Chapter 108 (Grindstone Town Arc) – Soniel

Just as Saul took a step forward, it was as if he had disrupted some delicate balance—countless "snowflakes" floating in the air surged toward him.

“What?” Saul was startled, instinctively raising his hands.

But those snowflakes were coming straight for his hands. The moment they saw his hands, they desperately tried to burrow into them.

“These… these are soul fragments?”

Saul lowered his arms and watched as countless swirling snowflakes seeped into his skin. Inside the room, small whirlwinds of soul fragments began forming.

A gleeful expression appeared on Saul’s face.

“There are this many soul fragments? Just these alone are worth ten spell scrolls!”

He spread his arms wide, letting the soul fragments rush into his hands.

“As the Soul Grease absorbs these fragments, my mana is rapidly increasing? So sheer quantity really can cause a qualitative change.”

Even without a black crystal orb, Saul could vaguely sense that his mana had exceeded 50 Joules—and was still climbing.

However, as time passed, his hands began to feel unbearably hot, as if his skin was about to boil.

Suddenly, the diary flew out.

---

[Lunar Calendar, Year 316, April 14]

Feels good to have so many soul fragments all at once, doesn’t it?

You just stole away the savings of countless years from others.

But do you really think taking what belongs to others is that easy?

Those vengeful girls couldn’t beat you,

But they can turn you into one of them.

How does it feel to have so many little girls inside you?

Do you feel like putting on a frilly dress?

Maybe we shouldn’t call you Saul anymore…

We should call you Soniel!

---

“VILE!!!”

Saul roared furiously, startling Penny, who stumbled backward in fear.

But the white snowflake-like soul fragments continued to burrow into Saul’s hands. Even if he wanted them to stop, he couldn't.

Since the diary had appeared, Saul knew he didn’t have much time left.

He had to find a way to stop the invasion of soul fragments.

Soul fragments were already shattered pieces, so Smite Undead wouldn’t work on them.

And Spirit Armor might not recognize their infiltration as an attack.

“In that case, I’ll have to purge the malicious consciousness within these fragments.”

Saul scanned the room and spotted a desk in the corner with paper and ink.

Dust coated the surface, showing that its previous owner hadn’t studied seriously in a long time.

Saul tore off a sheet of paper and quickly sketched two complex runes on it.

After putting down his pen, he double-checked the key coordinate points of the runes. Once he was certain they were correct, he immediately began constructing the spell!

This was a Rank 1 Spell he had already analyzed and prepared for—Soul Bore. He had intended to use it once his mana was sufficient to advance to a Rank 2 Apprentice.

But now, if he wanted to avoid becoming Soniel, he had no choice but to borrow energy from these fragmented consciousnesses to construct a Rank 1 spell and force his way into the second rank.

Of course, there were risks. Using such unstable, unknown energy to construct a spell wouldn’t be as reliable as using his own mana. There could be unforeseen mutations.

It was even possible that this Rank 1 spell would be ruined entirely, permanently occupying a space in his spirit.

Unlike Rank 0 spells, Rank 1 spells and beyond were considered true wizard spells.

They were so complex that it was impossible to construct them from scratch every time casting was needed—it would take too long.

So wizards would permanently imprint their advanced spell models into their spirits for quick activation.

What Saul was doing now was using up one of his limited Rank 1 spell slots to consume the chaotic consciousness within the soul fragments.

But wasting a spell slot was far better than becoming a girl.

Confirming that the two complex runes were correct, Saul had no time to draw any simpler runes.

He closed his eyes and began constructing Soul Bore.

---

Inside his spirit, the two complex runes gradually took shape, their stability and speed of formation so impressive that even Callie would be jealous.

Next came dozens of ordinary runes, jumping from every corner of his spirit to converge with the complex runes.

Activation. Transformation. Mana linkage.

At this moment, Saul injected the energy from the soul fragments—minus their consciousness—into the forming spell.

The dancing runes trembled.

For a moment, they stiffened.

When they resumed their movement, a new softness had appeared in the flowing lines.

Saul frowned but had no choice but to continue.

---

Meanwhile, Penny sat on the floor, hugging her knees.

She didn’t understand what was happening, but Saul’s earlier outburst of “Vile!” carried such deep, complex emotions that she dared not move.

She could only sit there helplessly, waiting for Saul to resolve the situation and call her over.

She didn’t know how much time passed.

Her little head nodded once, twice…

Then she fell asleep, resting her forehead against her knees.

---

At the same time, outside the tower, Grindstone Town was undergoing a massive upheaval!

Jayce was leading Ada in an attempt to infiltrate the tower.

They were currently pressed against the wall of a nearby house.

This was Ada’s first time getting so close.

He looked at the fields of Grinding Sound Fruits in the distance, feeling deeply conflicted.

The Grinding Sound Fruits brought prosperity and stability to the town.

But they were also the source of so much pain.

The families who were never chosen lived in ignorant bliss, enjoying the town’s surface-level harmony… until the nightmare came knocking.

Ada used to be one of them.

But he couldn’t let Penny die. Even if it meant going on the run with her forever.

“Hey, focus!” Jayce nudged Ada and pointed toward the tower. “Penny is in there somewhere. I don’t know which floor exactly.”

There were no guards outside the tower. Most of the soldiers were stationed around the Grinding Sound Fruit fields and would only come to the tower if summoned.

This gave Jayce and Ada an opportunity.

Jayce had already studied the guards’ patrol routes and began explaining the plan.

“We’ll move together. See that big door at the base of the tower? We have to sneak in while the patrol is in a blind spot. Penny just went in, so the door should still be unlocked. But I don’t know if there are guards inside. The moment we see someone, we attack immediately.”

“If things get too loud and reinforcements come, I’ll draw them away. You focus on finding Penny and getting her out.”

Sweat coated Ada’s palms. He nodded. “Where do you think Penny is?”

“No idea,” Jayce admitted. “But this is our only chance.”

Ada froze.

He knew this mission was incredibly dangerous.

There was a high chance they wouldn’t be able to save Penny—and that he and Jace would die trying.

But he asked no further questions. Instead, he wiped his sweaty hands on his pants and steeled himself.

“Alright. Give me the signal and we—wait… what’s that?”

Ada followed Jayce’s gaze.

Far beyond the northern outskirts, a row of towering figures was approaching.

Even from a distance, he could feel the raw, terrifying momentum in their charge.

It was a sensation he knew all too well.

Barbarians.

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