Chapter 285
Chapter 285
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 285
Chapter Title: Winter Love Song
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The wondrous flames of Prometheus had illuminated the world and ushered in humanity's golden age. Yet as payment for bestowing fire upon mortals, he suffered the cruel punishment of having his liver devoured eternally.
Good deeds always come with a price.
This Greek legend imparts a brutally fatal lesson: doing good only benefits others while you bleed. And yet, that Titan giant's spirit of service was more sublime than anything in this world.
—Fwoosh!
The hellfire mirroring the matchstick girl's hope was unmistakably the power of humanity—a purifying blaze to judge monsters.
Like the archangel Michael cleansing demons with his flaming sword.
—That act was surely sublime.
In this moment, I was no different from a new apostle of Prometheus. The thought ignited a fanatic divinity within me, granting otherworldly courage. Somehow, I felt like a truly noble being.
The enemy was stronger than me.
Far from weak.
Yet I would not lose my resolve.
"This is your last warning. If you don't want to die, just let us go."
—Thrust.
Aiming my blazing sword, I declared it.
Honestly, if I'd fled alone, I might've made it somehow. But escaping with Kobson and Meria? Far too uncertain.
That's why I faced the enemy.
—The Heavenly Demon never abandons comrades.
"...Kill them!!"
The girl snarled like a beast frenzied by fire. Her pretty face belied a savage core.
"Dialogue is pointless."
Communication was impossible, after all.
"Thus, violence is the only language left."
If words could solve everything, wars wouldn't exist in this world. As long as war persists, true dialogue is a fantasy.
A deathmatch with this spirit girl proved it.
—Pew!
—Pew!
In the center of the lake.
"You all."
The gathered ice spirits attacked me.
We three had worked hard to thin their numbers, but plenty remained. It was winter, after all—her territory.
Countless ice spikes hurtled toward me.
The situation was utterly against me.
"Are too."
Of course.
"Weak."
—To be my opponents.
"Flame Room Commander Sword Technique."
Blade unfurling wildly, flames blooming fiercely.
—Screeech!
The vivid fiery arc cleaved space itself, melting the launched spikes like summer melon on a hot day until they vanished into nothing.
Ice spirits were no longer a match for me. No need for fear. Just smash them head-on.
I was stronger than the spirits.
"...Grrrh!"
The girl erupted in rage at the sight.
"So you do have emotions."
—Flash!
I unleashed a sword dance, shattering the ice spirits hovering in the air.
—Splat!
—Fwoom!
These frozen scum couldn't withstand my flame-infused strikes.
Each swing sent half-melted ice chunks flying. They shattered one by one, spewing their cores as they died.
In seconds, ten spirits lay destroyed. The survivors floated at high altitudes beyond my reach.
That high up, their spikes lost deadly precision. Nothing to worry about.
"...Don't!!!!"
—Shiiiieeeek!!!!
The girl spawned over twenty icicles in an instant, furious and priming to fire. The vibe was ominous. Better evade—I leaped straight out of the ice lake.
—Pitter-patter-boom!!
The moment I cleared the area, the icicles slammed into the trees with devastating force.
Fucking lethal. My balls practically shriveled.
That power? Armor wouldn't save me from a lethal hit. The spirit girl was one hell of a monster.
Odds were slim.
Head-on was fine, but one solid strike could end me. Life came once—no retries. Time to find the optimal path to victory!
"Kobson! Let's wipe these ice spirits!"
"N-Now? Way too risky!"
"No other shot!"
Flame enchant wouldn't last long.
No decisive blow now, and we were done...!
"Urgh... Kobson! Charge!"
"M-Miss Meria too!"
Meria rose, broken arm dangling, hoisting her dented shield with the other. Her grimace screamed agony.
Meria...! You're a warrior through and through!
"Alright! Victory's ours! We can win this!"
"You fearless barbarian! Fine, barbarian! Die once, not twice! Toppling her to avenge the Owl Bear ain't half bad!"
—Huff!
Kobson leaped like a flying squirrel, smashing an ice spirit with his blade. It didn't shatter outright—just slammed into the ground from the impact.
"Miss Meria!"
"Got it!"
She shielded him; he safely mobbed the downed spirit. Their combo pulled the spirits' aggro in no time.
"I trust you! My friends!"
"Trust us! Barbarian!"
No interference now—I could duel the girl one-on-one!
"Kieeeek!!!!"
I charged madly once more!
She fixated on me, timing some spell. What technique? Icicle barrage needed long casting. Ice spear too... No way!
"...Freeze!!!!"
—Chilling cry!
"Knew you'd pull that!"
With her roar, I channeled Brutal Angel Kim Katt's memory for a soaring sergeant jump.
—Whoosh!
"...Wha, what?!"
Jump was spot-on.
Cold surged where I'd stood, birthing an ice mass like a sandcastle tower. Dodged the mez!
"And land like a butterfly."
Safe touchdown, evading the spot.
Descending angel.
Sublime saint arrives.
I, wielder of the flame demon sword, true Heavenly Demon.
No way I'd lose.
"It's do or die! Spirit girl!"
"...Eek! Freeze! Freeze! Freeze solid!!!!"
—Clang!
—Clang!
—Clang!
"Haha!"
Enraged, she spammed the mez.
Strong, but no silent casting mastery. Reading timing from her mouth and voice? Easy!
"Start dash!!!"
I sprinted across the frozen lake, Super Mario-hopping nonstop to dodge every one.
Seemed like a ground-channeled spell, not spatial spawn.
Perfect timing jumps? Untouchable!
Flaw exposed, she was just a performer. I halted, raised my blazing blade high, and zigzagged in with sliding footwork.
Aim for vitals in one shot!
Close range? Victory mine!
"...Help me! Friends!"
—Rumble!
—Rumble!
—Rumble!
Then, the retreating girl chanted in frenzy.
Winter chill whipped up; stalactite-like ice lumps erupted from the ground. Crackle-crackle! Shattering and refreezing, they rapidly took form.
—Groooar!
Born: three 160cm humanoid ice golems!
"No freaking way! You cheating bastard!!!!"
"...Kill!!!!!!"
She commanded; the sluggish trio swung club-like arms!
"Shit!"
—Roll!
Summoned too close—no instant counter. I rolled, careful not to drop my sword, evading the assault.
"But it won't work on this Kim Katt!"
—Fwoom!
Just summoned trash mobs!
Ice chunks inefficient to slice, so I kicked instead. No damage—had to shove!
"Kim Katt Dropkick!"
Slow golem couldn't dodge! Weight and muscle-powered dropkick sent it crashing—boom!
—Groooaaar!!!
The next swung its arm. Simple sidestep, then a spinning heel "Magnum Kick!" Down it went! One left. Handle it, then the girl—
—Groooaaar!!!
"No!"
But the golems were bait. Above her, over ten razor icicles ready. She smirked, thrust hand—pew-pew-pew!
"Shiiiit!!!"
Shocked, I halted and instinctively hugged the golem. —Groh?! Icicles buried in its back!
Clear teamkill!
Collision shattered it into misty shards.
The wrecked golem collapsed.
"Heh heh, you slew your own friend."
Ultimately, her mistake. Forgot her summon, fired blindly.
"...N-No!"
"No? Look at this trashed golem. All your doing. Back's a pincushion... You killed it! Your fault!!"
"...No! No!!"
Inexperienced in battle.
No moves left. I lunged, closing fast. End her before next spell.
Mage vs. warrior? All about distance.
"...Ugh, urk! Stay back!!!"
She gestured; cold birthed an ice barrier.
But.
—Too thin.
"Secret Sword!!!!"
—Kablooey!
Blade high, I charged and shoulder-tackled the wall, shattering it to close in. Beyond the debris, the girl panicked and backpedaled!
"...Stay awaaay!!!!"
My victory!
"Flat Chest Slashhhhhh—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
—Fwoosh!
Ultimate cleave laden with flaming sky hellfire!
Vivid flames rippled through the air, slamming direct!
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
—Scream echoes.
"Uoooooh!!!!!!!!!!!!"
But it didn't bisect her!
A massive ice hand had grabbed the burning blade. Drip, drip. Last gasp, though. Ice melting; she looked drained.
"...Get lost!! I said get lost!!!!"
"You dare! Command the Heavenly Demon!!!"
Furious, I poured power into my arms!
This moment—! True decisive clash!
"Kieeeek—!!!!!!!"
Mana rampaged through my body to arms! Then shoulders, waist, legs, feet—infusing muscles for the "strongest" "strike"!
True Flame Room Commander Sword Technique.
First Secret Ultimate Art.
—Ultimate.
"Flame Room Slashhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"
—Crunch.
That beautiful, ferocious strike.
Had reached the Heavenly Demon.
—Boom.
Time seemed to slow.
The industrial-press-surpassing blow pulverized the ice hand. Shards flew; she lay exposed.
The unrelenting blade fell like a guillotine.
"Kyaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!"
Blade engulfed her!
—Kablooey!
Vast steam billowed as the flame enchant expired. Blazing heat chased away the cold; sweat poured from me.
In the disorienting steam, the 'severed' sensation traveled through my grip.
"...It's over."
—Screeech!
But Kim Katt never drops guard. Even as mana drain made the world ring, I swung wide to purge any threats.
—Fwoooosh.
Steam cleared.
"...Gone?"
No corpse.
Wait—flanked?
—?
"...Urgh!!! I'll never forgive you!!!"
Her raspy voice from above.
Looking up: ice-shard wings sprouted; the spirit girl soared. Her face cracked like a broken doll.
"Revenge!! Definitely!!! Human!!!!"
Pathetic twerp.
Critical hit, then fled.
"Revenge? Revenge... Ha! Hahaha!!!"
Her loser's parting whine was oddly hilarious. Fucked up that bad and still yapping?
Amused, I burst out laughing.
"Fine! The Heavenly Demon never shuns revenge or challenge! Come! Anytime! Hone your hate and skill, strike again! The Heavenly Demon awaits!!!"
I bellowed with final strength; she wheeled away, vanishing into winter's depths.