The White Frost Storm That Freezes All
A white frost storm that froze everything in its path.
Like a blizzard sweeping through the Snow Mountain Zone, the raging winds gradually subsided.
And the landscape it revealed was a pristine expanse of glacial ice.
In this world of frozen white snowfields where everything visible had been encased in ice, Snow quietly swished her tail.
'Looks like it's mostly cleaned up...'
Snow, lost in thought for a moment, swiftly pulled back her body.
A streak of light flashed toward the spot where she had stood.
"Hmph. Dodged it, huh?"
A group of hunters—the only ones retaining color amid the all-encompassing white frost—emerged into view.
The sword that had shot toward Snow like a bolt of lightning returned to its master's hand.
'Oh? Even after that attack, some survivors remain unscathed.'
Snow's eyes quietly gleamed at the sight of the unharmed hunters.
Finally, the SA-rank hunters who had been lurking among the others, biding their time, stepped forward openly.
"I was planning to wait until you were more worn out."
"That one strike took out a hell of a lot."
"Still, they've got to be drained by now. Should be manageable."
"Don't get cocky. Even weakened, it's an SS-rank monster. Take it down methodically, bit by bit."
Every one of the hunters who revealed themselves was SA-rank.
And not just one or two—there were four of them.
Moreover, the survivors from the frost storm were gathering around them one by one.
Their numbers had dwindled to a countable few compared to before, but those still standing were all high-rank hunters.
'So the blusterers died off, and only the real deal survived? This lady's miscalculation.'
She had anticipated some survivors, but not this many.
Were there more capable ones than she'd thought?
They were far too strong to dismiss as mere rabble.
"Survivors?"
"Around a hundred, give or take."
"...Damn, that's a lot of casualties. Our side?"
"Heavy losses below A-rank, but most above that are fine."
"Good. At least we can show our faces in formation."
The SA-rank hunter—Yeon Ga-un, one of Wang Feng's sworn brothers—nodded lightly and swung his sword with casual ease.
A sharp blade aura shot straight toward Snow.
Instead of dodging the sudden attack, Snow blocked it with her front paw.
Her razor-sharp claws parried the incoming sword energy.
Boom!
With a heavy thud, dozens of hunters launched themselves at Snow.
'Even fiercer than before!'
These were the true elites.
And from their coordinated movements, they seemed to be from the same group.
'A guild? Or a raid team? No wonder they're strong—they've fought together for ages.'
Snow's eyes flashed as she dodged the swords hurtling toward her.
All of them were annoying, but one stood out above the rest.
'That one over there! He wields his sword with such effortless mastery.'
Yeon Ga-un, the SA-rank hunter observing from a distance, controlled his blade with mere flicks of his fingers. Snow irritably lashed her tail at the sight.
The dozen or so charging hunters scattered like fallen leaves.
'Trash that wouldn't even be a snack on their own!'
With the SA-rank hunters backing them up, these nobodies were flying high.
Whenever she tried to swat them down in annoyance, the elites blocked her path, preventing a clean finish.
Whoosh—
Yeon Ga-un's controlled sword shot toward Snow.
She barely evaded, avoiding injury, but a few strands of her beautiful fur were sliced off.
'How dare that trash!'
Before her rage could erupt into retaliation, the next wave of attacks followed.
Hwang Woo, another SA-rank hunter, unleashed a full-force punch toward Snow.
Plain and unadorned—no fancy tricks—just a straight jab that seemed too simplistic for SA-rank, yet its raw power was undeniable.
A destructive straight punch worthy of SA-rank.
Snow whipped her tail in haste.
Crash!
An explosive boom echoed—unbelievable for a mere clash of fist and tail—as Snow leaped back.
A quick glance showed her tail tip trembling faintly.
'What devastating power.'
These were on a whole different level from the hunters she'd faced before.
'If I'd known, maybe I should've insisted on fighting some SA-rankers myself, just to test them.'
Zhang Wei, the Yamamoto brothers.
She'd let Nix have them all since he seemed to enjoy it so much, but what if she'd clashed with them directly?
A twinge of regret bubbled up, and Snow clicked her tongue softly.
'Even if I had, it wouldn't have changed much.'
In the brief moment Snow caught her breath, the hunters didn't stand idle.
Whatever preparations they'd made, powerful attacks rained down on her in succession.
"Hah! Take some of my magic!"
A bolt of lightning shot forth with a shout.
Snow immediately erected a barrier.
She'd been minimizing mana use to conserve energy, but now was no time for half-measures.
'If only I'd wiped them all out earlier... Tch, trying to save mana just made me use more.'
With a short tsk, she leaped aside, dodging the lightning and the charging hunters.
Yeon Ga-un's sword and Hwang Woo's fist extended once more.
An oddly perfect harmony from their mismatched styles.
Clearly not a duo thrown together yesterday.
Snow fired foxfire at the incoming sword and fist, then lightly landed on the ground.
Without giving her a moment's respite, the hunters pressed their assault.
[...Truly a tiresome bunch.]
"Wha—! The monster's talking?!"
"What the...?!"
As the voice echoed in their minds, the hunters faltered. Snow's blue eyes gleamed quietly.
[To think this lady must go all out even against trash unworthy of being rivals... Humiliating, but fine. I acknowledge you. You are strong.]
A gust of wind blew from somewhere.
Not natural, but artificial—born from powerful mana fluctuations.
Yeon Ga-un, startled like the others by the monster's speech, snapped to attention at the ominous mana surge.
"Block it now!"
[Hmph. Not 'it,' but 'she.' Can't you tell from the voice? And alas, too late.]
Yeon Ga-un's belated sword strike missed; Snow had already finished her preparations.
[This lady had no true name before, but lately, after glimpsing some media, I named it myself.]
Swish-swish—
As her tail swayed gently, the atmosphere shifted in an instant.
The battle heat gave way to a thick, cloying seductiveness.
The lower-rank hunters began losing themselves first in the sultry, rising haze.
[They call it 'Illusory Dream Hell.']
Thud—
One collapsed, then others followed suit.
Watching them, Yeon Ga-un bit his lip hard to fend off his blurring mind.
A soft 'Hee-hee—' laugh echoed in his head.
[My husband oddly dislikes it, but this lady rather fancies it.]
—Not bad naming skill, right?
The alluring voice reverberated through his skull.
Even Yeon Ga-un, famed for his iron will, felt his mind slipping under the enchanting scent.
[No need to resist so hard. Just relax.]
Another silken whisper, and Yeon Ga-un slowly closed his eyes.
"...Hah! You think I'll fall for this?!"
His eyes snapped open wide.
He'd stabbed his own thigh with his sword, the pain jolting his mind awake.
[Oh? Impressive. To break free on your own. Truly remarkable.]
Snow gazed at the panting Yeon Ga-un with genuine admiration.
Even her lifelong rival had faltered briefly against this; she hadn't expected resistance.
[Was it that 'skill' of yours? Astonishing.]
"...Hmph. No more words for a wicked fox like you. Release my brothers at once!"
[Release those who dove into the dream of their own volition? This lady forced no one. Their choice alone. If they wished to refuse, they could've escaped like you.]
"You damned fox bitch!"
[Finally acknowledging I'm no 'it.' But 'bitch'? Such harsh words.]
Another velvety echo in his mind; Yeon Ga-un clenched his jaw.
One lapse, and he'd be ensnared for good.
"I won't listen to another word from you... If you won't release them, I'll free them myself!"
[Think you can? Even outnumbered before, you couldn't topple this lady.]
"Don't think I was going all out! And above all...!"
Yeon Ga-un shot toward Snow like a flash.
A dozen swords trailed him, hurtling at her.
"After attacks like that, your mana can't be full! I'll end you now!"
In a blink, he closed in and swung with full force.
The accompanying swords struck from all sides.
Yet amid the peril, Snow laughed leisurely. 'Hee-hee—'
[Correct. This lady expended much mana too; moving freely is taxing. But...]
Kaboom!
A heavy explosion rang out.
Yeon Ga-un, failing to land his blow, leaped back.
His face twisted in agony.
[Do I even need to face you myself?]
"Brother Hwang...!"
Hwang Woo, another SA-rank, blocked Yeon Ga-un's path with disbelief in his eyes.
[So many stand in my stead.]
Creak-creak—
The fallen rose one by one, barring Yeon Ga-un and Snow.
The other two SA-rank hunters joined them, save Yeon Ga-un and Hwang Woo.
Some were mere acquaintances, others lifelong comrades like Hwang Woo.
"You... you fox bitch! Brother Hwang! My brothers...!"
[As this lady said: acceptance would've been easier. Now you've turned kin against kin in futile rebellion. Such a pity.]
Yeon Ga-un's face contorted at the gentle 'hee-hee' in his mind.
"You... I won't forgive you! I'll tear you apart!"
[Hmm. Can you? So many block your path?]
Step—
Hwang Woo advanced; Yeon Ga-un's face twisted anew.
"I will... I'll cut you down, even if it costs my life...!"
[I rather like your type. How long until that rigid honor shatters? I'm quite looking forward to it.]
—Entertain this lady well.
With that silken whisper, Hwang Woo and the others charged at Yeon Ga-un.
He met them with a scream-like roar, fighting desperately.
Their positions utterly reversed from moments ago.
Though will-less, their ranks and numbers remained.
No matter Yeon Ga-un's skill, he couldn't overcome them all.
Snow's attention had long shifted from the fray.
'I wonder if he's faring well. Surely worse than here.'
She'd rush to aid once her mana recovered.
Gazing toward the city center, where Nix and Wang Feng surely clashed fiercely, Snow curled up quietly.
Unlike Nix's absurd regeneration, she needed this brief rest.
Her safety was in her loyal servants' hands—no worry there.
"Damn...! Damn it! Graaaah—!!!"
Lulling herself with Yeon Ga-un's frantic cries, Snow closed her eyes for a moment.