Ch.86Spirit Trial

My body feels light. The air is incredibly refreshing. As I cast my gaze across the green meadow, an endless horizon stretches before me. The cloudless blue sky soothes my troubled mind.

If there were a heaven that the White Frost tribe longed for, would it look like this? Deer and wolf packs racing across the prairie disappear as if rippling through the translucent wind.

The occasional appearance of massive birds serves as evidence that this place is not reality. With wind wrapped around their bodies, they frolic freely through the sky like fish in water.

‘The Spirit Realm…?’

This matches much of what the shamans used to describe about the spirit world. Sae-erin walks forward, following the wind. Step by step, her small feet tread upon the green leaves.

She keeps her hand on the sword at her waist. She arrived here in the middle of fighting an enemy. The possibility of being caught in an illusion couldn’t be ignored.

‘How strange.’

A sword?

Sae-erin tilted her head at her own thought. Looking down at her waist, she couldn’t see any sword. Yet when she placed her hand where she thought it should be, the distinct shape of a sword transmitted through her sense of touch.

With each step forward, changes appeared in Sae-erin’s appearance. Over the initially unclothed girl, the blue-winged uniform materialized layer by layer.

Finding her way wasn’t difficult. Whenever Sae-erin stopped, translucent deer or wolves would run up to her and look back, as if telling her to follow.

“Where are you taking me?”

Though she asked, no answer came. In the end, Sae-erin had to walk with the spirits taking animal forms, following the wind. Day and night changed frequently in a short period.

But here, distinguishing between day and night was unnecessary. Even when wrapped in pitch darkness, the starlight in the sky illuminated the surroundings as bright as day.

As she walked along the wind, she could find traces of people. The first discovery was an old spear stuck in the ground. Like the spirits, the spear lacked physical substance and rippled slowly in the transparent wind.

Like footprints of those who had gone ahead.

There were many such items. Swords, blunt weapons, spears, bows. Weapons commonly used by the White Frost tribe members predominated. She continued walking, leaving behind these masterless weapons.

The place she arrived at was brightly illuminated by stars.

A man sat there. Wrapped in worn leather clothes, his rag-like hair was disheveled. A single pole-like sword he held in his arms was the only weapon he possessed.

[It’s been a while.]

It wasn’t a sound made by a living being’s mouth. Using mysterious powers, he sent vibrations through the surrounding wind. That’s how the sound was transmitted.

“Who are you?”

[A fragment of the Great Warrior, the wind he left behind.]

“Wind…?”

At that moment, the man who had been sitting on the ground rose. His frame, which looked large even while seated, easily exceeded 2 meters. Compared to Sae-erin, he appeared almost like a giant.

The girl swallowed dryly and stepped back, and the man spoke.

[It’s time to fulfill the Great Warrior’s covenant with the clan. Take up your sword, Covenant-bearer, prove your skill and claim the wind.]

“Covenant-bearer? Are you talking to me?”

[Who else is here besides you?]

Sae-erin stared at the man before her for a long time. Brief memories flashed by quickly. The strangely familiar characters found throughout the island, the power of spirits that approached in the forest, and the massive formation in the cave.

Only then could Sae-erin understand the situation. Long ago, the ancestors of the White Frost tribe must have settled in this land. That would explain why the formation in the cave and the spirits remaining in the forest had responded.

She could also discern the reincarnator’s purpose. He had tried to bring fresh blood to activate the formation inside the cave. If there had been no interference, it would likely have been the reincarnator standing here instead of her.

‘This must be related to how my body was revived…’

And so, back to the present.

Sae-erin drew her sword. A distinct form overlaid the faint blade pulled from its scabbard. It was the White Dragon Sword.

She didn’t know exactly what “claim the wind” meant. But it was clear that if she defeated this man, she could gain something. What the reincarnator had coveted. It was right that she should claim it instead.

‘Seiran. You would think so too.’

Dust rose from beneath Sae-erin’s feet. Mana swirled like a vortex, covering a certain radius. The incantation of the White Dragon Heart Method and the sword technique of the Great White Snow Dragon Sword interlocked to reveal a powerful energy wave.

Her arms and legs felt unusually light. They moved so swiftly that she had to find her center of gravity again. There was no resistance when moving her mana. Even calling it perfect condition would be insufficient.

‘It’s because I have no physical body.’

This freedom comes from being liberated from the constraints of a physical body. What would sword techniques be like in this state? Sae-erin smiled like an excited child.

Despite facing many problems, the immediate sense of liberation felt incredibly joyful.

[Not bad… Has the Great Warrior’s martial art developed so much?]

As the man finished speaking, his outstretched leg stomped the ground forcefully.

Boom-!

The pressure was so intense that everything around was pushed back. Even Sae-erin staggered momentarily from the man’s overwhelming aura. But it was too early to panic. The real attack was just beginning. The man who had stomped his foot drew the pole-like sword he was holding.

Shhh-

The great sword, drawn like a snake, revealed a clear presence. Unlike the man’s translucent appearance, only the blade possessed a complete color. That made it even more eerie.

Sae-erin didn’t remain still either. The Great White Snow Dragon Sword is the ultimate swift sword technique. Even if the opponent’s draw was fast, the Great White Snow Dragon Sword would arrive first. In that brief moment, mana raced along Sae-erin’s spiritual body.

That speed was incredibly swift. The speed of her sword technique was vastly superior to reality. A strike like light flew toward the man’s neck. She unleashed an attack beyond her usual capability.

The next moment, sword met sword.

Kwaaang-!

Surprise spread across Sae-erin’s face. It was a strike with all her might. That attack had been blocked. Beyond the shockwave, the great sword came flying. It was a strike with terrifying power. Moreover, it was wrapped in wind. She could block it, but the wind enveloping the sword would push her body back.

Sae-erin chose to dodge rather than block. Her extended leg stretched to the right and slid briefly. The muscles from her calf to her thigh expanded to maintain her posture. Cold mana gently wrapped around them, compensating for the lack of strength.

As the girl’s waist bent backward, a massive slash passed over her. She combined evasion with counterattack. Sae-erin swung her sword from that position.

The man ignored the attack. He did so despite seeing the blade flying toward him. At that moment, Sae-erin’s sword strike curved outward. Something was blocking its path.

It was a wall of wind.

‘Oh no…!’

Sae-erin hastily retreated. Like being scattered by the swirling wind, she slid across the ground, mimicking a wolf’s movement. The man was also moving in a way similar to Sae-erin’s movements.

Animal forms appeared all over his body. Sometimes taking the form of a wolf, sometimes a bear, sometimes a bird. With wind wrapped around his body. Every attack came like a storm.

It wasn’t easy to approach. Sae-erin had to retreat repeatedly.

Then suddenly, she thought of one possibility. This wasn’t reality. Even the clothes she wore were nothing more than what she had imagined.

Even the White Dragon Sword in her hand was the same.

‘Swords.’

She needed swords. Not one, but tens, hundreds of swords. It would be impossible in reality, but here it was possible. This was a space where, freed from the constraints of a physical body, she could demonstrate abilities beyond her usual skill.

One breath.

With each inhale and exhale from Sae-erin’s mouth, swords plunged into the surroundings. The form of the swords was consistent. Because she could quickly recall only one type of sword.

The White Dragon Sword, or the Black Dragon Sword.

The suddenly appearing swords all took the same form. The colors of the blades mixed chaotically.

Dozens of swords like that.

Boom-!

Sae-erin stomped her foot. Mana leaving her body spread around, dominating the space. Dozens of swords that rose this way pointed their blades toward one target.

[This is a form of martial art I’ve never seen… I feel an alien power…]

“Of course… it’s alien.”

Sae-erin said with a light smile. Unlike her seemingly calm exterior, endless incantation transitions were occurring within the girl. Since there was no physical impact from sudden incantation changes, the speed increased even more.

Woong-

A chilling cold settled over the dozens of swords. The essence of the Great White Snow Dragon Sword began to imbue the formless flying sword technique. Sae-erin didn’t wait to strike.

With her hands behind her back, like an emperor wielding ten thousand swords.

Cold flower petals bloomed wherever the girl’s gaze fell. A storm of swords swirling with cold air enveloped the man.

A large mark remained where the storm had passed. Above the scratched ground, a pole-like sword was stuck, rippling transparently.

At that moment, Sae-erin recognized the presence of the wind.