Snowfield War
Day after day, without fail, they pushed through the grueling training. They had experienced an insurmountable wall, one they could never breach, and not once had they landed a solid hit on her. Arahan, the superhumanly strong maidservant. Head maid of the Valenos family and a trusted confidante deeply cherished by the king. Under her guidance, they wielded their swords.
“His Majesty is locked in combat with that massive demon!”
“Now's our chance! Press the attack!”
“Uwoooooh!”
A heavy blow swept across the battlefield. Magical arrows rained down on the enemy like a storm. Even more impressively, a special spell passed down from a great mage disrupted the foes without harming allies. The Arkanthia imperial forces panicked. Their technology was overwhelmingly superior—devices that amplified mana and unleashed pre-programmed spells without restraint. It made no sense to be pushed back by mere swordsmen and mages!
“Ugh... What about General Claus?”
“He seems to be observing the situation still!”
“...Damn it.”
“The golem's collapsing! Link the mana now!”
“The enemy king is atop the golem. We can't get close... Ack!”
Whoosh! Crimson flames blocked their path. The fiery trail melted the snow and blazed fiercely, whipped into a frenzy by the fierce winds. The Frost Knight Order minimized their movements and charged the flustered enemy. Riding ice steeds, they thrust forward with lances. The frost-laced spears pierced enemy bellies, shattering the green rune fragments within. Blood splattered across the snow. It was a gruesome sight, but the Frost Knights didn't stop the slaughter. After all, these bastards were the ones who had trampled and stolen their homeland, right? Call it settling the score.
They hurled aside corpses dangling limply from spears that had gutted them. Entrails spilled out in a heap. The knight grimaced at the squelching sensation. He'd probably never forget it for the rest of his life. The thrill of battle kept it at bay, but once it all ended, nausea would surely surge.
His trembling hands bore minor cuts. He bit his lip slightly to drown out the fear, to remind himself he was still alive. The taste of blood filled his mouth. Not a bad feeling. And it wasn't just him. Everyone probably felt the same. War was horrific. But if it was a war they had to win, one they couldn't afford to lose... then they were all prepared to stake their lives. Yes, prepared.
A clear sky. Weather so perfect it was hard to believe war was raging beneath it. Fire and ice clashed below. The neck of a comrade riding beside him exploded in a burst of red light. Magitech-amplified strength. A massive mechanical arm spewed smoke as it drew mana. Blood dripped steadily. Rage consumed him at the sight.
“...Raaagh!”
“Foolish!”
Kaboom! A blue flash lit the sky. The great warrior technique Arahan had taught—Holy Explosion—blew the bastard's head clean off. Vengeance for his comrade. He knew war meant many would die. He was fighting for his homeland, life on the line. But he hadn't expected a friend he'd bonded with over two years to fall so soon.
Chunks of the Arkanthia soldier's head he had burst scattered everywhere. At that sight, the enemies leaped toward him in unison.
Thud! Thunk! Stab!
“Guh...”
Fresh blood soaked the ground. A nauseating sensation wormed up from deep within. He retched. A clot of blood surged up his throat, staining the snow. Crimson decorated the pristine white. His vision darkened. Strength ebbed from his body. Thump. He collapsed into the snow. Another Frost Knight Order member met his end. And it wasn't just him. The more enemies they felled, the fewer comrades remained. In such a situation, they couldn't let the enemy reach their king. Protecting him was their duty. His will was theirs.
“For the North!”
They reformed their lines. He shouted with all his might, voice thick with fervor. Even if it didn't reach anyone, he hoped someone heard and drew strength from it. Clutching that small wish, he swung his sword.
“Don't let them near His Majesty!”
“They're amplifying mana! We have to destroy those devices now!”
“I'll handle it. You support the south!”
Ice steeds thundered across the snowfields. Trails of green rune light drew starry patterns. A filthy sensation. Runes forcibly embedded into flesh. No human should endure that. It was brutally cruel, like something a demon would dream up.
The lead cavalry captain clasped his hands and began chanting the ritual. As a top-tier spell, it was hard to invoke without incantation. Unlike His Majesty, they didn't overflow with mana. The Valenos bloodline had an absurd affinity for it, of course. But they still needed chants to draw high-level spells from the Akashic Records.
Knight comrades naturally surrounded the now-unarmed captain, forming a protective formation. Blue rune script enveloped him. The mage unit funneled mana his way. And not just that—they all chanted together. A miracle beyond one man's power. They summoned a mythical being from beyond the distant snow mountains to this battlefield. A one-time spell... but enough to reverse the tide. Overwhelming, even.
Rune script followed the melody, forming a massive ritual circle in the air.
“Ruler of the snow mountains, awaken to the truths buried in the snow and heed my command.”
His arms tore from excessive mana use, blood streaming down. “Your hope is our hope. Guardian of the North, rouse the ancient power and awaken from your long slumber.”
Each word was a deathly script that devoured the soul. But they endured. They cast healing magic on one another.
“As a seed of Valenos, steward of the North, I command: He who touched the dragon's reverse scale of frost, hear this plea and manifest here...!”
Rumble! Their bloodlines surged toward the heavens. Overlaid on the ritual, it birthed immense energy. Just as DNA was needed to bloom the Mana Flower, blood rich in mana content opened a gate to another realm right there.
The sky split, a dark shadow emerging. A being from myth. The snow guardian who once shared life with progenitor Valenos awoke from eons of sleep. It tore through the spirit realm, prying open a rift. A colossal shadow stretched from the snow mountains, blotting the sun. Rooooar!
One flap of its wings swept away the landscape. A massive blizzard followed the upheaved earth. It burst from the frigid peaks, pierced the clouds, and dove straight down. Then, wings spread wide, it unleashed its breath.
“Kraaaah!”
The Ice Dragon. The family's guardian, bound by pact to ancient Valenos progenitor, descended. A temporary contract. Such meager mana couldn't sustain it long in the mortal plane. But that was fine. If it showed the enemy the overwhelming gap and shattered their will...
Its mighty flame breath engulfed the Arkanthia main force. They raised mana-amplified barriers. But the Ice Dragon was mythical. And after returning to the spirit realm post-pact, its age had ripened beyond measure. No longer a hatchling, it pierced even the essence of mana.
“Grrr...”
Flames boasting extreme heat clashed with ice, birthing vast steam. Giant clouds of smoke erupted outward. The steam's heat scalded any who approached. Yet not a single Frost Knight bore a scratch.
“Huh? Why no wounds...”
“The Ice Dragon is Valenos's guardian. It won't harm us, His Majesty's sworn retainers.”
“...No way!”
This boosted allied morale. Watching it all, Rowen flashed a dark smile. An unexpected turn. His soldiers had independently summoned the reversal. He'd thought they were slightly on the back foot, but the overwhelming entity's presence burdened the enemy greatly.
“Tch.”
He clicked his tongue. The golem, surely dismantled, kept self-repairing. This one was unique. Demonic energy blocked the erosion of black energy. Even clashing opposite forces didn't explode it. Its vitality was tenacious. It reminded him of Muron, the nuisance who caused trouble even in death. They'd never meet again, but if he ever reached the afterlife, he'd kill him twice over. With that vow, he unleashed Mandala on the resurrected demon golem.
*That thing was weird. He'd confirmed with his own eyes that it was being consumed by the black hole. Yet why was it regenerating like a cockroach? A golem immune to his black energy—this was a first.
...Output too low? Possible. The one who'd annihilated golems before was Rian Rose at full power. Now, he couldn't even draw half that strength. Two years on, his recovery was painfully slow. If not that... then it must truly have received demonic authority.
A keyword surfaced. Barbatos, King of Greed. One of his three powers: the Authority of Regeneration. The worst ability, born from coveting Lucifer, King of Depravity's regenerative might.
Whatever the case, an irritating situation. Any delay spelled trouble. Time couldn't be wasted. His knights were struggling; only he could end it and ease their burden.
The massive moving statue. The demon-shaped golem grinned. An emotionless construct gaining feelings—demonic seed's doing. ...It had a sense of self. A chilling smile. Jagged teeth protruded from rocky crevices. A long tongue licked its lips. Grotesque. Like a wild dog savoring discovered prey.
And now, red demonic energy rippled from its body.
“What the fuck!”
Rowen's body reflexively sprang back. The golem stared right at him. Black specks appeared amid the red aura one after another. Reflection magic. The overwhelming power granted to demonized golems. So long ago he'd forgotten why golems were such a pain: their reflection magic.
Rowen's black energy escaped his body, forming countless specks in the sky. Rumble! A pitch-black hole sucked in the surroundings. Rowen distanced himself, tongue clicking. Maintaining range, he infused black sword energy into the circular mandala of weapons. He amplified the core. The unbloomed Mana Flower limited growth, but amplification was immense. For everyone's sake, Rowen resolved to overexert.
...Should be fine for a bit.
Endure with raw strength. With that reckless thought, he poured black sword energy into Ice Blade. All fifty percent. And then.
“More.”
He forced amplification. The core burned like it was necrotizing. Mio would've freaked and slapped him; Arahan would've teared up trying to stop him. But what could he do? He wanted his homeland back fast. Winning this snowfield war came first. A few torn muscles for that? A bargain. Besides, they had skilled healers. Winterer knights inheriting Kalia Rune spirit wielded holy arts. Ironic, but Arahan's master Uba made it unsurprising.
Ice weapons reverted to primal frost mana. Crunch! It enveloped Ice Blade, solidifying as desired. Per the ritual blueprint in his mind. Thus, a massive frost greatsword emitting chill soared skyward.
But the golem wouldn't wait idly. ...Damn.
“A bit faster...!”
Too late? Just hold out a few dozen seconds. Please...
The giant blade took shape. Black energy spiraled along its edge—not the limit of fifty percent, but sixty. Muscles tore, blood vessels bursting. Splurt! Pain furrowed his brow. But he endured. The fiend's vile maw flicked its tongue. Boom! It kicked off the ground, compressing demonic energy. A massive claw. The sharp, demonic grasp crushed down.
“Faster!”
...Shit. Wrong. His head would be pulverized. Any way out?
...Or so he thought, when—
"Om karaji ya sabaha."
⟨ Rosmerta ⟩
Black-and-white yin-yang swirled as the pure white holy sword Rosmerta revealed itself.