Chapter 284
Chapter 284
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 284
Chapter Title: Winter Elegy
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"Uwoooooh!!!!!!!"
The ice spirit's speed was sluggish, and above all, it floated in the air, leaving it wide open. Decisively, its casting speed was slow. Even though it used magic, its base stats were inferior to mine!
In my frenzied state, I dodged the incoming ice shards while batting them away with my gauntlet, then thrust my blade forcefully into the spirits, slaughtering them.
"...Stop! Stop it!"
The girl shouted coldly.
"You stop first! If you call off your friends, I'll leave without a word! I'll return all their souls too!"
"...!"
I tried to negotiate, but like any girl that age, she showed no compromise or mercy.
The spirit girl called the ice spirits her friends, but even as they died one after another, she had no intention of backing down. She seemed like a straight-up psychopath.
She'd cast aside friends and allies for her goals without a second thought.
The most troublesome kind of strong opponent.
If the fight dragged on, it would surely turn into a grueling bloodbath... Maybe even mutual destruction. That thing was a true monster!
However!
Even if it meant dying and collapsing!
The Heavenly Demon Warrior Kim Katt fights to the end! Why? Because escape isn't an option! If it were possible, I'd have bolted already!
When there's no choice but battle, you stake your life on it! That conviction, like my faith, scorched my brain, unleashing unbelievable valor!
It didn't matter if the enemy was a powerhouse!
If I had to fight, I fought!
That was the Heavenly Demon, Kim Katt!
—Shaaaaah!!
As my resolve ignited, an ice spear materialized above the girl's head. Sensing the danger instinctively, I didn't hesitate and launched myself into Naryeota.
—Swoosh!
At the same time, it hurtled toward me at unbelievable speed—Bam! sweeping through the spot I'd stood, crashing into the tree behind!
Tremendous power!
"What an impressive attack...!"
Admiration was short-lived as the ice spirits locked onto me and attacked. No more ice spears incoming. Cooldown? Or a big move? No idea.
Right now, it was time to evade the spirits' assaults.
—Crack!
—Crack!
—Crack!
"You fucking bastards!"
Dodging the ice shards spraying from left and right wasn't too hard.
They weren't organic, so their reactions were dull. And as seasonal beings, they were vulnerable to change.
Thus, the Fleetfoot Step.
Above all, with unpredictable footwork, I escaped the danger zone and charged at the spirit like a beast. You...! Daring to challenge this Heavenly Demon with such pathetically slow movement!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Demon Capturing Hand Seizes airborne foes with unyielding grip
I jumped and instantly unleashed the Capturing Hand technique, snatching one floating spirit. The ice spirit, smaller than a soccer ball, was freezing cold, but it wasn't mighty enough to pierce my gear and deliver its wicked chill.
—Whirr...!
The monster, like an ice lump in my arms, tried to wail!
"Stop the attacks! Unless you want to see this fucker die!"
I landed lightly and crushed it with my arm and breastplate, roaring fiercely!
"B-Barbarian! Are you insane right now?!"
"He's taken a spirit hostage!"
Hostage tactics wouldn't work anyway.
The spirit girl was a psychopath.
It was just aggro redirection. Meria was blocking attacks with her shield. Kobson matched her rhythm, smashing spirits.
—Too slow.
At this rate, we couldn't secure an escape route in time.
"...Draw their attacks to me, then you two break through the retreat path."
"..."
"..."
I whispered that to them—basically, focus fire on me while they handled escape. They nodded slowly.
"...That hand. Let go."
The spirit girl intoned coldly, seeing me clutching the hostage.
"Call off your friends. I don't want to fight."
"...Hand! Let go!"
"No reasoning with her!"
For intimidation, I squeezed the spirit hard; cracks formed in its icy shell. I shook it wildly to disrupt casting.
"...Friends!!!"
—Whoosh!
The enraged girl bellowed like a beast, unleashing massive energy. The gust whipped her dress, exposing her pale skin.
Not important right now.
Anyway, her warcry drew every ice spirit's gaze to me. Perfect! Easier to escape when attacks converge from one direction instead of a surround!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Fist of Failed Negotiations Shatters ineffective diplomacy—and hostages
—Boom!
I smashed the cradled spirit with my sword-grip fist, shattering it.
If talks failed, hostages were useless. The spirit, struck by the Paradise Punch, left a bead and crumbled to the ground.
May you be reborn a good beast next life!
—Whoosh!
I darted swiftly, scattering their formation.
—Crack!
—Crack!
Ice shards flew. As surrounding spirits swarmed me, attacks intensified but grew predictable! I focused all mana and inner energy, then exploded it!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon Explosive footwork disrupts terrain and foes
—Boom!
I stomped hard, snow exploding outward!
In Angel Mode, I used the recoil to swiftly evade, dodging every concentrated attack. Over twenty shards embedded where I'd been.
Aggro fully mine now!
"Kobsoooooon!!!!!!"
"Juuuwaaaah!!"
My shout prompted Kobson to target the spirits' rear, smashing away. Freed from targeting, no holds barred! Wreck them, Kobson!
—Boom!
Meria bashed spirits with her shield too. Smooth sailing. The spirit girl was powerful but no tactician.
Experience bridged the power gap!
"...Stop it!!!"
—Her cry brought a brief silence!
"Now's the time!!! Ruuun!!!!!"
The encirclement broken!
We could make it!
"Uwaaaah!!!"
"Kyaaaah!!!"
"Family Style Secret Teeech!!!"
We screamed at the top of our lungs, sprinting full tilt to escape. The ice spirits, once closing from all sides, now clustered in one spot.
We could escape!
"Freeze!!!"
As we ran, the girl's shrill voice echoed.
And—
—Clang!
"Kieeeek!!!!"
Hit by some magic, I screamed and dropped low! What the hell?! Whether direct or arcing, in this wooded terrain, I shouldn't have been hit!
"N-No way!"
But the attack wasn't a projectile spell.
My foot.
—Was frozen.
The ground iced over, chill creeping up my calf!
A frozen grip wrapped my left leg!
This... This was it!
"Mez!"
A movement hindrance skill!
"B-Barbarian! What're you doing, run!"
"Fuck! My foot's frozen!"
"Shit!"
"Shit!"
Alerted, Kobson and Meria who'd been ahead turned back. You glorious bastards! Faith in friendship rewarded! We the friends indeed!
"You rotten fu—!"
Meria charged shield-first, blocking incoming shards before me! "Thanks, Meria!" I thanked her, knelt, drew my knife reverse-grip.
—Crack!
—Crack!
I hammered the leg ice hard!
"Kobson! Help!"
"Got it!"
Kobson pulled a hand-hammer from his pouch, crouched furiously, and pounded my iced foot like a mad archaeologist!
—Bang!
—Bang!
"Groooar!!!"
"Uwoooooh!!!"
In near-maniacal fervor, we bashed the ice with knife and hammer. —Crack! Progress—cracks spreading!
"Kobson, final attack!"
"Got it!"
"Zuaaaah—!!!"
"Yeaargh—!!!"
Pooling our bond's power as the ice nearly shattered—
—Crack!
Ice shards flew at us!
Rear attack!
I smacked an incoming shard with my knife. "Kobson!" I yelled; he spun, hammer-throwing stance.
And— Kobson hurled the hammer.
—Whirrr!
Spinning inhumanly, it smashed a spirit! —Crunch! The spirit shattered, hammer dropping limply.
But his ace throw was one-shot.
Replacements fired shards immediately!
"Ugh, uwaaak!"
Couldn't deflect with Kobson's skill incoming.
He rolled low to dodge; shards overshot to me. Mobility sealed, no options!
Ice not broken yet!
—Crack!
I raised my arm, gauntlet-blocking.
"Urgh...!"
—Crack!
—Crack!
Spirits weren't singular.
Mobility locked, they gleefully barraged shards. Cruel cowards! Kobson hid behind a tree; unable to move properly, I shielded my head, tanking all with my body...!
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
Shards pummeled everywhere!
Armor protected vitals, no damage from Quilted Armor, but couldn't block impact.
"Kieeeek!!!"
Pain wracked me, screams erupting!
Shards hit Meria too, shielding the girl's icicle barrage. Chainmail minimized damage, but she screamed.
"Grrgh...!! You ball-less fucks!!!"
"Fuck! Fuck!!! It huuuurts!!!"
Pummeled, we cursed.
Skull-rattling shocks! Must break leg ice soon...! Then Meria shouted sharply.
"W-Wait?! What's that?!"
"What?!"
"Spear! Spear above her head!"
"You motherfuuuucker!!!!"
—Whoooosh!!!
Ice spear whistled,
—Boom!
Colliding with Meria's shield.
Thunderous roar.
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
"Uwaaaah!!"
Impact flung Meria's shield skyward.
It was wrecked—scrap metal now. I tumbled with Meria across the ground.
Raw force hurled two adults flying.
Big move indeed!
Luckily shattered my leg ice, but Meria clutched her hand—situation grim.
"Kyuk...!"
"Meria! You okay?!"
"My hand, my ha—!"
Gloves hid details, but her pained face said it all. Wrist-blocked that? Probably fractured!
"Damn! Broken?!"
I burst mana, shoved hands under her armpits, yanked her up!
"Meria! Run first! I'll keep you alive, so stand!"
"Hng... Got it!"
"Kobson! Take Meria!"
"Got it!"
Kobson scooped her wrecked shield, covered as they sheltered. My legs throbbed too. Magic damage.
In this state, could we win?
"...I'll kill you all! For daring to hurt my friends!!!"
The approaching spirit girl roared beast-like.
Her cry savage, blue aura a gale. Ominous momentum.
—But.
"...Kill us?"
—In such straits, victory defined the Heavenly Demon.
I opened my pouch.
Prepped oil for winter, ample firestarters. Recalled Wright brothers, dynamite Nobel. War...! Hateful echo. I poured oil on the blade like a wail.
—Fwoosh!
Split a firestarter.
Flames flickered faintly.
Was the match girl's final sight such warmth?
Chasing illusions, dying alone in that bitter winter. Crowds around, surely someone could save her.
Yet the girl.
No help came; clinging to match warmth, she froze lonesome.
"I won't lose to winter."
This, my requiem for the match girl.
"Thus."
I dropped the burning starter onto the blade. Oil-soaked edge ignited, birthing 업화 flames.
"The Flame Demon Sword Kim Katt."
—Roar!
Hellfire blazed. Judgment on the merciless city folk who doomed the match girl.
"Descends."
Awakened true power, I faced the spirit girl.
"...Hilarious!"
—When flame meets ice, the tale begins.