Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 442

Episode 442: Golden Anvil (2)

Golden Anvil, Ugumar.

The name of the dwarf who was the clan leader of the Black Volcano and left his mark on history was mentioned.

Geraldine's eyes were focused on the air, his lips quivering as he thought back to the distant past.

“I have never seen the Golden Anvil. That is because the black volcano had already turned into cold land before I was born. But… I knew who he was, as if it was an epiphany.”

As he slowly died, his life slowly being taken away, a strange will intervened within Geraldine. It was something that had been passed down from the roots.

Someone's thoughts echoing in my head───Golden Moru's thoughts.

For a moment I thought it was a hallucination, but it was real.

As I looked through the gap in the tree roots that were entangling my entire body, the dwarf, who had been relatively free-speaking, suddenly shouted, 'Golden Anvil!!'

Consistency between situation and action.

That could never have been a coincidence.

“That strange phenomenon didn’t last long. Maybe three minutes at most? Even so, we learned a lot… Ah, I shouldn’t express it like that. To be exact, we learned about the strange tree that had taken over the citadel. That’s when I heard the name Soul Tree.”

Habits of the Soul Tree.

Soul Tree's weakness.

The scope of the Soul Tree’s realm, etc… … .

The Golden Anvil whispered detailed information about the giant aberrant creature to the rearguard, including Geraldine, who was being held captive by the Soul Tree.

Verden asked.

“Was there any other conversation?”

“Not at all. We couldn’t ask anything back and just listened unilaterally. It wasn’t even a conversation.”

Geraldine drank the drink in his glass in one gulp.

When I'm having a long story like this, alcohol is the best to moisten my throat.

The more toxic it is, the better.

“Then, as if the Golden Anvil had said everything it wanted to say, the bonds suddenly loosened. I couldn’t hear the whispers, but I couldn’t help but understand their meaning. As if we had made a promise, we immediately ran away. Towards the path that the Golden Anvil had shown us, leading outside the Soul Tree’s territory… It was truly intense.”

We managed to escape the area where the Soul Tree main body was located safely, but we were soon pursued.

Those horrible white eyes.

They were recreating the appearances of the Black Volcano Clan members, the 1st Search Party members, and the 2nd Search Party members that the Soul Tree had absorbed, and they were wielding weapons made by the dwarves and spitting out evil sounds.

“Many died.”

Geraldine said calmly.

“There really were a lot of deaths.”

Heads were blown off and limbs were severed by bolts raining down from behind. More than a few dwarves were crushed by artillery fire from some of the broken siege equipment.

It would have been better if he had died instantly.

At least he would have died without feeling much pain.

The dwarf who had a little bit of breathing left his last scream as he was hammered by those who were no better than corpses.

In the midst of such a horrific sight, Geraldine ran and ran, using all his might to climb upward.

Eventually, I reached the area that was presumed to be the entrance to the old fortress. Only after I completely left the Soul Tree's area of influence did I see myself and my surroundings.

Forearm pierced by a bolt.

A body covered in blood and dust… … .

The surviving rear search party consisted of only four people, including Geraldine.

At first, I was over thirty.

“Even if I survived, it wasn’t really life. I somehow managed to survive, but there was no way to treat my injuries. Above all, I had nothing to eat… At best, I could only last four days. But as it turned out, not all the dwarves were dead.”

While wandering around an area where the Soul Tree could not exert its influence, Geraldine and his party, who were on the verge of collapse, found their kin.

Survivors of the Black Volcano Clan, the 1st and 2nd Search Parties.

There were hundreds of them, surviving the cold with the help of a few magical items.

Geraldine pounded the floor of the village.

“Yes, that’s where we met. I heard that he didn’t come here with the help of the Golden Anvil like us, but rather by chance. He was looking for a place to live.”

Dwarf survivability.

“That was the beginning of the village.”

Although they escaped the clutches of the Soul Tree, it wasn't just the enemies. The alien species that occasionally wandered through the darkness without any realm of their own were also a big threat.

Also, there was no way out of this prison-like abyss.

So the surviving dwarves made this relatively safe place their base.

Armed with what weapons they had left, they scraped together as much debris as possible while conserving supplies to build walls and buildings.

They created and maintained soil with magical items, and planted and grew vegetables.

After forming a village, one village chief was chosen and given the role of clan leader.

It was intense.

The selfishness of the dwarves also caused internal division.

One village chief led his troops into an attack on the Soul Tree, but ended up losing not only his life but also valuable siege equipment.

Dozens of dwarves were placed in a tomb as payment for killing a large alien species that had attacked the village.

Eventually, the number of villagers dropped below 100, or even close to half that number.

“It was literally on the verge of destruction. Then, the village chief position came to me. I was probably around 54 years old at the time. I didn’t have much confidence… but there was no one else but me.”

Geraldine recalled the eyes of the dwarves who had been looking at him at that time.

“Yes, it was just me. And I decided not to do anything big like the other village chiefs, but to focus on just one thing. Just surviving. Making sure people survive.”

I'm going to get through today somehow… I'm determined.

The village has now become stable.

Even if I can't eat my fill or eat delicious food, I can still see tomorrow.

Geraldine laughed.

“That’s how we survived.”

Even after more than 200 years, Geraldine was still the village chief.

* * *

“Well, that’s what happened.”

Geraldine finished his story by gulping down his drink.

A heavy silence descended on the bustling background of the well-fed dwarves huddled together everywhere.

Linus indirectly experienced the passage of time, and Gharun slowly pondered the life Geraldine had lived.

Alpha, who was hiding due to the function of the mini golem, stared at Geraldine with interest.

And Verden was thinking about something more realistic.

'The Golden Anvil freed Geraldine.'

Does that mean that the Black Volcano Clan Leader arbitrarily forced Soul Tree to act?

However, it seems that there are limits to the power of the Soul Tree, as the white eyes chased after Geraldine and her party while the tree roots were immobilized.

Although there isn't much information to go by… … it seems obvious that there is something between the Soul Tree and the Golden Anvil, which are separate from the world.

There can be no coincidence here.

Geraldine hiccupped as he began to feel slightly tipsy.

“Ah! Now that I think about it, I forgot the most important thing. Little brother, what brings you here all of a sudden? From what I heard earlier, it doesn’t seem like you were sent by the clan.”

“Huh, what about the clan now? They should have given up a long time ago, and they consider the Black Volcano a cursed land and don’t even look in that direction.”

Gharun wrinkled his nose.

“We came to the Black Volcano because of the facility. There’s something special that needs to be built.”

“Facilities? What about the one in the red volcano?”

“The clan leader doesn’t give permission.”

“How many major accidents have I caused before you allow me to do so? If I were the clan leader, instead of imprisoning me, I would just beat you up…….”

Kwak.

As the master clenched his fist fiercely, the disciple quickly shut his mouth.

“Hahaha! That Harun was exceptionally stubborn since he was little. He was so strong that he even beat up his older brother.”

Geraldine touched his jaw where he had been hit by Gharun earlier. The swelling had gone down thanks to the potion, but it still stung.

It was a welcome pain.

“But it’s a facility. I’m sorry to say this, but it’s better to give up.”

“Why?”

“The Black Volcano Clan’s facility is within the Soul Tree’s territory. It’s right behind the citadel where the bastard’s main body is. If you enter, you’ll die.”

Before becoming the village chief, Geraldine wanted to subjugate the Soul Tree in accordance with the village chief's decision to escape the Abyss.

I knew his weakness.

And more than anything, it was because there was a need to make contact with the Golden Anvil again.

We must find out what happened to the Black Volcano.

This was the search party's job.

The testimony of a Black Volcano Clan member who survived until the end, that 'Golden Anvil was making something in the facility when the collapse began', became the biggest basis for action.

In the end, he was defeated by the legion of white-eyed people.

“Of course, the current Soul Tree is weaker than before due to lack of nutrients… but subjugation is absolutely impossible. No matter how strong you are, Gharun.”

“I know.”

Although Gharun's strength is formidable, it is difficult for him to deal with special entities alone. After all, he was a blacksmith, not a warrior.

Aside from his pride, it was also something he acknowledged.

In particular, the giant hammer, Marquabro, was not a good match for the vast roots of the Soul Tree that rippled like waves.

“To deal with him, we’d need to bring in at least the clan’s legions… and just moving the massive siege weapon underground would take years at the very least. Assuming the clan leader agrees without hesitation.”

In other words, it is impossible.

Geraldine asserted that it would be less damaging and perhaps even faster to wait for the Soul Tree to die on its own.

But this common-sense judgment wasn't even worth considering here.

“Huh, could it be that we came to the bottom of the underground without any proper countermeasures?”

"what?"

“There is a transcendent being here.”

Gharun pointed to Verden.

Although it was treated as a desperate measure, it was by no means wrong.

Geraldine blinked.

“Transcendent? What is that?”

You will find out from now on.

* * *

Verden set two goals:

One, do not destroy the citadel.

Second, secure the main body of the Soul Tree without any damage.

The former is to prevent any damage to the facility… … and the latter is because of Ugumar, known as the Golden Anvil.

Because maybe he's still alive.

'Of course, the possibility is low.'

The soul tree is fully grown.

By the standards of the Adventurer's Guild, it is as dangerous as a special entity. It would not be easy to survive 300 years inside such a monster.

However, that does not mean that Ogumar's survival can be completely ruled out.

Well, just check and you'll see.

… … .

Verden moved.

Even though we had already left the dwarven village and entered deep underground, there was no attack like when we met Marmal.

Finally, Verden reached the floor where the fortress' citadel was and stopped walking.

“They were all crowded here.”

Aaaa …

Near the entrance, where there are many obstacles, thousands of dwarves stand in a disorderly and irregular line, their white eyes dazzling.

They were all equipped as a legion with crossbows, hammers, axes, and siege and water weapons.

In addition, there are heterogeneous species that were used as nutrients here and there.

Kukukukukuku… … !

Behind it, giant tree roots wiggle like tentacles.

Power to ward off intruders.

I feel many emotions through him.

Fear, dread, anticipation.

The hungry Soul Tree was wary of Verden while also viewing him as prey.

They instinctively felt that if they used him as a nutrient, not only would their hunger be satisfied, they would not need food for a long time.

It's not the same.

Verden felt no danger from the Soul Tree, nor did he think he would.

You can call me arrogant.

Arrogance is a sin permitted to a transcendent being of great power.

Hwaaaaaaaah!

Activate the magical circuits of the entire body.

The blue magic overflows outward, surging and blooming like flames.

The Soul Tree legions screamed at the sight of such a Verden and activated their siege weapons.

Verden's magic and the dwarven technology from 300 years ago.

The two collided.