched.

Objective: Force the pursuer to abandon their chase.

Caution. This Adventure is very dangerous.

Caution. This Adventure can change at a moment’s notice.

Remaining Time「Unknown」]

* * *

Kwaak!

"Find them!"

"They're nearby! I'm sure of it!"

Unable to understand the orc’s language, Seol’s party climbed a tree to get a better view of the situation.

"Why not leave immediately? They've already begun their pursuit…"

As Tantuinu asked, Seol waved his hand dismissively.

"Just watch. There's something that's necessary."

"Hmm…"

It was only natural for Tantuinu to be baffled by Seol's composed demeanor despite the pursuers closing in.

After all, the first rule for evading a chase was to create as much distance as possible between oneself and the pursuers.

'It makes sense. After all, Tantuinu doesn't know this forest well.'

In contrast, Seol was quite knowledgeable about the Forest of the Slumbering.

When they had just arrived at this place, a message flashed before him.

[Intermediate Insight activates.]

[This is a dangerous tree.]

Along with that message, numerous options popped up.

[[While wandering in the Forest of the Slumbering, you've discovered a suspicious tree. Its trunk appears as hard as steel, and its subtle movements are ominous. What will you do?]

1. Leave the area and find another path.

2. Sprint past it quickly.

3. Throw a stone to investigate.

4. Climb the tree to cross over.

…]

Knowing how to deal with it, Seol climbed the tree and observed the scene below.

Soon, something interesting was bound to happen.

"Here! There are tracks here!'

"This way!"

"They couldn't have gone far! There's blood!"

The orcs were shouting excitedly, most likely due to having found the traces Seol had intentionally left behind.

'Alright. Let's get started.'

The Forest of the Slumbering was, quite literally, a living entity. Everything in this forest, which was brimming with an overwhelming vitality akin to a rainforest, was massive—the animals, insects, trees, and even the flowers.

They were all huge and had unique characteristics that made them dangerous. For example, the tree Seol’s group was on top of.

Thud…

"Ugh… Watch out! The roots on the ground…!"

A sturdy root tripped and orc mid-sprint. The orc thought he tripped over his own foot, but that wasn't the case.

"AGH!"

"UGH!"

The screams of orcs filled the air.

Seol smirked.

"What? What's happening?!"

"M-my ankle… Argh…"

There was a time when Seol roamed this forest freely, coming and going as if it were his own home.

Of course, back then, Seol had done it through a piece. But he knew what appearance the trees had and what he should watch out for when passing through them.

'If you woke up the Ankle Crusher, you have to face the consequences.'

The orcs were passing through the area where the Ankle Crushers naturally grew.

Due to them growing over a vast territory, as soon as Seol saw them, he climbed a tree and began leaping from branch to branch to move through the forest.

Setting foot in their domain resulted in broken ankles.

"Huh?"

"The vines are wrapping around us! Cut them while you move…"

Crack…

"KAKK!"

"AGH!"

"The vines… the vines… Mmph…"

The vines of the Ankle Crushers enveloped the orcs, made them fall, and then buried their bodies. The hunt turned out to be easier than expected.

'For now, at least…'

The orcs were shouting in their language.

"Mmph… P-Please… help me… Mmph."

"The vines are alive!"

"What?! Burn them!"

Tss…

They tried to set fire to the vines with torches, but unfortunately for them, the vines were saturated with moisture. All they did was produce a faint burning smell.

Kiiiiik—!

Instead of burning, they provoked the Ankle Crusher's wrath.

Whir!

"Cough…"

BOOM—!

It took less time to wipe out dozens of orcs than it would to finish a lunch.

"Alright. We've bought some time for now."

"Impressive. But wouldn't it have been quicker to use your strength?"

"I’m a bit worried about something, so I want to preserve as much energy as possible."

At Seol's response, Tantuinu closed her mouth.

Although her trust in Seol had grown slightly upon seeing the success that just took place, she still didn't fully trust him.

"Wait a moment."

"Is there something more?"

Tsss…

Seol slid down the trunk of the tree and descended to the ground.

Creak… Creak…

The orc's corpses wrapped around the Ankle Crusher's vines were now expelled from their clutches.

"How grotesque…"

The orcs had been drained of nutrients and reduced to mummified remains. Alongside their bodies, remnants that looked like sawdust were expelled.

Seol collected the materials inside a large sack, which soon grew taller than he was.

Curious, Jamad asked.

"What's that?"

"It's something dirty. It's like a byproduct of the Ankle Crusher's feeding process."

"Are you saying it's excrement…?"

"That's about right. Although it doesn't smell or seem particularly filthy, the process is similar."

Tantuinu asked while frowning.

"Why are you carrying something so revolting?"

Seol asked with a sly smile.

"Revolting as it might be, there are those who go crazy for stuff like this. That's why."

"…"

That was also why he chose to deal with the orc horde using the Ankle Crushers rather than his own strength.

'You never know what might happen… It's better to keep it handy.'

The most common mistake made by those fleeing from pursuit was the overconfidence that they could always evade their pursuers.

Seol was cautious against arrogance.

While there probably wouldn't be any major issues as long as Azanic didn't personally step in, one could never rule out the possibility of something unexpected happening.

'I hope I won't have to use it…'

After placing the sack away with his belongings, Seol heightened his senses.

Whir…

Fwoop…

Shadows rose from his cloak and scattered in all directions. These would become his eyes—they were his crows.

Caw!

Caw! Caw!

The crows dispersed throughout the Forest of the Slumbering.

The distance between them and their pursuers would increase again… as long as nothing much happened.