141. The Ice Queen in the Flames
“Ice Arrow!”
A single streak of ice arrow shot from Carpe's hand, striking the low-level flame spirit dead center.
'One Shot to the Lord's Side' — Damage increases by 10% on first attack.
107% bonus damage applied!
Low-level Flame Spirit defeated.
“Kuh! That's it! This is gaming!”
Watching the spirits drop one by one in single hits filled him with a rush of emotion.
The thrill he'd felt back at the very start of the game!
“Feels like I've rediscovered a forgotten memory. Yeah... RaSe is this kind of game.”
-You were one-shotting everything happily until Ruana. How long ago was that? And you're already waxing nostalgic?
“It's just the vibe, man. The vibe.”
Carpe stepped forward with Blue Dragon Step once more, closing in on the nearest flame spirit.
His fist swung out.
Thwack!—!
113% bonus damage applied!
Low-level Flame Spirit defeated.
The hunt was ridiculously easy.
Not just because of the massive debuffs stacked on the flame spirits, but because they could barely react at all.
<Scary! So scary!>
<Why? One of the Four Calamities here?>
<We're gonna get erased!>
They trembled like cornered rabbits facing a beast, showing no will to fight.
-Heads up. Magic incoming. Watch out.
“Whoa.”
Of course, not every spirit was like that.
Some—especially the mid-level ones—overcame their fear and launched attacks at Carpe. But he simply ducked his head to dodge.
Boom!—!
A missed fireball exploded behind him, sending a wave of scorching heat washing over his back.
“Kyuu kyuu kyuu!”
Was it mad that its master was under attack?
Mukhyang let out an angry squeak, swiping its front paw through the air.
Then, a thick black cloud formed above the mid-level spirit's head.
Kaboom!—!
A bolt of lightning crashed down on the mid-level spirit.
Mukhyang's skill Calling Thunder had activated.
But despite the clean hit, the results weren't great.
The mid-level flame spirit staggered briefly but quickly recovered, firing off another fireball as if nothing had happened.
Carpe dodged it easily again, but Mukhyang looked a bit shocked.
“Kyuuung?!”
-Well, even with magic resistance down, the level gap's insane. And the attributes don't match up. No epic pet could bridge that.
“Kyuuuung...”
Mukhyang's perky ears drooped slightly.
It had deflated.
“Dude, why are you killing the little guy's vibe like that?”
-...I was just stating facts. Wasn't trying to bum him out or anything...
“Ended up that way anyway. Cheer him up quick. He's still at that age where he needs all the love!”
-Try wrapping me in some love for once, you bastard!
Cheonma grumbled but still addressed Mukhyang.
-Hey, don't get down. You're just young. Give it time—you'll outclass these scrubs soon enough.
“Kyuuung?”
-Yeah. Especially once you evolve. One-shots for days... Oh, right—how's that evolution quest going?
“Stage 2's almost done. Just one boss hunt left among the retainers. Should hit stage 3 soon.”
-Hear that, Kyuukyu? You're about to skyrocket.
“Kyuu kyuu kyuu!”
-...What the hell am I doing, hyping up a pet like this?
Cheonma muttered with a deflated look, hit by reality.
In over ten years of playing RaSe, he'd never treated an NPC this way.
NPCs were just graphics chunks—nothing more, nothing less. No need to get attached.
“Y'know, bro, you haven't called 'em graphics chunks lately.”
-...
“Heh heh. The cold-hearted archdemon Cheonma Jijon is a thing of the past. With that soft heart, you can't master the Heavenly Demon Sect's secret art, Cold Blood Heart Technique, to its peak!”
-What bullshit is this?! You've lost your damn mind.
“Right? You're human too—eat, sleep, hang out together, and feelings grow. Mukhyang feels like a real pet now, y'know?”
-Shut up!
“Acting tsundere with your build and looks just creeps people out. Own it.”
-Gaaah!!!
Carpe teased Cheonma mercilessly but kept his hands busy.
Combining Ice Arrow, Blue Dragon Step, and basic attacks, he steadily whittled down the flame spirits.
Thwack!—!
“Ah, this one's not dropping in one hit.”
The lizard-shaped mid-level flame spirit didn't go down from a single basic attack.
Well, it was mid-level—same as the low ones would be weirder.
“Ma Sword Penetration Mirror!”
Thud!—!
Target hit by Ma Sword Penetration Mirror. Physical and magic defense reduced by 50% for 5 seconds.
But it was only a matter of time.
The debuffed mid-level spirit fell after exactly five more hits.
“Mids aren't tough either. Time to crank the speed.”
From then on, Carpe dashed around with Blue Dragon Step on cooldown, moving freely.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Every punch, every spell—spirits exploded without fail.
And Mukhyang diligently picked up their drops.
Occasional spirits lunged at Mukhyang, but it activated Silver Shadow Step to hide in Carpe's shadow.
“Kinda reminds me of the early days, just you, me, and Mukhyang rolling as a trio.”
-Yeah. Mobs popping like fireworks back then too. Monster.
It took Carpe less than 30 minutes to clear the entire cave.
Confirming no spirits remained, he stood before the iron door at the end, a bit disappointed.
“Man, what a honey pot hunting ground, but barely any mobs. If no one else had come first, I'd camp till respawn.”
-Pointless. Stage-style areas like this only give EXP and loot on first clear. Like the Magic Tower.
“For real? This game's such a dick about free rides. Trash game. Stage structure, huh?”
-Yep. Open that iron door, and it's another room like this. Clear the spirits, next door... Get the idea?
“Aha.”
Repeat a few stages, and you'd hit a guardian's lair.
“Alright, full speed ahead then.”
Carpe flung open the door to the next stage without hesitation.
As Cheonma said, another cavern appeared, lava flowing across the floor.
And flame spirits crawling out from it.
Carpe grinned wide and charged.
Clearing the second stage was even faster than the first.
Exactly 23 minutes. The third took 21—and he even hit a level up there.
-...Unbelievable every time. How do you adapt to combat this fast in real time?
“It's all about the knack. The knack.”
Most stage dungeons ramped up monster strength per stage, but Flame Spirit Haven kept the same level across all, making it possible.
Carpe cleared the fourth and fifth without pause, shaving his time down to 15 minutes by then.
Now facing the sixth stage.
“Huh? Door's different.”
The sixth door wasn't iron—it was a shimmering silver one.
-We're here. Obvious at a glance, but what's behind that ain't like the rest.
“What's special about silver doors? Reward room?!”
-Freebie hunter thinking, but nope. Nothing in the silver stage. No monsters, no rewards—just empty space.
“What? Why even have that?”
-Silver room's always followed by a boss room. It's a breather before the fight.
“Gotcha.”
Carpe nodded. Like the Magic Tower, a rest area before the boss.
“Hmm. Means we might run into 'em this time.”
-Probably. Not many rooms left.
The two who'd entered ahead of Carpe.
No encounters yet, so likely up ahead.
And if they met? Fight was 100% on.
Could he win as he was?
Thoughts raced, but options were one: forward.
He pulled a potion from inventory, topped off MP.
Took a deep breath.
“Whew. Here we go.”
He pushed the silver door cautiously.
“Huh?”
The air felt different instantly.
Not figuratively—the literal air had changed.
“Not hot at all in here?”
The suffocating heat vanished. Cooler, even refreshing.
-Getting closer to the top-grade flame spirit core, and it's cooling off? Someone's artificially chilling it.
Finding that someone was easy.
Dead center of the rest area stood a woman.
The cool aura radiated from her.
“Huh? Uh?”
She looked about 160cm, blue bob cut, glasses.
Baggy robe and huge staff screamed mage.
“Who are you? How'd you get here?!”
She panicked at the sight of Carpe.
This was a secret spot she'd and her guild master had found after tons of effort.
Never imagined anyone else entering. The haven was that hidden.
But panic faded quick.
She hardened her expression and approached.
“Dunno how you got in, but could you back off? I'll reward you fittingly on my name if you do.”
She spoke assuming he knew her name.
Not arrogance—she had the creds.
Words to describe her: legion.
Vice master of The Sun guild.
Official rank 6, beyond the heavens.
Mistress of Permafrost.
Ice Queen Kate Swenberg—that was her.