Crossing the Eternal Flame
—Right now, no one knows it, but there are actually quite a few ways to get to the Spirit Realm.
The most common route starting about a year from now is the 'Ant Hell Dungeon' located in Jenonia.
—There's a door to the Spirit Realm on the deepest floor of the Ant Hell Dungeon.
"Ah, I remember. You explained it to me back when we went there before."
For that reason, traces of spirits lingered heavily in the Ant Hell Dungeon, one of which was the underground 20th floor 'Flame Spirit Haven' that Carpe had entered.
—Yeah. But at this point in time, no one can break through that route. The monsters are way too damn strong.
The Ant Hell Dungeon consisted of 50 underground floors, and as you approached the 50th, the monsters' levels neared 230.
Especially on the 49th floor, the monsters specialized in 'Detection,' making it impossible to sneak through hidden.
—You could probably clear it once you hit level 150 and do your third job change, but anyway, not right now. We'll have to use another route to enter the Spirit Realm.
"Makes sense. So what's this other route?"
—Conveniently, it's right here in Saint Ru Hal. It might actually be tougher than the Ant Hell in some ways... but you'll manage.
"Yeah?"
—Yeah. You've got some broken skills, after all. And if it doesn't work, there's yet another route, so no worries.
"Kuh. As expected from my Cheonma master! Shall we do it after so long? Cheonma Bloodline! Return of Ten Thousand Demons!"
—Yes. As Fist Demon, you must do your utmost to spread the might of the True Cheonma Divine Cult across the martial world.
"Your command. How could I refuse."
—Enough with the roleplay. For now, wrap up hunting roughly and head back to the city to stock up on potions. We burned through most of the mana potions appraising stuff.
Carpe and his retainers immediately returned to the city and began preparations for the expedition.
The great nation of Saint Ru Hal lay to the north of the continent.
Within Saint Ru Hal stood the continent's largest volcano, Hoilron.
It was a high-difficulty hunting ground where fire-related monsters primarily appeared, with the lowest-level monsters at 90.
However, the monsters were sparse, so it wasn't a popular spot.
Another entrance to the Spirit Realm was located inside this Hoilron Volcano.
Carpe and his retainers steadily cleared the volcano's monsters as they advanced. About two hours passed like that.
"Phew. No people around at all now."
Near the volcano's entrance, you'd occasionally spot other users, but now there wasn't a single soul besides Carpe.
—That's how deep we've gone. Let me see... I think it was around here... Ah, there! See that rock shaped like a bird?
"Bird-shaped?"
Turning to where Cheonma indicated, there stood a massive, grotesquely shaped boulder.
"Bird-shaped? Kinda looks like one now that you mention it..."
—Who cares about the shape. Anyway, go around the right side of it, and you'll reach the destination soon.
"Phew. Finally entering the Spirit Realm?"
—Yeah. Heh. Be grateful for your luck.
"For what? Being able to get there easily thanks to you?"
—That's part of it, but in this regression loop, I haven't visited the Spirit Realm yet. You're the first RaSe user to enter it.
"Why's that lucky... Ah!"
Carpe realized Cheonma's point mid-sentence.
"First Entry Title!"
—Exactly. And it comes with some nice options.
"Let's hurry!"
His steps lighter, Carpe followed Cheonma's guidance.
About 20 minutes later.
—We're here.
"...Whoa. What is this?"
Carpe let out a gasp of awe at the sight before him.
The ground was ablaze.
Not figuratively—the flames literally burned fiercely across the earth.
—It's always like this here. You call a place covered in snow 365 days a year eternal snowfield, right? So this is eternal flame.
"Straightforward name."
A space about half a soccer field in size blazed fiercely. Stepping in unprepared would clearly incinerate you instantly.
—See that at the end of the fire field? Looks like a rectangular hole.
At the edge of the fiery ground loomed a massive stone wall with a rectangular entrance in its center—like a small soccer goal.
—That's the other entrance to the Spirit Realm. Meaning, you have to cross this fire field.
"Hmm. Can't walk through, so fly? Only for people with flight magic?"
—Nah, flight magic doesn't work either. Pick up a rock nearby and toss it over there.
"A rock?"
Cocking his head, Carpe picked up a stone and lobbed it into the fire field anyway.
Flames surge up and devour the stone!
The flames on the ground suddenly erupted, swallowing the stone whole.
"Whoa."
—See? No idea the principle, but anything trying to pass overhead gets jumped like that.
"So not natural—some kind of trap someone set?"
—Maybe.
"Then it's simple."
The ultimate skill for disabling anything: Unlock time.
If this eternal flame was a massive trap set by someone, Unlock might dispel it.
"Alright. Let's try it."
Carpe took a deep breath and approached the nearest flame, placing his hand on it.
"Unlock."
He expected the flames to die out spectacularly.
—Hey. Doesn't seem to work?
"...Yeah."
No matter how long he waited, the flames raged on.
For some reason, the fire in front of Carpe seemed to twist into a ? shape.
As if the flames were saying, What the hell are you doing??? It kinda pissed him off.
"Tch. Not a trap then?"
—Who knows. Unlock works great on chests or status ailments, but it doesn't catch every trap 100%. It misses trap items sometimes too.
"This damn skill seems reliable until it isn't."
Grumbling, Carpe asked Cheonma.
"So how do we do it?"
—If Unlock fails, straight-up brute force.
Cheonma grinned.
—Before we came, I said you'd make it. Not because of Unlock, but Permafrost.
"Permafrost?"
—Yeah. The strongest ice skill can suppress these flames temporarily.
"Aha."
Of course, even a 9-star skill couldn't fully freeze this inferno.
Permafrost would flash-freeze, only to melt rapidly under the flames. He'd have to dash through that brief gap.
—You've got Haste and instant bursts like Blue Dragon Step, so it's doable.
"Hmm. Permafrost, huh. Then that sub-guild master from The Sun could pass too?"
—Probably. She discovered this method first, actually. About a year from now.
"Oh, really? Impressive."
Carpe sent all retainers except Mukhyang back to the Room.
Better to move fast solo. He cast Haste on himself and Mukhyang.
"Ready, Hyang?"
"Kyuu!"
"Good. Here we go! Permafrost!"
Permafrost
Crackle!
As Carpe activated the skill, his Servant Lord's Token and Frozen Shackle Ring vibrated intensely.
A wave of ice surged across the fiery ground.
An ice path formed to the wall entrance, and the flames burned fiercer to melt it.
—It'll melt in seconds. Run like hell. Miss the timing, and it's game over.
Whoosh!
No time to reply.
Carpe triggered Blue Dragon Step and shot forward.
Flames surge to devour Carpe!
The flames roiled to consume him as the ice path melted rapidly.
Whoosh!
Blue Dragon Step cooled down; he dashed again, reaching 2/3 in a blink.
But...
"Huh? Whoa? It's melting way faster than I thought!"
—Hm. Permafrost isn't holding as well as expected. Mana output low? Come to think of it, Ice Queen barely made it a year from now too...
"Tell me that sooner!"
—If you don't wanna get cremated alive, quit yelling and run!
"Damn it!"
The ice was nearly gone. Blue Dragon Step's cooldown had a bit left.
At this rate, flames would engulf him before reaching.
"Tch. No choice. Your turn, Hyang!"
"Kyuuu!"
"Jump!"
Mukhyang, on Carpe's head, used it as a springboard and leaped for the entrance.
Flames surge toward Mukhyang!
But Carpe was faster.
"Wind Cutter!"
Wind Cutter
Just before flames hit, Carpe's Wind Cutter sliced them away.
"Kyuuut!"
Thanks to Carpe's assist, Mukhyang crossed safely.
Meanwhile, Carpe's ice footing vanished.
"Casting!"
Casting – Positions swapped!
Confirming Mukhyang safe, Carpe swapped positions instantly.
Then another skill.
"Hyang! Silver Shadow Step!"
"Kyuu!"
Silver Shadow Step
Mukhyang's teleport via shadows activated.
"Kyuu!"
Flames belatedly swallowed Mukhyang's old spot, but he had already popped out from Carpe's shadow.
Perfect teamwork—they crossed the eternal flame flawlessly.
"Good job, Hyang! You're the best."
"Kyuu kyuu kyuu!"
Carpe offered a fist; Mukhyang tapped it with his paw.
"Alright. Let's keep the momentum in the Spirit Realm. Evolution in no time..."
But Carpe's words cut off.
The joy of crossing faded as his body stiffened, an alert appearing.
Sudden Event Occurs!
"Huh? Suddenly?"
—Eh? No events here as far as I know.
Used to this by now, Carpe wasn't too fazed—just curious what would happen.
Vmmm. Vmmm.
"What's this now?"
Carpe's Epic ring, Servant Lord's Token, suddenly vibrated wildly.
And that moment.
Whoosh!
"Ugh?!"
Without warning or sound, a man appeared before Carpe.
Nearly 2 meters tall, red hair to his waist—a handsome man.
Vmmm! Vmmmm!
As he appeared, the Servant Lord's Token thrashed madly.
The man eyed Carpe's finger with interest.
"I sensed the Servant Lord's aura and came to check..."
The moment he spoke.
An overwhelming pressure crushed down.
"Urk."
...He'd felt this before.
Right after leaving the elf forest, facing the real Servingje, not a fragment.
This pressure matched that exactly!
Realizing it, Carpe guessed the man's identity.
No freaking way, right?
—...Afraid so.
Absurd. We can meet these things this often?
Darkness closed in.
The man before him was an untouchable existence.
In the ancient God-War, he fought 18 Patron Spirits simultaneously, slaying the 9-star Heracles.
Estimated level 800.
Beyond comparison to the Continent's 11-Strong—one of RaSe's absolute strongest.
Four Calamities. Buk Yeomjon Lectia.
That was the man's true nature.
"No bugs around... but interesting. Haha. Very interesting."
Buk Yeomjon Lectia said with a deep smile.