Winter Falling on Steel

"Wh-whoa, whoaaaahhh!?"

I leaped so high the city shrank to a speck below! I'd only meant to put everything I had into the jump, but...!

This is a superior race? No, not just any superior race!

My vision started spinning wildly. How do I land? How do you even balance in midair? I must've learned something from that griffon ride, but here I was flailing helplessly, tumbling end over end.

Screw it—whatever happens, happens. Headfirst toward the ground, I hurtled straight at the giant knight.

I frantically pulled up my skill window. Lunar Blessing was a nighttime buff, and Selene Jump let you leap anywhere under the moon—a ridiculous teleport—but it was broad daylight, no moon in sight. It helpfully noted that if you jumped toward a shadowed moon, you'd drop from the spot where moonlight touched.

Telepathy was probably that ear-to-ear talk Riko mentioned before. I had no clue how much my stats had jumped. But seriously—no way a casual foot stomp sends you to the clouds, right?

It's coming—it's coming—land on time or—

At the same time, mana breathing fueled Body Enhancement. My heart pounded wildly as heat surged through me. Had I polymorphed the top-tier race's heart too? My head spun with feverish dizziness.

With a sonic boom, my plummeting body tore through the air vertically, slamming into the giant knight that had finally noticed me.

A soft, squishy thump.

My high-altitude critical strike harmlessly fizzled against the mana barrier cloaking the giant knight's body.

A light stomp, and I rocketed upward, kicking the air like solid ground. So light—my body felt weightless. Yet power overflowed in contrast. An exhilarating rush, like electricity crackling through every nerve.

And it didn't stop there—my vision sharpened too. Focusing mana in my eyes outlined objects crisply, even tracing motion paths.

This is a top-tier race...!

Strong just by being born! But seeing the world transform like this from childhood might drive you mad. Cold sweat beaded on my skin.

"Grraaaarrrgh!!"

The giant knight bellowed down at me. Beastly eyes on its head locked onto me. Overflowing evil god divine power—that suffocating pressure from the succubus lord fight crushed me again.

My ears hurt...!

The giant knight began rampaging. I'd reacted fast, but I had no way to take it down—especially with the princess inside. The kingdom couldn't risk real attacks.

A national princess held hostage, a being stronger than legendary giant knights wielding evil god power—the worst scenario. I'd contained it to avoid collateral, but with support requests out and explosions inside the skyscraper, tension gripped the city. Anxiety and fear rippled through civilians; adventurers and knights fretted over countermeasures.

Then a white thread slashed down from the sky, striking the giant knight. The massive frame shook violently from one step, balance shattered. The shock pierced the invisible shield of draconic mana.

Like an angel from heaven, a figure in pristine white feathered robes faced the giant knight alone.

From inside the transparent barrier, it looked like a gladiator battling a monster in an arena.

The howling giant knight wasn't legend reborn—it was evil god incarnate. Its roar stripped back the hood, revealing snowy white ears and hair like snowflakes—crimson-glowing eyes.

An androgynous beauty captivating onlookers; some artists gasped in awe. Subtle moonlight aura emanated, her snow-whiter-than-snow hair glowing. Perked ears marked her Levitfoot.

But no Levitfoot had snow-white hair.

Because such a Levitfoot was—

"Kin-eater...?"

The sole trait of top-tier Levitfoot.

Some adventurers feared it was that legendary Overlord, but as she drew a massive greatsword, terrified gazes flipped to awe.

A blood-red greatsword—the legendary hero's Bopal Weapon, said to have slain the Succubus Lord, gleamed before the kingdom's people.

Legend reborn, and now its armament revealed. Were they dreaming? Citizens mid-flight, adventurers mid-plan, knights mid-suppression—all froze, breathless.

The blade's bloodied sheen carried a life's weight even the ignorant felt. A death-pressure from countless souls slain—this was a demon sword. And its wielder? A hero.

Race didn't matter. The one holding that sword was an undeniable hero—proven by the legendary blade that drove out the Maou to the end!

.....

I'm gonna die, damn it.

Earsplitting roars shredded eardrums and battered brains. Rabbit ears and human ones...! It adds what wasn't there but removes what's there—quadrupled hearing was torture. Even rolling pebbles rang loud.

My stiff ears stood rigid, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reacting to hypersensitivity, refusing to fold. No clue what to do, I just glared stiffly at the giant knight.

Thud—the massive greatsword fell into my grip. As its blade gleamed, the giant knight recoiled in terror.

Worthy of the sword Daegomgei wielded to the end, even slaying a god. Who needs a holy sword? A demon sword wielded as holy becomes the hero's blade.

I gripped the hilt warily, fearing rejection, but it lightened to a feather—one hand effortless. Ahh... this hefty, thick grip. Sensations meant for two hands, now one. Good—weight registered. Not a buff/debuff, so no rejection maybe. Either way, perfect for me.

Finally wielding this sword.

The giant's claw slashed at me. Bopal Weapon swung at the panicked beast's threat—blade caught in muscle, my body whipped upward weightlessly.

No weight on the sword!

Greatswords derive power from massive blade weight. Now weightless for me, it sliced evil god fingers fine, but broad blade snagged muscle, hoisting me up.

Unforeseen absurdity—I spun once dangling from the hilt, slapped soles to arm. Stuck firm, shoved off, released. Miss timing, slip and fall.

Racing arm-length, fixing balance as needed, defying gravity toward the head. Other arm swung predictably—light stomp, body feather-light upward.

Invisible Touch gripped hilt; before 2m limit, yanked still-embedded Bopal Weapon.

Giant knight recoiled, sword flying at me. Shoulder panels opened—multi-missile launcher. Thigh cylinders spun, targeting me. Triple machine guns whirred, unleashing bullets.

Midair, I flipped Bopal Weapon board-like to block—but weightless, one bullet shoved it soccer-ball-style, blasting me back.

Too many eyes watching—!

No skills revealing my identity! Mana-enhanced body, summoned magic circle midair. Kick-thrust—glass-shatter sound—torpedo-pierce stabbed giant knight's shoulder.

Tiny fried chicken summoned, tossed at missiles—Deadly Queen detonated. Chain explosions tangled, massive blast staggered the knight in agony.

"Kyaaak!"

Princess's scream from within—to stop, stab the heart? Chest? Spine? Aiming neck joint with two-handed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grip—exoskeleton writhed.

Bad omen—leaped as spines erupted body-wide. Bone-like thorns stretched with roars, piercing barrier, crumbling road, stabbing at me.

Frantic slash severed them; dove for neck—massive blade suddenly blocked vision.

No time to process—shoulder to Bopal Weapon blade defended collision—consciousness flickered.

"Ugh..!"

Head about to smash pavement—plant roots from road rubble gently nudged me aside. No wounds, no Catastrophe trigger.

Steadying breath, regripped Bopal Weapon. Giant knight stood on legs, drawing massive Chamryong Greatsword from back, looming over me.

Crumbled barriers, collapsed road. My gaze to trapped civilians—knight smirked. Mouth corners curled.

Raised sword at barrier; armaments targeted civilians.

Snatched memorize spellbook from waist, yelled:

"Time Stop!"

Time halted—or so; evil god waves let knight move in frozen world, swinging Chamryong at me.

Sole intent: parry with Bopal Weapon—crack! Invisible ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠barrier clashed blades.

Damn mana shield..! Touch ignores physical resist, nulls, reflects—but my mana couldn't cleave it.

Boom! Power lost; flung like cat-toying mouse.

Hand to crumbled barrier—Time Rewind max restore. Released Time Stop, charged knight.

Sudden barrier repair—missile blasts, ricocheting bullets. Blocked bullets with Bopal Weapon, leaped through smoke at knight.

Piiiing──

"Huh?"

Energy gathered in mouth—breath attack too..?

Heat ray fired—Bopal Weapon swung. Mana-clad blade cleaved ray, but weightless shove hurled me skyward gripping sword.

Even Bopal Weapon slipped, flying far; I crashed through building ceiling to floor.

"Bopal Weapon..!"

Resummoned, gripped. Gasping to rise—agony wracked body, head drooped.

Body wouldn't obey.

What... the hell...? Noticed hair back to black.

Tried Polymorph—searing pain waves made breathing hard. Top-tier transformation backlash..!

Couldn't sustain; good I noticed quick? Steadying breath, plotting next—someone supported me.

"Hey, lad, you alright?"

The dwarf elder from before. Looking up—giant knight sat slumped.

...Dragon's roar nulls Polymorph forcibly. Prone to anytime release—foolish to retransform.

Sheathed Bopal Weapon, used spirit sword as cane, glared up.

"Elder... without questions, can you get me there?"

"Gotta evacuate—the streets are chaos."

".....Please."

Dwarf elder, puzzled but agreeable, hoisted me lightly to the knight. Kind soul.

Squeezed last strength to head. Touched blindly—head parted like magic, cockpit revealed.

"...Lad, no way?"

Only heroes pilot it, right? Elder eyed warily; I climbed awkward limb-locking seat, head closed.

"Keep it secret."

Clunk—head sealed. Darkness. Auto-open meant power remained. Worst case, Recycle dismantle.

Unpleasant seat linked limbs... recalled infinite energy core.

Work? Possible? Overflowing holy power from constellations sucked in automatically.

Beep beep beep──vitals and signals lit up.

Constellation skills overflow holy power. So please, move.

Praying desperately, waiting—light filtered in, museum entered view. One-body sensation; translucent glass read [Hero Park Chun-sik, Welcome] in Korean. I smiled.

.....

Fate's guidance exists. Drawn inexorably, faintly. Coincidences stacking into destiny.

Silent for ages, the giant knight—powered by 60 constellations, Fate Goddess's blessing, overflowing holy force—awoke from deep slumber, rising.

Joints creaked, muscles frayed, fingers stiff. Right arm wouldn't lift. Maintained, but limits hit fast.

Yet it rose.

"Ooooh..."

Before dwarf elder, slumbering knight awoke, toddled baby-like, then glowed, walked, ran.

Dream-to-reality; elder cheered emotionally, "You got this!" Whether it reached gods unknown, but...

Gamble paid off. Time-rotted knight surged with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vigor, smashing museum doors, charging road.

Against adventurer panic, civilian evac—shocking sight of guardian god rising froze them staring up.

"No more rampaging in this city!"

Boarded, confidence overflowed voice. Streets devastated briefly, but adventurers held. Even unflappable pros gasped at legendary slumbering knight charging out.

Same-size foe swung greatsword. Resummoned knife-like Bopal Weapon, gripped one hand, lifted with other.

Toothpick-level, but weighted now. Boom! Air-quaking impact—mana, holy power, Enhancement! God-aided knight blocked Chamryong blade with one arm's Bopal Weapon.

I can do this...!

But smoke leaked joints. Time's toll outpaced Enhancement; creaking limits.

It's gonna break for real..!