Ch.102The Mountain Range of the Ice Dragon

Across the snowy mountains, battles large and small raged without pause. The Seoeolin party stood back a step, quietly observing the scene.

“Doesn’t seem like there are any reincarnators here.”

“No one’s using internal energy either.”

“I don’t sense any foreign powers.”

Most reincarnators used powers that didn’t exist in this world, making them easy to identify. A skilled Cheongik member could determine whether someone was a reincarnator just by watching them fight.

Seoeolin’s gaze swept across the snow-covered mountain range. It was a place where one could feel the majesty of endless stretches of nature. Above those mountains, a massive commotion was brewing.

The sight of people fighting for a treasure of uncertain existence seemed incredibly foolish. A clicking sound naturally escaped from the small girl’s mouth.

Among the people, the fur-clad man exuded an overwhelming presence. Whenever he appeared with the snowstorm, people inevitably died.

Yet he wasn’t killing indiscriminately. There was a definite boundary to the fur-clad man’s appearances. He only showed up before those advancing toward the mountain peak.

That was why Seoeolin’s party could observe the situation from one step behind. If you didn’t cross the line, you wouldn’t be attacked.

“It must be a guardian protecting the rare item! It’s definitely on this mountain!”

“Take advantage while the others are fighting! Let’s charge!”

“Uwaaaagh!”

The fervor for treasure showed no signs of cooling even as time passed. The appearance of a being blocking the ascent. People regarded the fur-clad man as some kind of guardian said to protect the dragon’s lair.

“I’m starting to think we might end up going back empty-handed…”

Theo’s voice, filled with sighs, spread slowly.

That’s when it happened. Everyone present looked in one direction. A rough burst of energy along with an overwhelming presence had erupted.

Kuwoong-!

An overbearing momentum. There was no hesitation in advancing toward the many people. It meant he was confident enough in his abilities to reveal himself in the middle of the battlefield.

“That person…”

Seoeolin’s gaze turned beyond the hazy snowstorm. A familiar man. With pitch-black hair hanging like rags, he walked proudly forward. The black martial arts uniform he wore glistened as if soaked in blood.

Despite the cold weather, his wet clothes didn’t freeze because of the heat he was emitting. Indeed, misty steam slowly rose above his muscular body.

“Black Fist Marang…”

“Someone you know?”

“A reincarnator.”

Answering Theo’s question, Seoeolin placed her hand on her sword. She didn’t draw it immediately. She briefly considered whether to use the Taebaek Snow Dragon Sword or the White Frost Tribe’s martial arts.

“Finally our turn, eh? Shall we go right away?”

Theo asked, placing his hand on his sword just like Seoeolin. He lowered his stance as if ready to dash out alone. Blue lightning swirled around his body.

“The others…”

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone else around.”

Flora stepped forward faster than Seoeolin. Her eyes, tinged with purple, quickly scanned Black Fist’s surroundings. Beyond her gleaming purple gaze, an unusual mana arrangement could be felt. Seoeolin nodded at the sight.

“He’s quite strong. Best not to let our guard down.”

“I always give my best.”

With that answer, Theo’s form suddenly disappeared. As his afterimage in the air began to fade, the ground flipped over and a delayed explosion erupted.

He had broken the sound barrier in an instant. Blue lightning flew toward Black Fist Marang and collided.

“Let’s go too.”

Following suit, Flora and Seoeolin’s forms blurred.

Kwaaang-!

“Oh my…!”

Black Fist Marang blocked the sudden attack but had to step back twice. Beyond his blackened fist, a lightning-wrapped sword was pounding against his powerful energy.

The experienced reincarnator’s gaze confirmed his attacker’s appearance. Dressed in a black uniform with a fur-covered cape on his back. Cheongik, the imperial dogs said to hunt and kill reincarnators, had attacked him.

Black Fist’s lips tore into a fierce grin.

“You! Perfect timing!”

He had been driven to the wilderness by Cheongik. There was no way he would let a young Cheongik’s attack pass. His blackened fist quickly opened, then his wrist rotated to grab the entire sword.

But Theo didn’t panic. He trusted his colleagues, his friends who were with him. Indeed, a massive mana storm flew toward the two of them.

Sensing danger, Black Fist didn’t hesitate. He pushed away the sword in his hand and retreated. Black energy flowed out each time his sturdy thighs stepped back in a retreating stance.

“These brats! I should have killed them back then!”

His blackened fist struck the air. The rough energy burst tore through space with a roaring sound. This blocked Seoeolin and Flora’s attacks.

Seoeolin, Flora, and Theo didn’t stop. Like flowing water, the three naturally mixed together to unleash sharp offensives. They didn’t interfere with each other’s movements. Even when Black Fist’s threatening attacks came flying, they didn’t dodge. They knew the others would protect them.

“Eeek!”

One person might have been manageable, but with three attacking simultaneously, Black Fist couldn’t do anything. His face reddened as he shouted.

“Cowards!”

“Cowardly?”

Where is cowardice in battle? This fight wasn’t some competition to test each other’s skills. Seoeolin took a long breath and drew another sword with her left hand.

Seureu-reung-

While swinging the White Dragon Sword with her right hand. In her left hand was the Mage Killer. A sword with the property of absorbing mana. For some reason, it could even absorb the internal energy of martial artists.

A swift sword technique imbued the black blade. The rapidly advancing slash lightly grazed Black Fist’s right fist. Immediately after, red blood burst forth.

“Where is cowardice in battle?”

One could roll in mud to survive. One could even play dead to win. If it meant killing a reincarnator, even more was possible.

Seoeolin boldly stepped forward. This movement was possible because she trusted her two companions. A movement disregarding defense. She naturally released the two swords in her hands, bringing her right hand back as if pulling it.

Just one breath.

“Y-you wench…!”

The injured Marang prepared to counterattack. A massive tremor spread from his two hands. As the black energy grew in size, his fists appeared to have doubled in size.

Seoeolin recalled the single-use martial art she had recently acquired. A lethal strike called the Vortex Crushing Mountain Fist. A power that destroys everything from within rather than breaking the surface. Being a single-use martial art, the incantation was short. This also meant it wasn’t difficult to fuse with the White Frost Tribe’s martial arts.

‘If I just change the posture slightly and add flow to the breathing…’

This was her first time using it in actual combat. It took exactly three breaths to prepare this attack. Everything was still unrefined.

The moment Seoeolin’s small foot touched the ground, a rough burst of energy erupted. With the foot technique, massive mana began to concentrate toward her right fist. It was also natural for the snowstorm-laden tempest to gather.

Kugugu-!

That was two breaths.

Black Fist, seeing this, hurriedly thrust both hands forward. His attack was faster than his opponent’s. It was a dangerous move, but if the preparation time was long, the attack would be meaningless.

Kwang-!

However, there were those who blocked Black Fist’s attack. Theo and Flora. The two barely blocked Black Fist’s attack with their swords wrapped in enormous mana.

Black flower petals and blue lightning scattered in all directions.

That was three breaths.

All preparations were complete. Seoeolin thrust her fist toward Black Fist’s empty torso.

Shuwaaak-!

All surrounding sounds were sucked into that movement. The storm extending from her small hand devoured everything. Sharp winds like blades erupted along with the biting snowstorm.

Kwang-!

The sound followed belatedly.

‘Wind White.’

A concise name is easy to remember. The white-extending wind ground up everything in its path. Black Fist, who took the attack head-on within its range, lay on the ground unable to think of getting up.

The martial arts uniform he wore had all turned to rags and scattered, and red blood was splattered around him.

“Wow, w-wow… what was that…?”

“Seoeolin… when did you…”

Theo and Flora approached with surprised looks. They watched their friend who was breathing heavily. A faint wind swirled around her small body.

The move Seoeolin showed was incredible. Even without seeing it directly, they could feel it with their bodies. The fighting stopped simultaneously. In the silence that fell, everyone’s gaze turned to Seoeolin.

They were trembling with fear. Cheongik was known not to harm ordinary people. Despite knowing they wouldn’t be harmed, they were afraid.

After casting Wind White, it took two more breaths to recover her composure. Seoeolin exhaled evenly and brushed her hair back. The small wind that blew through her fingers made her hair flutter.

“Theo, Flora. Let’s deal with his body first. We need to handle this quickly in case others show up.”

The Dragon Heart was outside Seoeolin’s interest. The existence of the Ice Dragon Kashpa didn’t matter either. Small footprints crunched into the pure white snow.