episode_0249

Chapter 249 – Distortion

Shatter!

My eyes flew open at the loud noise.

I rubbed my eyes and got up, finding the entire dormitory in an uproar.

Looking out the window, I discovered an ice castle towering over the academy’s back mountain.

“Are you kidding me?!”

That’s the Eternal Palace, the transcendent magic of the Maryland family’s first head, Lennon Maryland. In the modern era, it’s a sight that can only be seen when the secret of the necklace is unveiled.

In other words, Skadia caused trouble.

I immediately took out my clothes and mask, then gave instructions to Kenneth.

“I’m going to the castle, so you and Noah observe the situation. There might be more possessors we don’t know about. Got it?”

“Uh, yeah! I’ll keep watch with Noah!”

“Good. Then I’m off.”

Creak!

Opening the window, I scanned for any presence around me, then spread my wings of flame and soared into the sky.

People were already gathered in front of the castle. Knights and professors, who always protected the academy, prevented students from approaching beyond a certain distance. Verdan and Sara were also visible among them.

‘It seems they’ve really become close now.’

Feeling a bitter sensation, I aimed for an opening and landed in front of the entrance.

“Oh! Get, get him!” “It’s Eunrang!”

Those who spotted me belatedly reached out to grab me, but it was already too late. I punched towards the entrance.

Fwoosh!

Conflicting forces poured forth, and the solidly closed door began to melt away. I threw myself inside before the door could regenerate.

Flash!

At that moment, a bright light burst forth and completely enveloped my body. When my vision, which had been dyed white, returned to normal, I was inside the ice palace. Simultaneously, a chilling cold began to invade my entire body.

The cold was so severe that an ordinary mage would freeze to death in a single second. This unique cold penetrated inward, destroying from the inside out, so any barrier cast would instantly shatter. Ultimately, it meant one had to continuously renew their barrier, which was precisely why incantation-less casting was necessary.

In a normal state, it wouldn’t be much of a burden, but the moment combat was added, mages would experience their limits. This was because their brains would overload from endless calculations, and their magic power would deplete rapidly. And if they got exhausted, that would be the end. They would eventually be enveloped by the cold and turn into an ice statue.

Of course, I was perfectly fine.

Fwoosh!

Enveloping my body with the power of flame to push back the cold, I checked the ground.

“It hasn’t been long since someone passed through.”

It was only natural, considering the ice palace hadn’t even appeared 30 minutes ago. I immediately followed the traces.

Fortunately, I managed to catch up to Skadia in less than five minutes.

“Hup!”

Crrrack!

A spear of flame that appeared above her head instantly destroyed the ice golem’s core. But unfortunately, there wasn’t just one golem.

Against dozens of incoming golems, she had to fight desperately, even with her specialty, ice magic, sealed. It was truly the worst possible matchup.

‘If I hadn’t come, she definitely would have died.’

Even if she had barely managed to break through these golems, she would have ultimately been killed by the guardian of the innermost chamber. I immediately intervened.

*

Crash! Boom!

While enduring the golems’ assault and striking them down one by one, a sudden storm of flames swept through. Amidst the rising steam, a man became visible.

‘Eunrang?’

Dazzling silver hair and brilliant golden eyes. Even the suspicious mask covering his face. It was exactly the appearance she had seen in the tournament. His entire body, wrapped in flames, was evidence enough.

“Why are you here…?”

Skadia took a step back. She knew Eunrang had helped her, but given her knowledge of who he was, trusting him was absolutely impossible. He might be trying to lower her guard in this way, only to betray or assault her at a crucial moment.

Whether he knew her inner thoughts or not, Eunrang didn’t take his eyes off the front.

“Let’s talk later; first, let’s take care of these guys.”

“…Alright. I’ll support you.”

“Good. I’ll trust you.”

With those words, Eunrang moved.

Bang! Boom! Crash!

Flames surged from his fist, melting all the golems. Skadia provided support at opportune moments, observing Eunrang.

‘He trusts me?’

They hadn’t even met face-to-face more than a few times, let alone had a conversation, so she couldn’t understand what he saw to trust her. Distrust grew steadily stronger within her heart.

It wasn’t long before the battle ended.

Thud!

A golem, half-melted, collapsed weakly, then completely turned into water. Skadia immediately questioned him again.

“So, why are you here? This isn’t a place one just stumbles into, is it?”

“…I came in because I was curious about Lennon Maryland. This is the only place where traces of him remain.”

“You mean the first head of the family?”

“Yes. You came here to inherit the first head’s legacy, didn’t you? How about we combine our strength? Don’t we both need to reach the innermost chamber to achieve our respective goals?”

Skadia pondered the alliance proposal deeply. It was true that Eunrang was an utterly untrustworthy individual, but she didn’t have the confidence to survive this palace without his help. Moreover, if his words were true, the first head’s grimoire was in the innermost chamber. An even more formidable guardian would likely be there, so combining their strength was wise. Even if she didn’t know what would happen afterward.

“…Alright. Let’s combine our strength. But only until we achieve our respective goals. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course. The moment we leave this place, the alliance ends. Then let’s hurry. I want to see the traces as soon as possible.”

Eunrang turned and led the way. Skadia followed his retreating figure, her eyes gleaming eerily.

*

About two hours passed since they formed the alliance. After defeating more ice golems and various familiars, they finally reached the innermost chamber.

In the center of the vast cavern stood a colossal crystal made of ice. Reflecting the light pouring from the ceiling, its surroundings glittered, making it appear incredibly beautiful.

I reached out a hand to stop Skadia.

“Stop. You see that crystal, right? The moment we enter this space, it will activate. All that light shining around will turn into chilling cold, so you absolutely must not touch it.”

“Then what should we do?”

“You just endure and occasionally draw its attention. Then I’ll destroy it.”

“Understood. I keep owing you. Thank you.”

For a moment, I almost turned around.

‘Thank you?’

To think I’d hear words of gratitude from Skadia; it felt like the first time since that incident. I had been worried about what Skadia might think, given my extremely notorious reputation, but it seemed she wouldn’t repay kindness with malice after all.

It felt like a complicated mix of emotions, as if a helpful rapist was preferable to a scoundrel fiancé who only chased women.

I shook off the unnecessary thoughts and took a step forward in silence.

Thump— thump—

As Skadia also stepped into the cavern, the passage they had entered through was blocked by a solid ice wall, and the crystal awakened.

Huuuuuum!

Magic light gathered in the crystal, and the rings encircling it rotated, emitting cold air. The cold mixed with the scattered light, and the light pillars that had quietly illuminated the surroundings transformed into cold, beginning to freeze everything.

“Then I’ll leave the rear to you!”

I entrusted my back to Skadia and shot straight towards the crystal. Using photonization, I approached in the blink of an eye, then leaped up using the Sky-Shattering Succession Steps and unleashed a punch.

Ruan Style. Third Form. Fire Dragon Piercing Heaven Strike!

Crrrack!

The piercing specialized strike caused cracks in the crystal. As expected, it was too hard to pierce through in one go. This was only possible thanks to my Incarnation Form; otherwise, my arm would have frozen from the crystal’s cold, let alone inflict damage.

“Tch!”

I clicked my tongue and threw myself backward.

Ziiiiiing!

By a hair’s breadth, a freezing laser grazed past, annihilating the hem of my robe. It was so powerful that it shattered instantly without even having time to freeze.

‘It’s better not to get hit if possible.’

I wouldn’t die, but it would hurt terribly, so it was better for my mental health not to.

Crash! Boom!

At that moment, a spear of flame struck the ring. The freezing laser that had been chasing me flinched, then aimed at Skadia.

Seizing that opportunity, I struck the same spot once more. In that way, we took turns drawing its aggression and attacked the crystal.

Crrrack!

And after a battle that lasted a full 20 minutes, I finally managed to destroy the crystal. Beautiful ice fragments scattered everywhere, emitting a brilliant light. What emerged from within was a single tome.

[Moonlight Ice Grimoire] The grimoire left behind by the first family head, Lennon Maryland.

His magic, a blend of moonlight magic and cold energy, was as swift as light and as cold.

Crrraaaccck!

Just like now.

“Gah!”

Staring at the grimoire, I lowered my gaze at the sudden pain I felt. Beyond my blurred vision, a single ice spear protruded.

Moonlight Ice Spear. It was the key to unlocking the necklace’s secret and the basic form of magic created by Lennon Maryland. Originally an orb, it had transformed into a spear to maximize its piercing power.

The Moonlight Ice Spear not only pierced my Dantian but also spread cold, invading my entire body. Even this was only possible because the Fortress of Iron Wall had activated. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have just pierced through; it would have ripped out my entire body.

I slowly turned around.

“Why….”

The wielder of this magic was, without a doubt, Skadia. She answered my question chillingly.

“Because you’re dangerous. I don’t know what you’ll do once the fight is over.”

“Why would I do such a thing….”

“Of course, maybe you wouldn’t. But you’re a possessor and a rapist, aren’t you? I can’t trust you. So, please understand.”

Skadia extended her hand, casting another spell. Moonlight and cold magic, rising from her palm, intertwined to form an ice orb.

I stared blankly at it.

‘Understand me?’

How dare this woman ask for understanding, when she was trying to kill her savior based on her own arbitrary judgment?

I knew she was this kind of woman from the start, but it truly made my teeth ache.

Any lingering attachments and all emotions remaining due to Ruan Friuli’s memories were replaced by betrayal and rage.

‘Yes. Now I understand perfectly.’

Skadia only saw me as a possessor and a rapist. She even thought there was some ulterior motive behind me saving her life.

Therefore, I’ll give her what she wants.

With my mind made up, I reached out and grabbed the Moonlight Ice Spear that had pierced my Dantian.

Crrrack!

My hand froze from the immense cold.

“It’s useless. You can’t do anything like this. It’ll only make the pain worse.”

“Heh heh… are you sure?”

“Yes. With your Dantian shattered, you’re no different from an ordinary person.”

I just grinned.

Here, I understood why she had aimed for my Dantian, not my head or my heart.

‘She must have been anxious.’

Piercing my head would definitely kill me, but she had to consider the possibility of me evading it. Then, naturally, she should have aimed for my heart, but unfortunately, I possessed immense regenerative power, so she thought of shattering my Dantian to block my abilities at their source.

The problem was that the source of my regenerative power was in my Middle Dantian, not the Lower Dantian. It could be said that this was Skadia’s miscalculation, as she didn’t expect someone who hadn’t even reached Level 200 yet to be able to use the Middle Dantian.

I spat out each word, one by one.

“Skadia. I will rape you.”

Snap!

Simultaneously with my declaration, I shattered the Moonlight Ice Orb with amplified physical strength.

Now it’s time for revenge.