Chapter 74

Originally, precisely according to the game, the boss of this dungeon, the Ice Queen, should be hero ranked. This was because it was the early stages of Revenge’s service when players had just started attacking the flower shop raid.

With insufficient levels and microtransactions, how could they defeat a legendary special boss?

‘But you can’t keep a special boss as hero-ranked forever.’

Thus, Revenge chose a scenario where the hero-ranked Ice Queen retreated after being defeated by the Players, reflecting on her loss. Later, she returned stronger to attack the castle again! It was commonly known as an awakening event.

‘Yet already a legend?’

I easily seized the queen’s foothold. This was thanks to the knights and soldiers I had diligently trained, as well as Haze who unexpectedly joined us. Above all, it was due to the absence of the boss that should naturally have been present at this foothold.

“I wondered why she was so eager to expand her territory despite lacking a boss…”

It seemed the power from these footholds without bosses was being transferred to the Ice Queen. However, even with such advantages, it was surprising how her rank had risen without any awakening events or world quests. Moreover, the level of ice bombardment she displayed now defied comprehension for someone of her current rank.

Boom!

Ice spears the size of telephone poles rained down, causing buildings to crumble amidst screams. Despite their sturdy construction typical of hero-level castles, they couldn’t withstand this absurd barrage.

“Troops—! Attention! Everyone scatter and avoid the attacks falling from the sky!”

After shouting, I manipulated the system UI to summon Kasim. Haze had already finished equipping himself and jumped on ahead of me.

Stomp!

Kasim kicked off the ground and shot up like lightning. The force was almost 10Gs, unbearable for most people, but neither Haze nor I were ordinary individuals.

“What is happening?! That ice queen bombing us at this hour!”

“This didn’t occur in your future?”

“Not even close. Just dealing with a few ice golems would’ve been enough trouble.”

As we conversed, we drew closer to the Ice Queen. There were no other monsters accompanying her. It was surprising to see the Ice Queen flying like this.

‘Does the Ice Queen have any flight patterns?’

However, no matter how much I thought about it, there were none. I had checked various strategies online, so I couldn’t be mistaken. However… if I thought carefully, it was true that the Ice Queen never walked on the ground. In videos of guild raids or event raids against the Ice Queen, she could be seen hovering around one meter above the ground.

Wooong!

The Ice Queen noticed our approach and turned towards us. Of course, with her size comparable to a house, it would’ve been impossible not to spot Kasim unless she was blind.

Pang! Pang! Pang!

Ice spears shot out but missed Kasim, slicing through empty air instead. Despite his massive frame, he effortlessly evaded each attack with the agility of a swallow.

Despite this appearance, Kasim was a mount pet. Moreover, he possessed the attribute ‘Riding - Sky Ruler (Legendary)’, making his flight capabilities unmatched. The Ice Queen became annoyed as Kasim evaded all attacks with agility.

“This drake is unnecessarily fast!”

‘Indeed, it has intelligence.’

In the game, there were dialogues and event cut scenes for this monster. However, they only appeared before battles, phase changes, or upon death.

‘Of course, even if communication is possible, this isn’t a situation to have a conversation!’

I controlled Kasim to make a charge towards her. Fortunately, the Ice Queen’s flying speed was terrible. It wasn’t like a fighter plane, aircraft, or even a helicopter—it moved more akin to a helium-filled Edelweiss balloon.

[Hmph!] The ice queen snorted and emitted a circular blast of cold air. The cold turned into ice, creating a massive barrier in the sky. She had placed it where we would inevitably collide if we continued flying straight ahead.

Pat!

At that moment, Kasim folded his right wing while turning his left wing towards the wind.

Pang!

With a sound like breaking air, Kasim’s flight direction changed at a right angle. The ice barrier passed harmlessly over the folded wings of Kasim. Even I couldn’t believe this incredible flight ability from my mount. I was fine but Haze almost fell off.

Paak!

The distance between us and the Ice Queen decreased to less than 30 metres as Kasim flapped his wings again.

“Wasn’t it good when she was bombing?”

Her surprise attack was truly fatal. Shooting tons of ice from high up in the sky could’ve caused devastating damage even to those protected by the castle walls.

‘However, we can’t defeat Kasim in the sky unless we have unrestricted flight!’

Attribute: ‘Riding - Ruler of the Sky (Legend)’ gave Kasim unimaginable flying abilities, allowing him to soar more gracefully than an eagle or swallow. To such a creature, the Ice Queen hovering like Edelweiss was merely prey.

Pop!

As soon as we reached close proximity, I leaped off the saddle. Sprinting along Kasim’s neck, I bounded onto his head.

Krrung!

Ignoring Kasim’s angry sound, I manifested sword energy. Fortunately, as a swordsman-class martial artist, Jianchang Jianma could also use the skill of manifesting sword energy.

Zzang!

I broke through another small ice barrier and ran across the shattered fragments of ice.

“Haaap!” Behind me, Haze shouted while deflecting an ice spear aimed at Kasim, allowing me to approach the Ice Queen.

Zzang! Zzang!

The ice spears flew towards my face but were avoided with ease. It was impossible to hit someone who could repel bullets at incredible speed. Surprisingly, the Ice Queen immediately grasped this fact.

“You have good instincts.”

As she murmured these words…

Hwahk!

An extreme cold emanated from the Ice Queen. It was an unavoidable attack! I couldn’t defend or evade it and took the full impact. I could feel my skin turning white with frostbite. However, that was all. The Cold Protection Ring with its +9 strength made cold attacks useless against me.

[What…?] For the first time, confusion appeared on the face of the Ice Queen. I concentrated all my attention on the Great Power Sword in my hand.

Crack!

All the muscles in my body twisted.

Gulp.

I heard the sound of Kasim swallowing divinity.

[Kasim’s Roar!]

-Kuaaaaaaaahhhhh…

A wave of light struck the Ice Queen. She desperately created an ice barrier but…

Crack!

The rapier surrounded by darkness pierced through the centre. Haze had followed behind me.

Then after that…

Slash!

The Great Power Sword struck like lightning.

[Critical Hit!]

The powerful sword strike split the Ice Queen from head to toe.

“Hahaha!!”

It was truly a picture-perfect combo of attacks and combinations.

‘But I am lucky… To defeat a special boss so easily.’

As soon as this thought crossed my mind, there was a sudden chilling sensation. Terrified by the Combat Premonition, I swung my sword. It was impossible to evade since I was floating in mid-air.

Zzzz!

‘Ah, damn it…!’

I completely blocked it but still couldn’t prevent the attack. This was because what flew towards me wasn’t ice but a lance made of highly compressed cold air.

Zzzt!

Before I could do anything, the intense coldness covered my entire body via the Great Power Sword.

‘It’s okay! Cold Resistance 90 percent!’

However, instead of penetrating my body…

차라락!

[Rip it apart.]

The coldness froze on my skin and formed weapons.

[Polar Night.]

Stab! Stab-stab-stab!

My heart was pierced. My large intestine, small intestine, liver were penetrated. It entered through my throat, pierced my hands and feet. The pelvis, thighs…and finally,

“Log out!”

I returned to my room before the cold weapon could pierce my head. Blood poured from my entire body. The ice blades that had been piercing me disappeared but the wounds remained.

“Heal, Healing… Ah, wait. If health is below 20 percent then rather…”

★☆Job Change Completed☆★

Sword Demon (Legend) => Imperial Knight (Hero)

As soon as the class changed, its attribute immediately took effect.

[Unyielding]

When HP drops below 20 percent, recovery speed increases dramatically for one minute. Finally, I could utilize this attribute that was difficult to employ in reality since it wasn’t a game.

‘In other words… does it mean my injuries are severe?’

Until now, I couldn’t really use HP. This was because it didn’t apply properly. If my arm was cut off, only 10 percent of my HP would decrease—how could I use it like this? In fact, I could only use it when I was on the brink of death.

Zziiik!

Smoke emerged from the wound as the bleeding decreased significantly.

‘It isn’t enough.’

My vision became dark. It wasn’t just a minor scratch; my entire body had been torn apart, making it hard to move properly.

‘T-This… I was winning until now… Even though my body is split in half…’

However, reality showed me lying in a pool of blood. It was an ending that I never imagined.

‘Damn it…’

I laughed bitterly. No, I thought I was laughing but didn’t have the strength to move one corner of my mouth. In fact, this could’ve happened at any time. Despite being able to recover from injuries by moving between Earth and Ardenia, I wasn’t immortal. If I were instantly killed or sustained fatal wounds like now, with no one around to help, death would be inevitable.

‘It’s absurd…’ As I thought,

‘How absurd…’

Slowly, I closed my eyes.

No one would search for her tiny studio apartment. Her lifeless body would be found lying in a pool of blood. To be precise, it wouldn’t be much different from a corpse or soon-to-be deceased body.

To others, this might seem like a tragic scene, but something unique was happening within her unconscious state.

Han Jae-yeon never anticipated this, but the element she had been deeply exploring and experiencing started to unfold while she lost consciousness.

Indeed, it was a new element: Martial Arts.

Click!

A new piece was placed on the Go board. Unlike other elements, Martial Arts possessed an exceptionally strong transcendent history, allowing it to claim nine castles all by itself.

Jae-yeon had previously allocated Body, Sleep, Recovery, and other elements to each castle. However, Martial Arts pushed them aside and claimed its place. Once this element secured its position, nothing could stop it.

Click.

A gate opened - The First Gate, Receiving Gate.

Click.

Another gate opened - The Second Gate, Heavy Gate.

Click! Click! Click!

Gate after gate opened effortlessly. Despite not fully mastering Inner Force yet, I had completely mastered six core heart methods: four sword arts, three fist techniques, six footworks…

Click!

This was due to daily training, intense life-or-death battles, and restless nights spent with a blade close by… All these experiences contributed to my mastery.

Despair, frustration, anger, struggle, sorrow, longing, pleasure, and joy.

And finally,

Enlightenment.

Thud!

The fifth gate opens at last.

Gate Five: Sage’s Gate (賢門)

Finally, the element of Martial Arts is completed and engraved within his mental world. It isn’t merely a simple element but rather the opening of a self-sustaining small universe.

Tremble!

His physical body, almost lifeless, convulses violently. A significant amount of mana stored inside Jae-yeon’s body starts boiling uncontrollably.

No, it wasn’t just mana; her Inner Force was also surging.

“Haah…”

With each exhale, impurities were expelled from his breath.

“Hooouu…”

On every inhale, pure energy flowed into him.

In a tiny studio apartment that no one else visited, a profound transformation occurred within someone’s soul.