Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Blaugrunn and Leeha exactly knew what was the item sought after at this rare opportunity.

However, time did not wait for anyone.

Considerable time had already passed. It meant that there was enough room for activity on the other side.

Prea: Chiyou, Crowley, Pyro, me, and a total of six Yamato members are going to depart. The determination to finish the expedition this time is remarkable.

News reached Leeha’s ears that Chiyou and his team had left for the snowy mountain.

“Damn it, already? Can you stall for some time?”

“Is it okay to do that? If I blurt out something irrelevant here– Ah, okay. Then I won’t say anything.”

Leeha quickly recalled Prea’s habit of speaking without reading the room and promptly stopped her. Given her tendency to speak without regard for the atmosphere, the likelihood of making a verbal slip was high, which would only heighten Chiyou’s vigilance unnecessarily.

“It will take about 2 hours to reach the snowy mountain. It’s fortunate that Crowley’s pace is slow.”

“2 hours……. Understood. Please accompany Chiyou completely to that place.”

“Oh my, of course.”

Of course? Even then, Leeha couldn’t completely erase his doubts about Prea.

“If this is a trap. But if it’s true?”

Since the possibility couldn’t be ruled out, Leeha had no choice but to believe her words. After all, everything would be settled at the snowy mountain.

“Ram Hwajung! Make the decision within 10 minutes; we need to depart right away.”

“Yes, oppa.”

Ram Hwajung, too, hadn’t deciphered the riddle of the items until a certain point.

Seeing her seriously contemplating between the two items, Leeha quickly opened the character window.

Name: Leeha / Race: Human / Class: Musketeer / Level: 250 (19)

Title: Shadow Hitman / Achievements: 147

HP: 8,220 (5,754) MP: 2770

Stats:

Strength 675 (+590)

Agility 4000 (+1,382)

Intelligence 528 (+334)

Stamina 291 (+198)

Mind 165 (+150)

Remaining Stat Points: 75

Having obtained the stat points from killing the Wood Elf rankers and reaching level 250, and five bonus points. Additionally, thanks to the achievement ‘One who values archaeology’ received in the Dark Elf village, intelligence and willpower had increased by 8 each.

Leeha once again looked at the item from before.

It was neither an offensive weapon nor armor. It is a kind of supplementary item, so even though it is of legendary level, there are no specific requirements.

“When you increase my mind by 35, it becomes 200. Intelligence is already over 500, but it is related to 140 recovery, so invest 22 in intelligence, and 14 in stamina… Leave the remaining 4 for now. This way, the minimum requirements will be met.”

With mind at 200, intelligence at 550, and stamina at 305, in that case, the subsequent 80 would be 8,500 / &402 would be 3,200. It was an investment to endure a debuff called ‘White Plague’ that eats up 40 points, even a little more.

“Hey, what are you thinking about? Obviously, you only have this hat!”

“Wait a moment. I still have 5 minutes left, so give me a little more time.”

“I know you want to get stronger, but if you make a wrong choice like before… as soon as you climb the snowy mountain, your feet will be bound. If Bluebeard’s pawns succeed in awakening something in that castle-“

“I know, I know.”

While suppressing his breathing, who was urging him non-stop, he tried to calm himself.

“So I’m trying to make a careful choice. To stop them right away.”

With 3,200, he could use the curve shot three times. But will he only use the curve shot? Didn’t he need other skills? He simulated the battle on the snowy mountain. If that’s the case, what results could he achieve? What was the best choice considering all situations? At that moment, something popped up in his mind. White Reaper.

“Now we must depart, Ha Leeha.”

“Phew… So it’s the White Reaper. By the way, are you talking about that? They say, Key, Midliths are a bit quirky sometimes.”

Despite Blaugrunn’s urging, he could smile and mutter to himself.

Wasn’t it something he must not forget that word? If ‘that’ was inspired by ‘that person,’ he no longer had any fear.

“I will choose this.”

Reaching for the white potion, he handed it to Arzenmacht.

“Valid.”

Arzenmacht nodded his head. Leeha who was observing that gesture couldn’t help but finally utter a word.

“Arzenmacht, are you perhaps interested in touring the Eternal Snow Mountain Range of the New Continent?”

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Silver Dragon, Arzenmacht, silently looked at the person before him.

When unable to decipher the change in expression on Arzenmacht’s face and feeling awkward, Ram Hwajung approached and tugged at the edge of Arzenmacht’s robe.

“Let’s go together.”

Leeha, observing a much more sinister expression on the Silver Dragon’s face than when they had asked, hastily tried to stop Ram Hwajung. However, Arzenmacht simply nodded quietly.

“Then, let’s go.”

“Huh, what? You’re going?”

“Any issues?”

“Uh… No. If there is an issue-“

Perhaps the issue is not being able to control one’s expression due to being too happy.

Leeha quietly whispered to Ram Hwajung.

Leeha: Ram Hwajung, nice.

Ram Hwajung: What are you talking about, oppa?

They hadn’t inquired while being mindful themselves. Leeha still thought they didn’t understand anything about Ram Hwajung.

“Blaugrunn, head to the nearest coordinates! Let’s transform into dragon form and fly as soon as we get there.”

“Got it.”

After the group departed, roughly 15 minutes later, Leeha, Ram Hwajung, and two dragons headed towards the snowy mountains.

If there was a silver lining in misfortune, it was that Chiyou’s pace was slightly slower than Leeha, grateful(?) for Alchemist Crowley’s slow movements, the group stood at the midpoint of the mountains where the Eternal Snow was visible.

‘The ice here seems abnormally formed.”

“Yeah, it’s quite unusual.”

Upon their arrival, Silver Dragon and Ram Hwajung engaged in a conversation akin to seasoned geologists.

Although previously anxious about whether Ram Hwajung might inadvertently provoke the dragon during their conversations, such concerns no longer bothered him now.

“Leeha, mana has been detected. It’s about 1km away in front!”

“Alright, then let’s… prepare! Don’t go up first! To prevent Chiyou from sensing our presence! We must wait slightly apart from the path and catch up with them as soon as Chiyou begin their ascent! As if we were here for the first time! As if we coincidentally stumbled upon them!”

Shouting towards Ram Hwajung, Leeha signaled to Arzenmacht. Despite receiving no response to his spirited words, Leeha did not falter.

“I will definitely stop them, Chiyou. Whatever is in that castle… today will be your doomsday.”

Arriving first near the peak of the Bramsilvania Castle in the Eternal Snow Mountain, the party was determined to achieve their goal.

※ ※

“Going from the Silver Dragon Arzenmacht’s lair to the central region of the New Continent and now to the Eternal Snow Mountain in the northeast? Highness, where are we headed to?”

Observing this movement, there were only two people in Middle Earth who could discern more detailed movements than just simple acquaintances.

Among them, Kidd watched as Leeha’s movement and chuckled.

“Was expecting to find the trace of Kaztor, but going from Silver Dragon Lair to the Eternal Snow Mountain…?”

Not long ago, Kidd had also been observing Luger’s movements.

Moving from the central to the eastern region of the New Continent, near the Dark Forest, Luger’s sudden logout a few days ago…

“Luger, this is different from your usual patterns. If you encountered something, it must have been somewhere nearby.”

Kidd was also aware that Elizabeth and Brown were in the eastern region of the New Continent.

Kaztor must have crossed over to the New Continent at some point.

2-1. He must have headed to the eastern region of the New Continent to pursue Elizabeth and Brown.

2-2. Or he could be using Vitality Jar to recover his body.

Luger, detecting his whereabouts, hurried to chase after him, but could he have unexpectedly encountered Kaztor on his way and been attacked?

This was the most logical speculation explaining Luger’s abnormal patterns.

“Lotzak, Leeha, I don’t know what tactics you’re using, but selecting the eastern region was probably the right choice for you. However, heading northeast from there is a different choice from mine… I will continue tracing Luger’s trail.”

And Kidd believed that Leeha was also making the same judgment.

Kidd’s current location was the central region of the New Continent, at the Forest of the Corrupted World Tree. Essentially the last place where spatial movement was possible, he was now walking towards the east. And he picked up his pace.

If only he didn’t see the chaos in sight.

“Oh no! R-run! There’s something- something strange approaching!”

“As far as that forest of the world tree, once you reach there, spatial teleportation will be possible! Everyone, run, don’t slow down the pace!”

“Damn it, how can I not slow down, from behind—G-g-guys!”

Suddenly, among the group of people running, an explosion occurred.

“Huh? What’s happening?”

“What, what is it, I thought it was a friend! Quickly run away! Hurry! Something enormous is behind us, maybe some kind of chimera!”

“A chimera?”

“It’s not just the chimera that’s the problem. It’s not only the sheer number of chimeras but there is something floating in the air causing strange bombings!”

“Bombings?”

As Kidd who had never faced Ghibrid before, it was a situation he couldn’t quite understand.

‘You do know that the Grievers have awakened. But has he already regained enough power to create chimeras?’

But it wasn’t necessary to understand every detail of the situation. How many monsters are approaching in the distance, raising dust clouds? Leading them, monsters with wings dotted the sky. What were they?

“It’s a Manticore! I’ve seen that before, it’s the Manticore that appeared near the Divine Staff in the past! But, the one in front doesn’t look like a Manticore!”

“When you reach the teleportation point, quickly go to Ezwen! We need to call the Holy Knight and Paladins!”

Still, moving backwards through the tumultuous users, Kidd used a skill. Though not as powerful as the Eagle’s Eye, it was a skill that significantly enhanced his vision.

“The distance is approximately 1.7 meters. I didn’t enter the attack range of the Manticore—uh, huh?”

As Kidd scrutinized the size and characteristics of the Manticores, his eyes widened.

“This can’t be! That, that is!”

At the forefront of the Manticore group, there was a monster with a peculiar appearance.

Its form resembled a centaur, with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a lion, adorned with bat-like wings as the Manticore. The only difference being the hooves instead of paws!

If the upper body resembled a human, Kidd could understand why the users were fleeing in confusion. If that was what he thought it was, if it indeed possessed such power, ordinary users wouldn’t stand a chance. It didn’t take long for this to be proven. Kidd saw ‘it’ floating in the sky lifting something. A distance of 1.76 meters? That is nothing. Whaaat—!

When the Manticore and the Composite Chimera fused together, ‘it’ had taken away their characteristics, becoming the ‘Monster Luger.’