Ancient Ruins of Hwarba (6)
“Those guys are gonna have their hands full. Did you say it was a high-ranking spirit? Looked crazy strong.”
Uncle shrugged as he stared at the subspace sealing the entrance, prompting Dr. Felime to speak up.
“It is their own karma. I was the one who yielded them the opportunity to explore these ruins in the first place... How dare they turn around, covet everything, and attempt to harm others?”
From Dr. Felime's standpoint, it was utterly absurd. All he had done was discover the clue and request investment.
Yet they had tried to murder the very man who started it all and seize everything by force.
“Whatever happens, only one side will be left standing. And whoever survives won't walk away in one piece.”
“Heh-heh. Is this what they call killing two birds with one stone?”
Putting aside how easily we had resolved the situation, I felt a slight twinge of regret. It was because of the combat.
Both the knights of the expedition and that fire spirit were opponents I had wanted to fight at least once.
It was a good chance to gain some real-combat experience, too.
It seemed that every time I tackled a gate, I ended up getting a free ride. Not that I ever intended it that way.
In truth, this gate was quite a grueling setup.
We had penetrated the ruins in practically the shortest time possible, yet the enemy's counteraction had still been remarkably fast.
Perhaps the way they barged in at this exact moment had all been calculated as part of the gate's design.
Taking on both sides at once would have been a nightmare.
I wasn't deliberately avoiding a fight. Well, using subspace to plug the entrance was obviously intentional, but still...
There was no reason to fight at a blatant disadvantage, was there?
“Everyone, get ready.”
Either way, real combat awaited us soon enough.
My spatial awareness had a range of thirty meters. The subspace shared that exact reach. If I moved too far, the barrier blocking the entrance would collapse.
We couldn't afford to leave lingering troubles behind our backs, so it was best to clean up the survivor the second their battle wrapped up. Whether human or spirit, we couldn't give them time to recover.
“How's it looking in there?”
“The spirit is stronger.”
Chunbae hadn't worried for nothing. The expedition held out better than expected, but...
Before a high-ranking fire spirit, they simply were no match.
“Aaaargh!”
That passage wasn't particularly wide. Because the knight mounted atop the Flame Steed was a spiritual entity, halting its charge with mere physical force was nearly impossible.
On top of that, it was blanketing the corridor in flames. Agonized screams echoed as flesh burned.
“Ugh...”
After a ferocious roar of consuming flames, the clash of battle diminished noticeably.
In scarcely any time at all, the Fire Knight had wiped out the remnants.
A textbook case of playing one enemy against another.
Naturally, my mind was already racing in the meantime, formulating a strategy to deal with the Fire Knight.
It's vastly stronger and faster than the Magma Golem. I'm not sure about its physical durability, but I have to assume it's tougher.
The real problem was my companions. For starters, Uncle and I were the only ones possessing the Fire Resistance skill.
That charging speed earlier had defied belief. Being a spirit, its synchronization with the Flame Steed was seamless.
A one-on-one duel in a cramped tunnel was something even I needed to avoid. But drawing it out here would endanger the party.
Well, the solution was straightforward.
“When I open the subspace, the spirit will push back in here. When it does, head right into that entrance.”
“In there?”
“It'll feel unpleasant with all the corpses, but it's our best option. Trying to maneuver around out in the open here is too risky.”
Even if I dodged the spirit's charge, it might plow straight into our rearguard.
Intercepting it with Leap would mean absorbing the full momentum of that charge, putting me at a severe disadvantage. Besides, holding aggro permanently was never guaranteed.
There was a good reason frontline vanguard squads had dedicated protective fighters for the rear line alongside the main vanguard tank.
“Uncle, please guard the entrance with Yongyong. Make sure it can't easily flank us.”
All I had to do was deploy the subspace while leaving an opening right at the entrance.
The spirit would find it difficult to attack through it, yet Lee Shinhee and Minjae would still be able to cast healing and magic through the gap.
“Got it. Let's give it a shot.”
“The first move is crucial. You have to slip in right after it commits to me.”
By the time we finalized the plan, the skirmish down the corridor had ended. The Fire Knight was heading our way.
The clatter of the Flame Steed's hooves reached our ears—or rather, the crackling hiss of burning fire mimicking footfalls.
“Get ready... Opening it now.”
Standing off to the left of the entrance, the party kept their distance, staying out of the spirit's line of sight. It might detect them through magic power, but it would inevitably target whatever caught its eye first.
Yongyong and Choi Cheolgi stood guard in front of the group. Han Hye took up a stance directly facing the entrance, gripping the Wind Flow Sword.
The instant he dismissed the subspace, he slashed twice in rapid succession.
Two crescent wind blades flew through the air in an X-shaped cross, separated by an imperceptible beat. Unfazed, the Fire Knight spurred its mount forward.
With a violent snort, the Flame Steed charged head-on. The knight swung its blazing broadsword.
Whooosh!
Raging flames collided with the gale. The fire flickered wildly, but the blast failed to inflict any real damage on the knight.
Fortunately, however, the Fire Knight charged straight forward, just as Han Hye intended.
It cast a fleeting glance toward the companions off to the side, but didn't veer off course.
Though the party didn't realize it, Yongyong's presence as a Red Dragon made the difference. To the spirit, the dragon seemed like kin.
“Now!”
Han Hye lunged diagonally to the right, sweeping his Wind Flow Sword upward to parry the knight's attack.
Clang! Clang!
Even in the split second the steed bolted past, two rapid sword exchanges rang out. Han Hye clicked his tongue as a sharp ache flared in his wrists.
That's no ordinary fire.
Though forged from pure flame, the blade carried the weight and density of solid iron.
Amplified by the sheer kinetic force of the Flame Steed's charge, its destructive power was on another level.
Meanwhile, the party safely slipped inside the entrance. Han Hye thrust out his hand.
Wuuuung.
Subspace sprang into existence across the entrance, leaving just enough of an opening for a single person to squeeze through. Choi Cheolgi positioned himself right before the slit.
“Hyung! It's perfect!”
Now Seo Minjae and Lee Shinhee could lean out through the gap to cast their spells and healing.
Even if the knight attempted an assault, Choi Cheolgi was there to block, and the opening was far too narrow for comfort anyway.
“Receive this blessing...!”
Lee Shinhee's buff washed over Han Hye, invigorating his Strength and Agility. He rolled his shoulders lightly.
Watching the Fire Knight whirl around after overshooting its charge, Han Hye's eyes gleamed.
It isn't in peak condition.
His only frame of reference had been a single encounter—when he dodged its initial charge earlier.
Yet the discrepancy was unmistakable.
This charge lacked the explosive ferocity of the first.
Its speed had dropped by a fraction, and the blazing aura cloaking its form burned noticeably dimmer.
Then again, those expedition guys were no pushovers.
A narrow corridor was a terrible battleground for the expedition, leading to their demise, but they hadn't gone down quietly.
In that desperate struggle, they had managed to land several significant blows on the Fire Knight.
—At this level, you should be more than capable of handling it.
Chunbae had noticed as well and offered his assessment. Han Hye broke into a satisfied smile.
Perfect. I wanted to test myself against it anyway.
He had secured genuine combat against an ideal opponent. If there was one more thing he wanted, it was to separate the knight from its mount.
Han Hye was far more interested in refining his swordsmanship than simply racking up stat points.
And for that, crossing blades with an unmounted foe was far more fruitful than fighting one on horseback.
Just then, the Fire Knight charged once more, the Flame Steed scattering burning embers in its wake.
Wuuuung—
Han Hye deployed his subspace again, angling it toward the knight's path. He wasn't aiming for the rider.
He manifested it low, targeting the mount's footing. However, his timing was a fraction too early.
The Flame Steed vaulted lightly over the subspace barrier, leaping high into the air. The knight's blazing broadsword plummeted toward his skull.
Han Hye pulled his upper body back, parrying the descending blade with a sharp deflection.
Unlike when they had merely grazed blades earlier, the spirit unleashed a burst of flames in every direction. Intense heat washed over him.
Hot, isn't it?
Even Han Hye, who possessed A-rank Fire Resistance, felt the searing burn.
Without that skill, the ambient heat alone would have scorched him to cinders.
“Hyung!”
Sssss!
Minjae's magic struck the spirit. It was a water spell, but it failed to accomplish much.
The moment the water contacted the Fire Knight, it flashed into steam, dispersing into a thin mist.
Yet even that mist couldn't endure; the sweltering heat incinerated the moisture in an instant.
There was no time to catch his breath. The Fire Knight came charging again.
Wuuuung!
Having attempted it once, Han Hye nailed the timing on his second try. Subspace materialized an inch before the Flame Steed's nose.
Thud! Despite being composed of living fire, the beast struck the barrier with bone-jarring impact and ground to a violent halt. The sudden deceleration flung the knight from the saddle.
Han Hye pressed the offensive immediately, but the Fire Knight whipped its sword around with blinding reflex, deflecting the strike.
Dissolving into swirling flames, it reformed squarely on its feet.
“Leave the horse to me!”
Choi Cheolgi charged into the fray. Sensing that the Fire Knight had its eyes locked entirely on Han Hye, joining the battle now would tilt the scales in their favor.
“Understood! If things get dangerous, I'll use Leap!”
Han Hye grinned. He had been on the verge of calling Choi Cheolgi over anyway. After fighting side by side for so long, their synergy was second nature.
Though the party's guard was temporarily left open, he could instantly reposition with Leap if the creature redirected its hostility.
Thus, the exact scenario Han Hye had envisioned took shape. The knight cast a brief glance toward the Flame Steed before fixing its glare back on Han Hye.
Its volcanic basalt eyes stared blankly, void of life. The attack came without warning.
Fwoosh!
A crescent of fiery sword energy sliced toward him, mirroring Han Hye's wind slashes. Teleporting past the flames with Leap, Han Hye brought his sword slashing down toward the knight.
Blades clashed. The sword of living flame met the wind-imbued Wind Flow Sword.
As if reacting chemically to each other, crimson fire surged and billowed along the wind currents with every thunderous impact.
“Hyung! Are you holding up?”
“I can handle it!”
It was indeed a high-ranking spirit. Without Fire Resistance, the blistering thermal radiation would have blistered his exposed skin.
Yet precisely because he was Han Hye, he could endure it.
The real challenge lay in the swordsmanship. The Fire Knight possessed superior sword technique.
Though a flurry of strikes rained down upon him, Han Hye remained composed and met every blow. Gradually, he introduced variations to his swordplay, interweaving his existing martial styles.
Blending the Imperial Basic Swordsmanship with Cresea Swordsmanship...
A defensive style and a rapid-thrust art might have seemed ill-suited for each other, but reality proved otherwise.
All he had to do was construct a rock-solid defense and counterattack with blinding thrusts.
“...”
“Whoa...”
As sword strikes were traded back and forth, hushed awe rippled through the onlookers.
Though none of them were connoisseurs of the blade, the two swordsmen clashing amid rolling torrents of fire looked like dancers performing an intricate waltz.
The skill level of Cresea Swordsmanship (B-rank) has increased.
The skill level of Fire Resistance (A-rank) has increased.
In the heat of the exchange, two of Han Hye's skills rose in rank, forged by prolonged combat in the heart of the flames.
It was an immensely gratifying gain, pulling an involuntary grin to his lips.
Real combat really is the best teacher.
The oppressive heat receded a touch, and parrying the blazing broadsword became noticeably smoother. The tide of battle began to turn.
Moreover, the Fire Knight had already expended a significant amount of power dealing with the expedition outside.
“Hyung!”
Snapping out of his daze, Seo Minjae unleashed his magic at the knight.
Spears of compressed sand erupted toward the Fire Knight, striking with immaculate timing.
Time to finish this.
Han Hye activated Leap without hesitation, vanishing to reappear directly behind the knight as it stumbled away from the erupting sand spikes.
Infused with dense magic power, the Wind Flow Sword sheared through the knight's neck. But he didn't stop there.
Two diagonal slashes carved deeply into the elemental body. The blazing silhouette sputtered and collapsed into dying embers.
Over by the side, the Flame Steed had also been brought down by Choi Cheolgi.
“Minjae, that was great timing.”
“Who cares about timing, hyung, that was completely insane! I've never seen you wield a sword like that!”
Of course, the swirling tongues of flame had provided most of the cinematic spectacle rather than the technical nuances of the swordplay itself, but...
Seeing Seo Minjae's wide, disbelieving eyes, Han Hye sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
I guess I've been taking the easy way out for too long.
Even the doctor and his assistant stared at Han Hye with open mouths.
“Incredible... Truly, that was a duel worthy of being etched into legend.”
“Not at all.”
“Once this matter is concluded, I will ensure you are properly rewarded. I must extend my deepest gratitude to Gerom as well, for introducing such exceptional individuals.”
Han Hye chuckled softly at the scholar's noticeably polite tone. Lee Shinhee stepped forward with a worried expression.
“Are you hurt anywhere else? You were standing right in the middle of those flames.”
“Not really. My fire resistance is high, and the flames never touched me directly.”
“Shinhee, heal me instead, please. That damn fire horse kicked me right in the shoulder—I think the bone's cracked.”
Choi Cheolgi limped over, clutching one shoulder with a wince.
“It's not a severe fracture, is it?”
“Nah, I'm built like a tank. Argh!”
Uncle attempted to strike a double-bicep bodybuilding pose, only to clutch his shoulder again with a grimace, drawing a wave of chuckles from the party.
“At any rate, since everyone is safe, let's keep moving.”
Beyond the Fire Knight, no further enemies barred our way. Only a single path wound forward.
As we followed the trail deeper, the ambient heat thickened drastically.
“I... I cannot go any farther...”
Even while clutching ice stones, the doctor and his assistant admitted defeat. This wasn't merely hot.
Never mind the scorching air burning their lungs; venturing any deeper would quite literally cook their flesh.
Even Lee Shinhee and Seo Minjae looked strained, while Uncle was drenched in sweat.
Only Yongyong and I remained relatively unaffected. The little guy looked thoroughly carefree, practically prancing with excitement.
“I'll stand guard here, Hye-ya. Go on ahead and take a look.”
There was always a chance of an ambush from the rear, after all.
“Shall I?”
“Please do so. If you discover any inscriptions within, kindly copy them down.”
Advancing a little further brought me into a wide-open expanse. It looked like the very caldera of a volcano.
A stone pathway about two meters wide stretched forward for ten meters, suspended thirty meters above a roiling sea of molten lava.
Damn, this is hot.
The heat was ridiculous, enough to make even someone with A-rank Fire Resistance feel the burn.
Yet stopping was out of the question.
Is that the essence...?
At the end of the stone bridge, perched atop an ancient altar, a crimson-burning core rested, drawing in the fiery power of the surrounding magma like a vortex.
As I drew closer, my eyes widened in disbelief.
An S-rank item was sitting right there before my eyes.