Infinite Range: The Sniper Mage

Chapter 715: 715: The Sacred Mountain of Ascension

On the way back to the tribe with Darulubus and his people, they passed through the ruins of a shattered town.

Orson took in the sight and clicked his tongue in disbelief. To think someone could transplant something like the pyramids—an Earth miracle of engineering—into another world, expand upon it, and sow the seeds of civilization.

The town bore scars of countless battles, collapsed buildings everywhere, yet the natives hadn’t abandoned it. They scavenged desperately among the rubble for anything still usable.

Darulubus was well known here. Townsfolk came forward to greet him warmly, while Darulunina handed out chunks of freshly cut monster meat as gifts.

“Those damned rebels,” Darulubus growled, his expression dark. “Hiding behind false banners, yet preying on their own people with the vilest of deeds.”

“Hah. Rebellion? If rebellion could take us out of the Exile Domain, someone would’ve succeeded centuries ago!” another warrior spat bitterly, cursing the renegades.

Orson raised a brow. “Rebels? Who exactly are they?”

Darulubus glanced at him, sighing. “Tribesmen like us, but lured by heretics. They seek to climb the Sacred Mountain of Ascension, believing they can break free of the Exile Domain.”

“The Sacred Mountain of Ascension?” Orson frowned.

“The place where the Fire God descended,” Darulubus explained. “It’s said whoever reaches its peak can claim the Divinity left behind, seize dominion over the heavens, and lead the Fireborn out of exile.”

“Left behind… Divinity? You mean the Sunforge Emperor is dead?”

Orson’s words drew furious glares from the surrounding Fireborn. Clearly, the name of the Fire God carried sacred weight in their hearts. Darulubus quickly shot Orson a warning look, silently urging him to save such talk for the tribe’s camp.

Later, inside the Firevenom tribe’s chieftain’s tent, Darulunina served roasted beast meat and wine.

Orson glanced at the charred slabs of meat and felt his stomach knot. Darulunina, however, beamed with expectation as she tried to feed him, leaving him no choice but to choke down a few bites.

Darulubus tore into the meat with his unnaturally long arms, chewing noisily. Between gulps he said, “It’s only rumor, but… once, a God-Child nearly reached the mountain’s peak. He claimed he glimpsed the Fire God’s incorrupt body. If true, then perhaps our god did fall.”

Orson nodded to himself. No wonder his appearance hadn’t shocked them too much. In this world, “God-Children” weren’t exactly rare. By his guess, they were likely descendants of loyal lieutenants or bloodlines linked to the Fire God.

“Can you tell me where this mountain is? I’d like to see it for myself,” Orson asked bluntly.

Darulubus chewed slowly, washing the meat down with wine. “No need to rush. Eat, drink, and regain your strength. You look pale, as if the descent burned too much of your divine energy. Stay with us a while before you set out.”

“That’s right,” Darulunina chimed in, smiling brightly. “I’ll be going to the Sacred Mountain soon for my awakening. If the God-Child faces danger, I’ll protect him!” She pressed another strip of meat against Orson’s lips, her eyes sparkling with adoration.

Orson could only force a smile, swallowing another greasy bite.

Darulunina giggled at his expression. “When Fireborn children turn sixteen, we go to the mountain’s Pool of Awakening. There, we begin our path of transformation.”

“So that’s how it works… troublesome,” Orson muttered. This world’s rules were bizarre. He remembered the measly single point of experience from killing monsters, the vanishing loot, and decided to press for answers.

Darulubus sighed deeply. “Ever since the upheaval, the old rules are gone. Only by drawing closer to the Fire God’s body can our strength truly grow.”

He explained that in the days of his ancestors, Sunforge was no different from other Infinite Dimensions worlds: leveling through slain monsters, loot drops, equipable gear. But once Sunforge became an Exile Domain, every NPC created by gods vanished. Equipment privileges were stripped away. Skills and magic could only be learned from others, or through decades of grueling self-study.

Eventually, they discovered the truth: the closer they came to the Sacred Mountain, the more their strength awakened. That discovery birthed a unique path of ascension unlike any other world.

Orson was fascinated. The Fireborn’s ability to shift between multiple classes came from the mountain’s Pool of Awakening itself. He recalled tales of a God-Child who had nearly reached the summit, becoming a Six-Shift Awakened—hailed as the strongest warrior of Sunforge.

They called him the Sunforge Sacred Executor, his power rivaling that of gods themselves. Orson suspected that if the man wasn’t a divine weapon of the gods, then he had to be another God-tier adventurer like himself. With six interchangeable classes, covering every strength and flaw, he would’ve been nearly invincible.

Sensing Orson’s eagerness, Darulubus said, “My daughter will turn sixteen in half a year. She’ll join our youths in journeying to the mountain. God-Child, you should go with them.”

“Yes, Father! I’ll protect him,” Darulunina said happily, her cheeks glowing.

Darulubus waved her out, then sat in silence, opening and closing his mouth several times.

Orson took a sip of the potent rice wine, chuckling. “Say it. Whatever it is, I won’t be offended.”

Darulubus cleared his throat, baring his fangs in what he thought was a gentle smile. “This girl of mine… she’s been infatuated with the legends of the God-Children since birth. By Firevenom tradition, those going to the mountain must first be wed. I see no finer match than you.”

The chieftain’s grin widened. “She has my strength and her mother’s beauty. With your union, our tribe will surely birth legends!”

“Strong union my ass!” Orson nearly choked. What did her obsession with legends have to do with him?

And sure, Darulunina was a beauty by tribal standards, but him—an Earth archmage—marrying into a barbarian tribe on his first day here? It was madness.

“Stop, stop! I’ll look after her, but truth be told, I’m already married…” Orson stammered, forcing a laugh. Inwardly, he muttered, “Twice, actually… any more and my body and sanity won’t hold up.”

Memories of Riley flickered through him, twisting his chest with pain.

Darulubus only shook his head, voice booming. “A strong man is never without companions. Taking wives is tradition and honor! Feelings can be nurtured. Marriage can wait, but trust me—love will come with time.”

Then he leaned in, lowering his voice. “Your tent is right next to hers. If you don’t understand something, just ask her.” He capped it off with a knowing wink.

Orson’s forehead throbbed. “Good god…” For once, the master manipulator himself was being thoroughly outmaneuvered.

Later, in his tent, Darulunina brought hot water, blushing as she insisted on wiping him down.

Orson tried several times to refuse, but the girl had him cornered. Each time he resisted, her eyes welled with tears, her voice trembling.

“God-Child, do you not like me?”

“You look so thin. Please eat more meat.”

“Your smile is so handsome…”

Orson buried his face in his hands. “Who the hell could endure this?”