The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Seol curled his fist as Karuna's body blazed up in moonlight.

'Somehow… I was able to come all the way here.'

There were many ways of tackling 'The 5 Good Brothers' Adventure and Seol picked the most difficult one out of them.

And that was to make the 5 brothers fight each other by putting a wedge between them.

Even though it was a clear goal to work toward, the conditions were quite strict.

1. Use the exiled, or another strategy, to cause chaos in the village.

2. Make the 5 brothers suspicious of each other by messing with the Rock Fists.

3. Confirm that the strongest of the 5 brothers took the Rock Fists.

4. When the oldest chief is blamed for it, kill one of the 5 brothers. (Make sure you consider which curse you'll receive before you kill them. To fulfill the requirements, don't kill the 2nd oldest brother.)

5. Now if you just wait, the 2nd oldest brother will convince the 3rd oldest brother to revolt against the oldest brother. (Even though the exact names might change, the 2nd oldest will always be in a competition with the oldest. Because of that, this will be a fixed event. A special point of note here is that if the oldest doesn't have the Rock Fists, the oldest will lose to his brothers.)

6. Confirm that the oldest brother won. (The reason that the oldest needs to win, and not the three brothers, is because he becomes easy to face once he's afflicted with all of the 'grudge' curses.)

7. When the oldest is afflicted with all of the curses, defeat him.

All of this is what Seol has been working on since midnight.

'It was so fucking rough…'

He never expected all of his party members to have died.

But, he came all this way because he could aim for the best possible reward from the Adventure.

It was finally time for him to reap his rewards.

The strategy he created to beat 'The 5 Good Brothers' Adventure only had 7 steps and he was in the middle of it.

'Still, there's one final hurdle.'

Defeat Jamad.

The important point here was that the oldest troll was extremely powerful when they had the Rock Fists. To the point that hunting it in a party was a necessity.

Furthermore, Jamad was powerful enough for even Mael to warn him.

In 'The 5 Good Brothers', because the specific trolls changed each time, the strength of the oldest troll also changed how difficult this strategy was.

Jamad was probably strong beyond all logic.

Seol couldn't help but curl his hand into a fist.

'That's why I'm using the curses to do the best I can. I hope it all goes according to plan…"

Seol stopped thinking.

He solely focused on combat.

Jamad and Karuna collided.

BOOOOOOOM!

"Kuaaaargh!"

"......"

Karuna, who was in the Half Moon state, took a proper attack from Jamad.

BOOOOOM!

Fssss…

Karuna was pushed back a few steps but there weren't any other injuries.

'If it's this much…'

It was evidence that Karuna could face Jamad and it also meant that Seol could leave it to Karuna to take care of him.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

Even though it shook up the entire village every time the two collided, the villagers were too engulfed in madness to go to the conference room.

'Since they didn't even approach the conference hall when the brothers were fighting each other, I can fight without worrying about more trolls joining.'

This was part of the reason that Seol chose the moment right after Jamad defeated his brothers as his timing to strike.

Jamad was isolated on the top floor with Seol.

"How dare you aim for Rock Molar! I will feed your corpses to the dogs!"

RUMBLE RUMBLE!

Jamad primarily made direct, primitive attacks.

A part of the reason was clearly because he was exhausted from the grudge curses and needed time to recover his shaman powers, but the primary reason was simply because that was enough to be on an equal level with Karuna.

CLAAANG!

CLANG!

'Damn it… The 'Shadow Summon' penalty is painful.'

Karuna wasn't weaker than Jamad.

Seol thought that Jamad without the Rock Fists would've been on the same power level as Karuna without the penalties.

The problem was that because Seol's Shadow Summon was low-ranked, Karuna was limited to 20% of his original strength. And that was just barely enough to fight on equal footing with Jamad who had been afflicted with all of the grudge curses.

'It's not like I don't have a way to overturn this situation, but… the timing…'

Jamad seemed to have figured out Karuna's power level and started attacking more aggressively.

[Jamad has changed to the Earthquake Stance.]

Rumble Rumble Rumble!

Jamad, luckily, successfully casted his shamanic spell and radiated immense energy from his body.

"Did you think you would be able to take over the mountains with only that much strength?!"

Jamad's 'Earthquake Stance' was a skill that constantly shook the earth by continuously expending his shamanic energy.

It was a skill that Jamad used when he was below a certain percentage of HP.

Fwoooosh!

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

Karuna was just barely able to avoid Jamad's fists.

Jamad continued his attack as if he wanted to destroy Karuna's Moonlight Sword.

Clang!

Rumble!

Clang!

Rumble!

It looked like Karuna was having a hard time handling Jamad because of the tremors.

"Jamad is the mountain! Everything shall be put under my feet!"

RUUUUUMBLEEE!

Karuna got pushed back again while trying to protect Seol.

Karuna was unable to defeat Jamad in his Half Moon Stage.

'It's strange. He should've been heavily damaged from the Rock Fists' recoil by now…'

This was something that Seol had confirmed through multiple playthroughs alone.

The fact that Karuna in his Half Moon Stage was getting pushed back by Jamad was something that went against Seol's calculations and experience.

'Was there a problem? Did I miss somethin—'

Seol replayed the past events of this Adventure in his head but nothing came up.

This meant that it was more likely the problem wasn't something that Seol did previously, but something that's happening right now.

FWOOOOOOSH!

There was only one difference between now and his previous playthroughs.

Jamad himself.

Seol had faced countless 'oldest trolls' but this was the first time he was facing Jamad.

Jamad's Rock Fists let out another roar.

And after that, Jamad smashed the earth with his gauntlets.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

"Krgh… Karuna!"

Claaaang!

Clang!

Karuna deflected every last shard of rock aimed at Seol. His sword let out a cry with each hit, it was clear that there was tremendous force behind each rock.

'Wait, the Rock Fists…'

Seol quickly noticed that something was off about them.

The Rock Fists should've expended all of its energy and begun recharging by now.

But, it was continuously firing off shamanic spells.

"Power! My body is overflowing with power!"

And he clearly was.

The Rock Fist weren't hurting Jamad with the recoil, it was empowering him instead.

'How… How could this be…'

There is always a certain percentage of something happening.

The World of Eternity was a world that was especially sensitive to that phenomenon.

Even Seol, who was unable to obtain the Moon's Seed in his 17 years of play, was finally able to acquire the item after entering the world himself.

Percentages was the cruel mistress which tripped up every player.

'The Rock Fists… evolved into the Mountain Fists.'

There was something like that in the guidebook as well.

- Outline: Mountain Fists

[The Rock Fists evolve into the Mountain Fists when it's filled with energy from the land. There are no other precise records left about this item.]

It was a little easter egg that allowed the Rock Fists to evolve into the Mountain Fists after absorbing power from the earth.

This easter egg had never been triggered in Seol's 17 years of gameplay. Unfortunately, it was happening now.

"I guess some people are always bound to get unlucky…"

"I will flatten you, intruder!"

RUMBLE RUMBLE!

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

What Jamad had now was the awakened Rock Fists, the Mountain Fists.

Seol only realized that something was off when it was already too late.

'Should I run away? No, do I even have an option left to choose?'

Seol's greatest weapon was undoubtedly his experience.

But right now, his experience was obsolete.

RUUUUMBLE!

RUMBLE!

"I will destroy you and crush you!"

Jamad was viciously pushing Seol to his death like he didn't mind the grudge curses and the divine relic's recoil at all.

Seol's eyes went blank from the fear of death.

"Karuna! It's dangerou—" muttered Seol.

RUUUUUUUUUMBLE!

BOOOOM!

Jamad's attack sent both Seol and Karuna flying.

"Krgh……"

As Seol hit his head against the wall with immense force, his vision went black.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Five players watched the board and Seol was one of them.

The situation in the game was dire.

"Snowman, let's run away."

"Yeah… We should run away even if it isn't all of us. We can't clear this. Let's give up a few pieces and try to save the pieces that we can save."

"......"

Seol recalled the past.

He didn't remember exactly how old he was when it happened but it was definitely when he was young.

It was a time before Snowman had become a legend.

Because of his party members' mistake, they were in danger. He, as the leader, had to decide what to do.

'What was I thinking back then? Ah! I remember…'

He felt bad for the pieces.

He felt way too sorry to let those pieces die like that.

The pieces worked so hard to reach all this way.

That young, tender-hearted child probably thought something like that.

"Snowman…"

"We're not running away."

"Why? We can't clear this! All we have to do is just let a few pieces di—"

"It's not just a 'few pieces'. We all worked so hard to come all this way…"

"We're alrigh—"

"I wasn't talking about us. I wasn't talking about the players."

"...Then who?"

"The game pieces. They worked so hard to come all this way, I won't let them die in vain like this."

"......Haah. Just for a few pieces?"

"...How reckless."

Snowman was reckless.

But, every single player who had played a game with Snowman always wanted to play with him again. Snowman always made the right calls and he didn't waste the pieces.

He played as if the game pieces were actual living beings in that world.

"...Can you do it?"

"There's… still a way."

Snowman had a strategy that couldn't exactly be called one.

Dangers will always come. To anyone, anytime, anywhere, without reason.

Then which pieces are the first to die in those situations?

'The pieces that don't fight. The pieces that run away…'

You couldn't win because you didn't fight. You couldn't win because you ran away.

The reason that Snowman's pieces were always able to show miracles was because they always faced the dangers head-on.

"Damn it, fine! Can you save us, please?"

"Snowman, please!"

"Fuck… I'll fight too, Snowman!"

A goddess who wore a mask with a spear and shield on it spoke to SNowman.

"Then, please select an option, Snowman."

"Option 3. I swing the sword and aim for Jyur, the giant's ankles."

"I wonder… Will Snowman's sword swing be able to save his comrades? I suspect there's a low chance of it happening, but…"

Roll.

The dice rolled on the table.

And like always fate, disguised as percentages, brought an answer.

"We shall roll the die. I pray that a miracle may occur to you."

Before Snowman could see the results of the roll, he returned to reality.

* * *

CLAAAAAAAAANG!

"Krgh… K-Karuna…"

"......"

Karuna had done an excellent job protecting Seol while he was unconscious.

But, Karuna was filled with holes. It was clear that Karuna barely managed to scrape by dangerous situations.

"I'll finish you now…"

Jamad was only getting stronger.

Even though Seol thought it would've been an easy finish, the situation was just getting more dire as the time passed.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

[Jamad prepares a landslide.]

'Avalanche!'

It was a shamanic spell which required Jamad to expend the last of his energy.

It was clear that Seol would die if he got caught up in it.

Pause.

Seol forcibly stopped himself from running away.

He then calmly, coolly concentrated.

'The total damage from Avalanche in Earthquake stance is… It's been about… 5 minutes since Karuna entered his Half Moon Stage…'

Seol would inevitably die if he stopped thinking.

'Damn it, how much time passed while I was knocked out? I need to know that to…'

And just then, Seol finally received the welcoming message he had been waiting for.

Fssssss!

Glooooow!

[Karuna has entered the 3rd Stage of Soaring Moonlight, Full Moon.]

Karuna's armor shone brilliantly with the moonlight. He looked exactly like how he looked in the Forgotten Moon Ruins.

"That's it!"

RUUUUMBLE!

Jamad's Avalanche was about to be cast.

The Pointy Mountains trembled violently.

"Watch this! This is the mountains!"

[Jamad uses Avalanche.]

"Karuna!"

Karuna pointed his sword toward the sky and gathered the moonlight.

His armor radiated even brighter, sending light in all directions.

'It's not enough. We're going to be swept away by the avalanche!'

Seol had to fill up that gap.

Jamad mocked their efforts.

"KAHAHAHAHA! Tremble before Tancreed's power!!!"

Seol quickly used the skill he had been saving for an unexpected crisis.

"I still haven't lost yet…!"

FWOOOOSH!

Seol's body radiated a cool energy.

[Snowman used the volatile skill Moon's Stage.]

[The curtains of Moon's Stage lift.]

[The protagonist is being chosen.]

Glooooooow…

A giant ray of moonlight focused on the tallest peak of the Pointy Mountains as if it wanted to burn it.

And the person who shone most brightly under that ray was obviously Karuna.

Flash!

[Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, is the protagonist.]

[While moonlight shines, all of Karuna's stats will increase by 50%.]

[Everyone who is not the protagonist descends from the stage.]

[While moonlight shines, all stats of characters other than Karuna will decrease by 20%.]

Seol, who was a supporting character here, could feel his strength siphon away from his body.

Jamad, who was another supporting character, was shocked from the sensation of rapidly losing his strength. He quickly finished his cast.

"What?!"

'With this, we can beat avalanche!'

Seol gave a beaming smile after finishing his calculations.

"Don't lose, Karuna!"

[Karuna uses Full Moon Slash.]

[Your stats are sufficient. Full Moon Slash has improved to the complete Moonlight Slash.]

Karuna quietly murmured to himself while drawing a path with his sword.

"The moon shines radiantly in the sky… be humbled by it…"

Karuna's Moonlight Sword glowed brilliantly.

His quiet voice rang throughout the peak like a roar.

"Now, I will carry out my will."

FWOOOOOOOOOOSH!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A radiant light swept through the Pointy Mountains' peak. It was a dazzling light that could be seen through all of the shards of rock.

RUUUUUMBLE!

RUUUUMBLE!

What if my calculations were off?

Avalanche, Earthquake Stance, and even the Mountain Fists…

Were my calculations correct?

But it was too late for Seol to regret it now. He had already chosen his option and the die had been rolled.

'Please… Please…'

"GUAAAAAAARGH!"

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

BOOOOOOOM!

It was a massive explosion.

Karuna was powerful, but so was Jamad.

The entire mountain violently quaked.

Even the land that Seol was standing on was shaking.

The tremors and dust continued to build up for close to 30 seconds.

Avalanche's bonus effect 'Aftershock' was happening.

Rumble Rumble Rumble!

What are the results?

Seol waited for the dust to settle.

Woosh.

And after a few moments, he could finally see the battlefield.