Ch.177Sky

Seo-rin spent the entire day exploring her hometown with Theo and Flora. As knights who had transcended human limits, a day was enough to cover the entire snow-covered plain.

However, there was no sign of Seo-rin’s younger sister, Sei-ran. Not even the slightest trace could be found.

The time to return was approaching.

“Seo-rin. Maybe we should take a vacation and come back later…”

“Hmm…”

Seo-rin, who had been staring blankly at the sky, turned at Theo’s words. Somehow, she felt a gaze from above. Not a stranger’s, but her familiar sister’s gaze.

That couldn’t be possible. How could a person be in the sky…

…

Why did she think that was impossible?

Seo-rin began walking. The pristine white snow crushed and swirled beneath her black boots. Sei-ran had far surpassed the standards of normalcy. It wouldn’t be strange for her to be anywhere.

“Seo-rin. Where are you going?”

“Somewhere close to the sky.”

“Close to the sky…?”

Silently, Seo-rin pointed to a mountain range. It was a massive range that soared so high its peak was invisible. Large clouds resting on it gave the impression that the mountains touched the sky.

To the White Frost tribe, it was known as the Spirit Mountain. She didn’t know exactly what happened there. She only knew that ice brought from that place melted noticeably slower than ordinary ice.

Three small figures raced across the vast snowfield. Seo-rin, Theo, and Flora. The three ran without stopping once. After a long sprint, they arrived at the entrance to the massive mountain range.

Wheeeeee-!

The howling wind grew stronger. Moreover, Seo-rin’s wind powers weren’t manifesting properly. The blizzard that had been avoiding Seo-rin’s group now enveloped the three.

“What a strange place…”

Everyone nodded at Theo’s murmur. The moment they set foot on the mountain, they all felt it. This place was different from ordinary locations. Breathing was difficult, and the flow of mana felt alien.

‘Spirits…’

Seo-rin silently looked around. Having been with Sei-ran and influenced by shamanic arts, her eyes possessed spiritual power that revealed things normally invisible.

Wolves, deer, eagles, bears. Spirits taking the form of common animals occasionally showed themselves. Riding the wind and snow, moving freely, they showed not even the slightest interest in the three people.

They simply moved aside as if everything were part of nature.

“Let’s climb.”

Seo-rin began ascending the mountain with her two friends. The sound of snow crunching underfoot echoed for a long time. The three stopped simultaneously when they reached about halfway up the mountain.

“This…”

“Someone’s there.”

“Who could it be…”

Someone was near the summit. A faint human presence spoke of their existence. They weren’t hiding. Their naturally flowing energy mixed with the blizzard and flowed down the mountain.

The three silently placed their hands on their weapons. No words were necessary. A being that could make the Blue Wing Knights tense with just their presence meant one thing: they were powerful.

“At least as strong as Commander Kanok.”

“This won’t be easy. Should we retreat?”

“They’ve already detected us. We’d have a better chance facing them than turning our backs to flee.”

Shing-

Without anyone taking the lead, all three drew their swords. The light emanating from their blades scattered in all directions along with a faint killing intent.

Rumble-

The air vibrated just from them raising their energy. A subtle wave spread from the three, naturally pushing back the snow and wind.

“There’s no reaction.”

“I think they’re inviting us up.”

Despite displaying their powerful aura, there was no response from the summit. The three looked at each other, nodded, and slowly began walking.

As they got closer, their expressions hardened. The faint presence had become a familiar energy they each recognized. How could they forget the existence of the absolute being who had crossed from another dimension?

“The Thousand Sword Emperor…”

It was the presence of the Thousand Sword Emperor. As they approached the summit, gleaming swords appeared through the swirling snow. Not just one, but tens, hundreds, no, thousands of blades. From the summit down to just below it, countless swords were embedded in the ground.

Just below the summit was where the three stopped. Seo-rin’s group looked up at the thin pillar soaring high above. The Thousand Sword Emperor sat there. Through the swirling white snow, only his eyes shone brightly, his hair and beard frozen.

The Thousand Sword Emperor opened his mouth.

“It’s been a while.”

“…”

“I wondered where you were hiding… so you were stuck here?”

“Theo…”

The Thousand Sword Emperor showed no particular reaction to Theo’s provocation. After silently looking down for a while, he gazed up at the sky.

“At some point, the endlessly whispering voices stopped. And the sky changed…”

“What are you talking about…”

“How can one reach the sky? I’ve pondered this for a long time. From the moment I was reborn in this world and heard the voices. Until now.”

“Theo, Flora…”

“Yeah.”

“This is crazy…”

At Seo-rin’s call, Theo and Flora tightened their grip on their swords. The Thousand Sword Emperor’s condition was strange, muttering only what he wanted to say. His eyes were cloudy, and though he was speaking to people, his focus was off.

“What do you say? Won’t you join me in ascending to the sky?”

Swoosh-

The Thousand Sword Emperor rose to his feet. Simultaneously, the white snow that had settled on his body cracked and scattered to the ground.

“To ascend to the sky, the first thing one must do is shed this physical body. If it’s difficult to do alone, I’ll help you.”

“Here he comes!”

Whoosh-!

Through the fiercely blowing blizzard, a single flash of light flew toward them. Seo-rin immediately rushed forward and swung her sword.

Clang-!

After the crisp sound of impact rang out, Seo-rin drew her Void-Breaking Sword from her waist and pointed it at the Thousand Sword Emperor.

“Hmm…”

It was then that countless swords began flying through the swirling blizzard from all directions. The space behind Seo-rin split open, and numerous swords poured out from within.

Clang-clang-clang!

Countless swords collided in mid-air. Through the chaotically scattered storm of swords, Theo and Flora rushed toward the Thousand Sword Emperor.

The Thousand Sword Emperor’s calm gaze turned toward Theo and Flora. As he extended his hand, one of the swords embedded in the ground flew into his grasp.

The moment he gripped the sword, the Thousand Sword Emperor’s aura changed. He swung the sword lightly. But the swordsmanship displayed by that hand was anything but light. Numerous slashes poured forth from the swirling sword wind.

“Ugh!”

“Ngh…”

Theo and Flora’s forms were instantly pushed back. Their mana barriers shattered, and blood spurted out. Blood from their thinly sliced wounds bloomed like red flowers on the pure white snow.

There were no fatal wounds. Theo and Flora didn’t stop moving.

While the two pressed the Thousand Sword Emperor, Seo-rin also began to move, pushing away the storm of swords flying from all directions. She had to maintain her Formless Flying Sword technique. Otherwise, she would be swept away by the flying swords, making it impossible to even approach the Thousand Sword Emperor.

Step-

In her left hand, she held the Fire Dragon Sword, and in her right, the Ice Dragon Sword. She simultaneously wielded these opposing energies.

Keeeeeng-!

As the ring of starlight in her heart began to rotate violently, a storm-like energy burst from Seo-rin’s body.

Seo-rin’s form disappeared momentarily. She reappeared right in front of the Thousand Sword Emperor. Her speed transcended sound. The wind that followed belatedly released the thunderous boom she had created when she kicked off the ground.

Even faster.

Seo-rin and the Thousand Sword Emperor’s swords clashed in mid-air.

Clang-!

The repulsive force was tremendous. Seo-rin frowned and immediately followed with her next attack. Her strange movements leveraged her body’s flexibility. Her upper body rotated as her leg kicked the air. In an impossible posture, Seo-rin swung the Fire Dragon Sword in her left hand.

Whoosh-!

The air ignited, and hot flames spread.

The next moment.

Boom-!

With a violent roar, Seo-rin’s form was sent flying. Theo and Flora’s gazes momentarily followed Seo-rin, but the two didn’t stop moving. This was because Seo-rin’s sword had been continuously deflecting the Thousand Sword Emperor’s Formless Flying Sword technique swirling from all directions.

Seo-rin, who had been buried in the pure white snow, immediately stood up and rushed toward the Thousand Sword Emperor again.

In the midst of the Thousand Sword Emperor fending off the combined attacks of the three, the large stone pillar he was standing on collapsed, and his form began to fall.

‘Now…!’

Theo’s gaze caught the opportunity. He aimed for the moment when the Thousand Sword Emperor’s posture was momentarily disrupted.

Rumble-!

At that moment, a massive thunderclap sounded from the young man’s body. All surrounding sounds disappeared, and a blue lightning bolt slashed diagonally toward the sky. As the lightning drawn in the air flickered.

As Theo’s form appeared in mid-air, red blood spurted from the Thousand Sword Emperor’s right shoulder.

Splash-!

Rumble-!

As the sound belatedly caught up, a massive dragon form made of swords flew toward Theo in the air.

“Damn…”

Boom-!