Chapter 82

"Indomitable Will?"

-Of all things...

Ras's voice was tinged with annoyance. It seemed he didn't like the characteristic of Indomitable Will.

'So, it must be a good characteristic, then?'

If Ras disliked it, it had to be a good characteristic. Laon summoned his status window with anticipation.

<Status Window>

Name: Laon Zighardt.

Title: <The Unyielding One>.

Condition: Frost Curse (Five Strands).

Characteristics: Anger, Flame Link (4-star), Water Attribute Resistance (4-star), Snow Sensation (3-star), Full Power (3-star), Frost Cold (3-star), Fire Attribute Resistance (3-star), Bleeding Curse (1-star), Ambush (1-star), Indomitable Will (1-star).

Strength: 62.

Agility: 63.

Stamina: 56.

Spirit: 47.

Senses: 66.

Anger: 10.

After confirming that his stats had increased thanks to the reward, Laon examined the new characteristic, <Indomitable Will>.

<Indomitable Will>

When suffering severe physical or mental shock, temporarily boosts mental strength to reduce pain.

As soon as he read the description, a sigh of relief escaped his lips. With this characteristic, he could endure Ras's anger as before.

"Luck is on my side."

-It's not luck, but the superior ability of the system I created.

Ras gritted his teeth as he glared at the message.

'Too well-made, it seems.'

When he first created the system, he designed it so that the most needed abilities would be generated first.

The characteristic generation conditions of the system also applied to Laon, resulting in the creation of the most needed Indomitable Will.

-Tsk.

His annoyance flared up.

'I thought I could finally exploit him...'

Laon had accepted the emotion of anger, and now he had a blade that could cut through the monster. But because of this characteristic, he was back to square one.

'Hmm...'

Ras calmed his boiling emotions. Provoking him to anger and boosting the monster's stats was no longer an option.

'Time is on my side.'

The recovery speed of his abilities was gradually increasing, and he had also planted the emotion of anger in Laon.

Although the boy showed rapid growth for a human, the ultimate winner would be himself.

'Wait and see. Your body and soul belong to me. I will imprison you in ice for eternity!'

Ras glared at Laon with cold, hard eyes.

"Tsk tsk."

Laon clicked his tongue at Ras.

"From your expression, I can tell you're having delusions again."

-It's you who's delusional. How can a mere human understand the lofty and noble thoughts of the great king?

"Obvious. You must have resolved to eat my body and imprison my soul in ice."

-Gah!

Ras's mouth dropped open.

-You! Did you learn mind reading too?

"Impossible to miss after all I've heard and seen. Your thoughts and movements are in the palm of my hand."

Laon stretched out his long right hand and waved it.

-A mere human dares to!

Ras, forgetting his resolve not to fall for Laon's provocation, exploded with anger.

Kwaah!

A wave of Ras's intensified coldness crashed over Laon.

"Ugh."

Laon bit his inner lip.

'This is serious...'

Even with his injuries, the pain was much more intense than before. It felt like sharp icicles were piercing his entire body.

Despite his 4-star Water Attribute Resistance, the pain was almost unbearable, showing how dangerous it was to receive Ras's anger.

"Huff..."

He clenched his teeth, enduring the pain that made his teeth grind, while resonating his four Flame Links.

[You have felt unbearable pain.]

[Indomitable Will has been activated.]

With that message, the pain that had been crushing his mind and body began to significantly lessen.

-Gah! Today, I will sever my cursed bond with you!

Ras poured all his strength into generating anger and coldness, but it was no longer difficult to endure as before.

[You have withstood Ras's possession while severely injured.]

[Your Senses stat has increased by 1 point.]

With the message, his mind became a bit clearer.

-Damn it. What the hell is going on?

Ras, cursing endlessly as he separated from Laon's body, seemed more like a thug than the Lord of Anger.

"I told you."

Laon chuckled and waved his right hand.

"You can't do anything to me. It's obvious."

But he wasn't entirely at ease.

'The monster's power is growing faster.'

Ras's energy was getting stronger. If he didn't grow faster than the monster, he would eventually be consumed.

"Huff."

-Grr!

Laon and Ras were ready to devour each other at the closest distance.

* * *

The next day.

Laon finally woke up around noon and stepped outside.

The village was showing signs of recovery, though only slightly. It seemed the branch inspectors and trainees had tidied up the village between night and morning.

"You're awake."

Branch Chief Burkas, who was near the palisade, approached Laon.

His eyes were different from yesterday. He looked at Laon as if he were a mysterious creature.

He must have heard from other trainees that Laon had cut down the Green Blood Golem and fought the Blood Golem.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Much better."

Laon nodded slowly. He didn't know what Rimer had sprinkled, but his broken bones were healing, and flesh was regrowing on his torn waist and thighs.

If he focused on recovery, he would return to his original state in no time.

"You've done something incredible. To cut down a Green Blood Golem at 15 and survive a fight with a Blood Golem, it's no exaggeration to call it an achievement."

Burkas swallowed and raised his thumb.

'No, it's more than an achievement.'

If he told anyone that a trainee who wasn't even a knight had cut down Eden's Green Blood Golem and fought a Blood Golem for 10 minutes, no one would believe it.

If he took this news back to his family, more people would think it was a lie.

He examined Laon, who was bandaged, in detail. Despite his severe injuries, he showed no signs of pain or weakness.

It was astonishing how he had developed such endurance and strength at such a young age.

"We'll take care of this place. You lead the trainees back to the family. Although we've taken temporary measures, many of you, including you, have serious injuries. Go back and get proper treatment."

"Understood. Thank you for your consideration."

"We're both Zighardts, aren't we?"

Burkas smiled faintly and waved his hand.

"Alright."

Laon bowed slightly and headed towards the other trainees.

"..."

Burkas watched Laon's back blankly.

'Survived a Blood Golem...'

Even as an Expert Mid, he couldn't be sure he could survive 5 minutes against a Blood Golem.

It was both astonishing and touching that Laon had fought alone for 10 minutes after letting the trainees escape.

'He's growing.'

The small back of the young boy, who looked less than half his size, seemed so large.

'No matter what happens.'

Burkas looked up at the sun shining in the center of the sky and smiled.

'The family will be in an uproar.'

* * *

"Laon."

Runan ran up to Laon like a puppy who had spotted its food. She examined his entire body and her eyes welled up.

"Does it hurt?"

"I'm fine now."

Laon shook his head and smiled. It wasn't a lie; the pain had indeed decreased significantly.

"Really?"

"You don't need to worry anymore."

"Okay."

Runan's lips curved slightly. It seemed she was getting better at expressing her emotions.

"We need to head back to the family. Tell everyone to prepare to leave."

"Got it."

She nodded vigorously and ran to the other trainees.

"Leaving right away?"

Varen approached quietly, watching her.

"Yeah. The branch chief said he'll take care of the aftermath and told us to go back."

"Ha, where is our instructor anyway!"

Varen frowned and kicked the ground.

"Are you really okay?"

"My injuries haven't healed, but I'm in the recovery phase."

"Get well soon. I need to defeat you in perfect condition."

"Even after seeing that?"

"Especially after seeing that."

His blue eyes were as steady as a rock.

"I won't give up or back down. If I can't walk, I'll crawl to catch up with you."

His voice was filled with firm resolve. It seemed Varen had also grown through this mission.

"And."

"Hmm?"

"I've silenced the trainees who know about your Cold Aura. Since you saved their lives, no one will reveal your secret."

"Oh."

Laon's mouth formed a perfect O.

'He thought of that too?'

He had thought it was inevitable that his dual Aura would be revealed, but Varen had already taken care of the trainees.

It was unexpected, leaving him speechless.

"There's no need to be surprised. You saved my life, so I did what I could."

Varen scratched his nose and turned around.

"I'll prepare for departure. You rest."

He left to join the other trainees.

'He's changed so much.'

Varen was unimaginably different from the boy full of envy when they first met.

The miracle of the 5th training ground might be him, not himself.

"Hmm."

Laon gathered his belongings and headed towards the center of the village.

"That area needs proper repair. Just stack the wood for now!"

The injured village chief was giving instructions to the villagers.

"Stacking it high is dangerous. To the side... Hey! Benefactor!"

He spotted Laon and quickly ran over.

"Are you, are you okay? I caused you such serious injuries..."

"It's not your fault, Chief."

"You took a beating from that monster to save this unworthy man. I don't know how to thank you."

The village chief knelt and bowed his head.

"..."

Laon, looking at the grateful village chief, thought back to the first time he met the Blood Golem.

'Then...'

When the Blood Golem attacked, he instinctively grabbed the chief and stepped back. Even knowing he would be injured, his body moved first.

'Why did I do that?'

In reality, it wasn't necessary.

He had received the Goblin King's gemstone from the chief and heard his story, so there was no real reason to save him.

But he had saved him, even at the cost of his own injuries.

'I'm changing.'

Was it because of Sylvia, Rimer, the children, or the environment?

Whatever the reason, he was changing.

And he didn't mind the change. It felt like emotions were being woven into an empty wooden doll.

"Please stand up."

Laon smiled faintly and helped the trembling chief to his feet. Gratitude and thankfulness filled the old man's eyes.

"As I said, I'll take this gemstone. It might attract more of them, though I'm not sure."

"Of course!"

The chief nodded vigorously.

"Don't mention it first. If anyone comes looking for the gemstone, tell them the Zighardts took it with some other items."

"Understood!"

The chief nodded as if receiving divine revelation.

-Why say it like that? Why not just tell them everything?

'It's better not to know.'

Not just this gemstone, but he needed to take other things to erase the information that Eden was after the gemstones.

'This information will be valuable.'

Laon smirked. He couldn't miss the opportunity to sell Eden's information to Glen for a high price.

* * *

The trainees left the village of Sebu to the enthusiastic cheers of the villagers.

Varen, taking Laon's place due to his injuries, led the trainees from the front, while Runan followed Laon like a baby duck.

Marta walked alone as usual, but her eyes were clouded, indicating she was deep in thought.

Laon stood in the center of the trainees, carefully observing the surroundings.

'Thanks to my stats, my senses have improved.'

His Senses stat had increased significantly due to the achievements of defeating the Green Blood Golem, fighting the Blood Golem, and the stats he had extracted from Ras.

His sensory range had expanded, making it easier to detect hidden people.

He felt he could quickly pinpoint the location of a Red-Eyed Golem if it were hiding.

Continuously expanding his sensory range to prepare for a possible Eden attack, he detected a presence.

'Rimer!'

He felt the refreshing wind that Rimer carried. He hadn't left and was still watching over the trainees.

'Of course, it's natural.'

There might be an attack from Eden or another force, so it was obvious he would stay.

Huff.

Suddenly, Rimer's presence vanished like a candle being blown out, sensing that Laon had detected him.

'He's a unique one, indeed.'

Laon chuckled, erased his senses, and followed the trainees.

A short while later.

Rimer descended from a tree on the path the trainees had taken. He shook his head with a look of amazement.

"That monster-like boy..."

Even if Laon had grown incredibly over the past few days, he hadn't expected him to detect a properly hidden person.

"What kind of reaction will he have when I tell him this news?"

He grinned, imagining Glen's solemn face.