Chapter: 630
Smoke billows up with a boom!
A thick scent of charred material grazes my nose.
Heavy smoke obscures my view.
Woosh—!
I shifted my focus back to my eyes, clearing my sight.
The ground ahead becomes visible.
Hwaruk—!
I quickly gather flames to create a Flame Jade,
and throw it right back down to the ground.
Kwaaaaang—!!
Another loud explosion resonates, sending debris flying.
I continued this process repeatedly.
I can feel my energy draining. Since the Flame Jade itself is a skill that consumes a substantial amount of energy.
I can distinctly sense that I’m burning through my energy reserves.
Yet, I didn’t stop.
Bang—! Kwang—! Bang—!
The ground surfaces, exploding and breaking apart.
I relentlessly used the Flame Jade, unbothered by the depleting energy.
Watching the debris continually explode, I reflect.
‘In the past, even using this once felt overwhelming.’
There were days when using it once left me feeling broken for a few days.
I think that was around the time I joined the Heavenly Dragon Academy.
Even then, I faced issues when I was forced to use something only available at the pinnacle of flame techniques.
Using skills not suited to my level is the same even now, though.
‘But hey, I’ve improved.’
Gone are the days when using it once would leave me half-dazed.
Of course.
‘But still, recklessly using it like this is pushing it.’
Objectively speaking,
I could use it roughly ten times or so if we count the number of attempts.
This count was based on extreme control of compression and rotation, efficiently utilizing my energy levels.
If I keep using it wildly like this, the number of times I can do so would undoubtedly drop.
But there’s no time to find a more sensible option.
Now is not the moment to conserve my energy.
Kwaaaaaah—!!
After wrapping myself in heat and using the Flame Jade a few more times,
if I count accurately, it would be around five.
Thud—!
I halted my rising energy due to a sense of unease.
It wasn’t the chaotic terrain I had seen so far.
A proper underground space came into view.
It looked unmistakably like something built by human hands.
Bam.
I landed lightly and sensed the energy surrounding me.
‘This is it.’
I could tell right away that this was the place I had been searching for.
A cold air swept through my body, accompanied by an oddly unsettling silence.
I waved my finger around whoosh—!
Suddenly, the dim lights flickered on, illuminating the surroundings a bit more.
Though it was just another corridor that wasn’t all that different.
I walked along this hallway, light flaring from my back.
I expanded my sense of perception, but oddly, I felt no presence trailing behind me.
I was sure some blind fool would follow me soon.
After walking a little farther down the corridor, I spotted a massive door in front of me.
I frowned at the door.
‘This one.’
It was a door I had seen somewhere before.
It bore the same size and shape as the door I witnessed at the princess’s hideout.
Recognizing it, I immediately grasped the doorknob.
I figured it would just open by itself, akin to last time.
Creeeak—!!!
“…!”
Contrary to my expectations, I felt a resistance.
An unknown force pushed me back, accompanied by pain.
It was as if it was determined to prevent me from opening the door.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
“This little brat?”
It was ridiculous! What’s next, a door that fights back?
Feeling a mysterious annoyance, I clutched the doorknob again.
Okay then.
Creeeak—-!!!
Again, the energy began pushing me away.
It was an immense pain, but
‘I’m pretty used to stuff like this.’
Being hurt and feeling pain has become second nature to me at this point.
Ignoring it, I found strength in my grip.
Rrrrrip.
As I endured the force, my skin practically tore.
I never thought it would hurt so much even with shallow defenses.
Of course, I didn’t let go.
Grrrr!—
I yanked the door, pulling against its resistance.
Though I felt an overwhelming sense of struggle, I gathered my energy to resist it.
What a mindlessly foolish method this was.
Whether it was a technique or whatever, I should’ve prioritized figuring out the obstacle first.
Yet here I was, just trying to force the door open.
I couldn’t believe I was being this dumb.
But.
‘Since when have I ever been one for smart thinking?’
In the end, I figured this was the method that suited me best.
Even as my skin tore, and pain surged through my body,
I focused all my strength without a care.
Grind—!
As time passed, the door finally began to creak open.
Well, “open” might be a stretch—
‘It was more like ripping it apart.’
What does it matter?
I tightened my fists.
Bam! Bam!
Ultimately, the iron door came loose.
The iron gate that had guarded the Ice Palace for hundreds of years was torn down.
Looking at the door in my hands, I remarked,
“Really? You could have just opened quietly. Why all the fuss?”
Whoosh.
Thud!
I tossed the iron door casually somewhere in the hallway, and moved toward the entrance.
Fortunately, entering didn’t feel like I was forcing the door open.
The only thing that changed was the coldness I was feeling became much more intense.
Moreover, I turned my gaze to inspect my forearm.
‘Hmm.’
Goosebumps feasted on my skin, poking through the slightly raised scales.
‘What on earth?’
As soon as I stepped into this new space, goosebumps erupted all over my body.
Accompanied by discomfort that made me feel nauseous.
It was a sensation I always felt upon nearing a dragon or half-dragon, yet this time it weighed heavier.
Like.
‘As if I just encountered the Blood Demon.’
The Blood Demon wearing Jang Seon-yeon’s mask.
An overwhelming animosity surged, akin to when I first faced him.
For now, I suppressed the emotions and examined my surroundings.
‘It looks similar.’
It resembled the space where ice crystals were seen in the hideout.
Both the locations and visuals were nearly indistinguishable.
‘That means…’
I turned my head toward a particularly strong energy source.
As expected, there was an iceberg.
‘So that was the right answer.’
The princess had said.
That beneath the Ice Palace lies an ice crystal that protects against the bitter cold.
It seems this is where it is.
Just as the space mirrored its surroundings, the shape of the ice crystal remained constant.
It was merely a matter of questioning what lay before me.
‘Blocks the bitter cold?’
The surrounding cold air remains unchanged, and it visually appears the same.
They say this one consumes the cold while others diffuse the cold.
Yet, I felt no difference.
Thus, it means I can’t comprehend how this functions.
‘But in the grand scheme of things, that’s irrelevant.’
Now, I couldn’t care less about how such a phenomenon is even possible.
What mattered was that I understood the reasons behind it occurring.
I took a step forward while looking at the iceberg.
Whoosh.
At the same time, I channeled energy into my hand.
There were no grand thoughts or lofty plans.
I simply decided to smash it since it’s no good.
A thought plain and simple as that propelled me toward the iceberg.
The moment I intended to deliver a punch to the iceberg, to see whether it would break or not.
“…?”
The moment I examined the ice crystal closely, my movements froze, and the strength dissipated from my hands.
“Crazy.”
A curse slipped out involuntarily. There was no way otherwise.
Something lurked within the ice.
The interior of the iceberg, previously concealed by the cold, was now visible.
Inside it was—
“What the hell is this kid doing here?”
Wi Hyogun was inside.
“Her?”
My eyes widened instantly upon seeing him.
I recalled the very purpose for which I sought the Ice Palace.
To find Wi Hyogun and bring him back.
What in the world? Why is this brat stuck in there?
This was baffling.
This was the most stunned situation I had found myself in recently.
Why on earth was Wi Hyogun suddenly trapped within the iceberg?
I glared at the iceberg, frowning deeply.
‘This is utterly insane.’
The shock had to end quickly.
Regardless of why this crazy situation occurred,
It only added more reasons to smash the iceberg.
Grit.
Twisting my waist, I clenched my fists. Energy surged within them.
I was ready to shout at the iceberg.
[Fuck.]
With a coarse exclamation.
Kwaaaaaaaang—!
Suddenly, sharp ice cascaded down from the glacier.
Should I just take the hit and retaliate?
I pondered briefly,
Whoosh—!
But instinctively, my body had already turned to gain distance.
‘Tsk.’
It was an attack that lacked cost-effectiveness when it came to hits.
Each ice shard targeted vital points, making it hard to dodge even through movements.
Just after sidestepping the attack by putting several steps between us,
“Ha, what the hell.”
I spat an expletive while scanning ahead.
“What are you doing right now?”
[…]
A brief silence passed after my words.
[Truly, this is absurd.]
A familiar voice echoed.
The voice of the net emerged from within the iceberg.
[Are you clever? Or just foolish? I never anticipated you’d come out this recklessly.]
Click, click.
His voice trembled slightly while speaking, a sign of anger brewing within.
[Just a little bit was sufficient. At best, it would have only taken a moment. How dare you reject my assistance and interfere with my plans?]
“Interference is bullshit.”
I scoffed in response to the net’s words.
“I never intended to team up with you anyway, you piece of trash.”
Who the hell does he think he is?
“Will you expect me to just listen to that?”
I had already surmised from our discussions that the net had no intention of working with me.
A rootless center.
In discussions where the critical parts were all omitted as though they ought to be glossed over.
Hearing his words felt like a mockery I couldn’t overlook.
“It’s painfully obvious you’re just stalling for time. What’s the point of listening to that?”
[Hah.]
The net chuckled lightly in response to my statement.
[You’re sharper than I expected.]
He was stalling for time with me.
He’d hidden away, only to reappear in Yu Seon’s body.
What could his rationale possibly be?
Why must it be this way?
I didn’t dwell on it for long.
If there truly is a reason that compels him to act this way toward me,
The answer must lie in the ice.
I approached the iceberg, anticipating that, and lo and behold, the situation was a complete travesty.
“What are you doing right now?”
I asked the creature, grinding my teeth.
[Oh, I’m the one who wants to know.]
The net returned my question.
[Ninth. What the hell are you pulling?]
“What?”
[Why are you disrupting me?]
The net spoke as if it genuinely couldn’t comprehend.
[At the very least, I didn’t lie during our discussion. We share the same common enemy. It’s also true that I considered joining forces. Why exactly did you make this choice?]
His words bore a tinge of resentment.
I gazed at him and replied.
“Do you have no ears?”
[What…?]
Could it be he lacks ears? Without that, he wouldn’t react this way.
“I clearly stated that I didn’t want to ally with you since you’re a piece of trash. Do you have a problem with comprehending?”
[…]
“I detest those with dirty backs the most.”
If someone acts like a fool around me, I’ll smack them down.
But with someone harboring a dirty back, there’s so much to worry about.
Especially given how he’s been draining the bloodlines of the North Sea for his resurrection over centuries—it totally disgusted me.
[…Just because of that?]
Despite my clear explanations,
The net continued to express its bewilderment.
[You refuse to ally with me just for having consumed a handful of these primitive beings?]
“Look at the way you talk. Even your tone is loathsome.”
[These insignificant beings were used for my revival as a gift.]
“Now you’re spouting nonsense.”
[It is something to be grateful for even when facing death. Why should you, a fellow countryman, find it bothersome?]
Hearing that, I inwardly clicked my tongue.
I was far too irate to carry on a subsequent conversation.
“Don’t misunderstand me.”
I reclaimed my energy.
“The suffering of the North Sea is none of my concern.”
Exactly, that doesn’t interest me at all.
Why would I be infuriated over something I have no ties to?
What truly matters is.
Not the blood relatives of the North Sea who fell victim.
“It’s because you’re the one doing something so callous.”
I wrapped my fist with even greater energy than before, lunging toward him.
Wham! As before, ice spikes rained down,
but this time, since I focused on evasion, dodging wasn’t difficult.
My movements were somewhat aggressive, causing my clothes to tear slightly,
but it was far from a damaging blow.
Bam! I pivoted on my toes, surveying the situation.
Ultimately, I pushed past the net’s attacks to reach the iceberg.
This time, without a flicker of hesitation, I thrust my fist into the ice.
Crack—aawww—!!!
My fist burrowed deep into the iceberg.
Seeing that made me swallow a moment of surprise.
It was far easier to penetrate than I anticipated.
I thought there would be some resistance.
I figured it would be akin to breaking a regular rock.
‘Just strange, really strange.’
I pushed my fist in with all the strength I could muster.
Thunk!
From the point where my hand broke through, cracks began to form across the iceberg.
The fractures swiftly spread, encasing the entirety of the iceberg.
Then,
Crack!
It took barely a few seconds for the iceberg to crush and shatter.
Thud.
Pieces of ice began to tumble away chaotically.
I frowned as I observed the collapsing debris.
It wasn’t because the iceberg had fallen apart.
The reason was simple:
“…Ha… this is infuriating.”
Because someone was gripping my extended fist.
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