Chapter 318: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 318: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (6)
“Hilde.”
Whoosh!
The familiar contract seal glowed, and frost mana coalesced in the air, manifesting into the form of a white dragon.
The Frost Dragon, Hilde, appeared before me, her voice trembling with worry.
[Master, are you alright?!]
“Barely.”
[ Hic… thank goodness… Oh, wait! Your arms and legs are back! Were you a monster this whole time, Master?!]
“Of course not.”
It was a reasonable reaction. To see a human who had lost all their limbs suddenly sprout new ones would be a shock to anyone.
“I’ll explain on the way. Let’s move.”
I climbed onto Hilde’s back, and she surged toward the massive gate.
“You know that secret method that can instantly heal any condition once?”
[Oh, that? The Blood of the Evanescent?]
“Yeah. I used it.”
[Thank the heavens… I felt like I lost ten years of my life back there.]
Hilde let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Losing ten years? I doubt that would even make a dent in a dragon’s lifespan.
[I was starting to think humans had evolved the ability to regenerate limbs while I was asleep.]
“Do you really think humanity could change that much in one generation…?”
For a moment, we were having a literal generational gap discussion. Impressive.
[But Master, how on earth did you manage to get on the elevator?]
“Unexpectedly… I received some help from an acquaintance.”
[…I see. I suppose that’s possible.]
This was the Nether. Just as Om the Eternal had helped me, it was entirely possible for someone who had already passed to lend a hand. Hilde seemed to accept the explanation.
She must be sensing my emotions, too.
Hilde likely guessed the fate of that “acquaintance” and lowered her voice out of respect.
Just then, something trailing a pale blue chill whistled through the air toward me. I knew instantly who had thrown it.
[The unique trait ‘Apex Predator’ has activated!]
I drew upon Ozma’s power. The unique trait was a result of our covenant; regardless of Ozma’s personal will, she was bound to fulfill the terms.
I snapped my arm out, deploying a wall of ice and rock mana—[Fossilized Ice]—to deflect the projectile.
Clang!!
An [Ice Spear]? The mana density was incredibly high.
[Master, enemies ahead.]
“I see them.”
From the Icy Lake, monsters partially composed of frozen water rose to the surface. From hulking humanoids to giants of overwhelming scale, each possessed a haunting, crystalline beauty. If they weren’t trying to kill me, it would have been a breathtaking sight.
It seemed every creature here had designated me a threat. They lunged at Hilde and me, unleashing volleys of ice magic.
[ ※ Unable to read information. ]
Out of habit, I tried to check their Status Windows, but no information appeared. Unregistered entities.
Of course.
Information was identified within the scope of Ozma’s knowledge. If they didn’t appear in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ or if she hadn’t seen them herself, she wouldn’t know what they were. And she had never been to the Icy Lake.
It was the same with the monster I saw during the Trial of Sandstone.
When the Evil God resurrected and the destruction of all worlds began, a dark blue monster had appeared in South Korea. At the time, the distortion in my vision made it hard to see clearly, but I could never forget that bone-deep chill.
That creature had appeared just as the reset began; it was likely the one responsible for turning back time.
And that thing was here.
I was certain this was the being Dorothy from the first timeline had mentioned—the one who would teach me the ultimate ice magic. The faint trace of magic I felt during the Trial of Sandstone was brushing against my skin from beyond the gate.
“Hilde, take them down.”
[Your wish is my command.]
I drew the Obsidian Blade and rested it on my shoulder. The sword was saturated with rock mana. I planned to rely on it for now, allowing my body to focus on recovering its own mana reserves.
Hilde and I charged, unleashing a devastating barrage of rock meteors and frost magic.
Kwagagagang!!
We tore through them, but the number of monsters rising from the Icy Lake only grew.
Is the lake itself spawning these minions?
It felt as if the environment possessed a will of its own, rejecting my presence.
Each one is formidable.
If they had levels, they’d be at least 180 to 190—combat power comparable to the Black Flame entities created by the Evil God Nephid.
The Frost Dragon scattered mana like white jade as she sliced through the air at jet-like speeds.
[Rooooaaar!]
An ice giant, so massive its head seemed to scrape the sky, blocked our path.
Flash!
I leaped off Hilde’s back. Facing the titan, I leveled the Obsidian Blade. Rock mana surged violently through the steel.
The ice giant gathered frigid energy in the maws of its three heads. I swung.
Slaaaaash!!
The rock mana imbued in the blade extended into a massive crescent, cleaving the air.
Swish!
The blade of stone severed all three of the giant’s heads in a single stroke. Starting from the stumps, the giant’s body rapidly petrified.
[Stone Breathing - Third Form: Rock Demon Slash].
The ice giant let out a silent scream as it crumbled, its massive, stony remains sinking into the Icy Lake. As I began to fall, Hilde swept underneath and caught me.
The EXP…
Naturally, there was none. These monsters weren’t part of the game’s scenario.
EXP, right.
The very term was a misnomer. It was simply power that Ozma had been arbitrarily granting me all this time.
[Master, we’re almost there…! Huh?]
We approached the massive iron gate that seemed to stretch into infinity. A chilling sensation crawled up my spine.
In front of the gate stood a strange altar. A black-haired woman holding a dark blue scythe raised her weapon high. Countless magic circles expanded behind her, encompassed by one massive, overarching ring.
Huaaaaa!!
A pale blue chill swirled around her scythe, condensing and expanding until it formed a miniature sun of ice.
The ice monsters stopped their pursuit and retreated into the lake. Whether they were avoiding disturbing the gatekeeper or simply fleeing a certain death, I didn't know.
[ ※ Unable to read information. ]
It didn’t matter that I couldn’t see her stats. I knew exactly who she was.
[Master… that person is…]
“Now you see, don’t you? I’m not the reincarnation of your previous master.”
The creator of the 9-star ice elemental magic, [Cocytus]. Aside from myself, the strongest ice mage in human history.
The Primordial Ice Sovereign. The Scythe-Wielding Witch.
Veronica Aslius.
[Veronica…!]
“This is an order. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment.”
I spoke sternly. Hilde’s overwhelming grief was bleeding through our bond.
“You understand your master’s will better than anyone, don’t you?”
[…]
Hilde couldn’t answer. It was she who had delivered Veronica’s final message to me. She understood better than anyone.
“Hilde.”
I stroked her scales. I knew she was hurting, and I didn’t want to be cold. But Veronica stood in my way. I had to be firm.
“I’m sorry, but I’m low on mana. I have to reverse-summon you.”
There were rumors that ‘The current Ice Sovereign has surpassed the Primordial.’
But that was a comparison to the Veronica Aslius of a thousand years ago. There was no way she had remained stagnant while guarding this gate. The heavy mana pressing against my skin was proof. Even if she wasn’t at the level of the Nether King, the sheer pressure was staggering.
[Master, please do not reverse-summon me. I want to witness this. I want to watch the two of you fight.]
“…Alright.”
I relented. It was the least I could do for her.
The unique trait [Apex Predator] surged, and my mana circuits roared to life. I unfurled the three pairs of [Ice Sovereign] wings and took flight, radiating a gentle chill. Hilde transformed into a smaller dragon form to conserve my mana, gazing at Veronica with a sorrowful expression.
I don’t have enough mana to summon Daikan.
I had spent too much confronting the Nether King. But I had recovered enough to fight.
With a swift motion, I raised my arm and began the chant.
An immense array of magic circles unfolded behind me, mirrored by a single, massive circle that bound them together. Frigid energy swirled and condensed above my palm. I constructed the 9-star ice spell [Cocytus], a perfect mirror of the gatekeeper’s magic.
Two radiant ice suns burned in the frozen air, their competing chills clashing like a localized blizzard.
—I will follow the star. To cast aside falsehood.
Those were the last words Veronica had left behind, according to Richard, the Grand Regent of Düpendorf.
Did she come here following that star? What was the star, and what was the falsehood she sought to discard? Perhaps the truth lies beyond that door.
“It is an honor to meet you, Veronica Aslius.”
I projected my voice directly into her mind with a polite greeting. There was no response.
—Please, with peace in your heart, destroy me.
I remembered the message Hilde had carried. Veronica had anticipated this encounter a thousand years ago.
Under the pale blue light of the ice sun, I looked at her face. There were deep shadows under her eyes. Her expression was gaunt and hollow. She had lost her human reason long ago. Like a doll, only the decaying remnants of her mission remained within her, like cold ashes.
“Now…” I said softly. “Please, rest in peace.”
I would grant her that peace. Then, I would pass through the door she guarded and find Dorothy.
I swung my arm down. Veronica swung her scythe.
The two ice suns collided.