Northern Grand Duke (3)

Blue light flashed in the blizzard. It was the eyes of a Frost Ghoul.

Hundreds, thousands of lights filled the hillside.

“It’s the Legion of Bitter Cold.”

Kiara’s cold voice echoed. She stroked the scabbard of the Frost Sword with her fingertips.

“There are many. It seems to be twice as many as usual. It seems they’re after the Hero-nim.”

“Looks like they know I’m here.”

“Of course. The Hero is the greatest nemesis of the demons. A great threat even to the Four Heavenly Kings.”

[Master, there’s a pretty strong one among them.]

[Yeah, Master. I see an Ice Golem too… and a Yeti over there…]

The blue lights of the Frost Ghouls stretched to the end of the horizon.

A giant Ice Golem appeared below the castle walls. Its two arms turned into giant iron maces and swung towards the walls.

Kung!

The castle walls shook. But the magic circle glowed blue and absorbed the impact.

“Don’t worry about the walls. They’re the Ice Walls imbued with the will of the successive Grand Dukes.”

The Frost Wolf Knights lined up on the castle walls. All of them raised their bows.

“Shall we begin?”

Kiara’s sword pointed to the sky.

“First Squad, fire!”

A rain of arrows poured down. The blue lights of the Frost Ghouls went out one by one.

“Second Squad, Third Squad! Pour down fire arrows!”

Thousands of arrows filled the sky. But the Legion of Bitter Cold kept coming relentlessly.

“This won’t do.”

Kiara’s Frost Sword glowed.

“I’ll take the lead.”

She walked to the edge of the castle walls. Her white wolf fur fluttered in the wind.

“Wait a minute. Let’s go together.”

Kiara’s blue eyes wavered.

“I’m capable enough on my own.”

“No, it’s better if we go together. You know it’s stubborn to come all this way and say you don’t need help, right?”

A cold smile spread across her lips at my words.

“How rude. But… you were a bit like a Northerner. Then… please match the rhythm of my sword.”

“The opposite.”

Kiara’s eyebrows twitched.

“Huh?”

“Grand Duke-nim, please match the rhythm of my sword. Well, if you can.”

“Ha? What are you saying…”

“Let’s begin!”

I jumped down from the castle walls. I heard Kiara’s flustered voice.

“Wait…!”

But she soon followed and jumped down too.

Our breathing was pretty good.

The Frost Sword moved along the trajectory drawn by the Holy Sword. The rhythm created by the two swords was in perfect harmony.

“It’s just a lump of ice anyway.”

Ice shards shattered with the sound of footsteps. I stepped over the corpse of the Ice Golem beneath my feet. The Yeti shed blood and its eyes turned red.

Kiara’s voice rang out coldly. We joined forces to drive back the Legion of Bitter Cold. But…

“Hero-nim, don’t let your guard down.”

The sky split open. A huge tail plunged down like an iron mace.

“That’s…”

A huge figure appeared in the blizzard. A giant magic creature made of ice.

Kiara’s expression hardened.

“Ice Dragon Jabberwock.”

Kuaaaang!

The huge figure distorted and spread its wings.

A huge body covered in white snow. Wings made of ice crystals sparkled in the moonlight.

Suddenly, the wolf fur draped over her shoulders came to life. It became the shape of a frosty wolf and guarded Kiara’s side.

“Fenrir?”

“It’s always like this when it sees Jabberwock. Because of the memories from eight years ago…”

I drew the Holy Sword. The light of dawn spread out, cutting through the cold air.

[Haru-nim, are you going to fight the Ice Dragon?]

[Yeah, sounds fun, doesn’t it?]

The Holy Sword and the Demon Sword reacted at the same time.

“Shut up.”

Kiara looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Are you talking to your sword?”

“Just… muttering to myself.”

“Hmph…”

We blocked Jabberwock, who was rushing towards the castle walls.

The light of the Holy Sword weakened the Ice Dragon’s scales, and the cold air of the Frost Sword penetrated the gap. When I blocked the Ice Dragon’s cold air, Fenrir and Kiara’s slashes aimed at the gap and tore the surface of the Ice Dragon.

Keurwareureureu!

Jabberwock screamed in pain. Wings made of ice crystals shattered and fell.

“Let’s finish this!”

Kiara’s Frost Sword flashed. She gathered the surrounding cold air and stabbed it towards the Ice Dragon’s heart.

I swung the Holy Sword towards the wound she made. The light of dawn amplified the cold air of the Frost Sword.

Puh-wong!

The Ice Dragon shattered into pieces. Ice shards scattered into the blizzard.

“…You’re quite skilled.”

“It was more efficient together. Right?”

She seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment. But she soon nodded.

“…That’s right.”

But the battle was not over yet.

The Frost Sword and the Holy Sword began to dance once again.

*

I advanced through the blizzard. The ominous blue lights of the Frost Ghouls faded one by one.

Kiara’s Frost Sword pierced the last Ice Golem. The shattering ice shards sparkled in the moonlight.

Kung!

At that moment, a cool chill swept through. Sharp ice crystals soared up, tearing through the surrounding air.

“It’s… It’s a Demon Four Heavenly King!”

One step.

Someone’s scream echoed in terror. The air on the battlefield froze in an instant.

“This is…”

A woman appeared in the blizzard. Silver hair, imbued with the cold moonlight, fluttered.

The surrounding soldiers retreated in fear. The sound of someone’s armor clattering could be heard.

“The warmth of humans is disgusting.”

Two steps. Three steps.

The earth froze white with each of her snowy footprints. Her appearance in the blizzard was beautiful. But it was a static beauty, like death.

“Commander of the Legion of Bitter Cold──”

Before the words could even finish. A sharp ice spear flashed in the air.

Peok!

A soldier’s neck was pierced.

“Eugh!”

A scream of terror rang out. But it was only for a moment.

White Snow raised her hand. Thousands of ice crystals sparkled in the moonlight.

With a cold smile, her hand fell. The ice crystals poured down like rain.

Peok peok peok!

In an instant, dozens of soldiers froze. Pale ice statues shone coldly.

“Demon Four Heavenly King, White Snow…!”

Kiara’s voice trembled. The Frost Sword in her hand vibrated faintly.

Kiara and I protected the soldiers as much as possible, but it wasn’t enough.

“The sight of you clinging to each other and sharing body heat… it’s truly repulsive.”

Demon Four Heavenly King White Snow, her blue eyes were filled with hatred. The aura of the Four Heavenly Kings overwhelmed the surroundings.

“Be careful. She’s a very dangerous opponent.”

It was a strangely calm voice. As if all emotions had been frozen.

“I see… human concern.”

White Snow laughed mockingly. A giant ice pillar rose at her gesture.

“That warmth… those emotions… I’ll erase them all.”

The power of the Four Heavenly Kings exploded. In an instant, the vision turned white.

When I opened my eyes, everything was covered in ice. The soldiers’ armor was frozen, and the horses were ice statues.

“This is…”

[Haru-nim, this isn’t just any cold air!]

“Humans rely on each other’s warmth. That’s why they’re weak.”

White Snow walked slowly. The air froze with each of her steps.

“If they lose one, they collapse, and if they lose two, they despair.”

Her cold gaze turned to Kiara.

“So I decided to erase everything.”

In an instant, White Snow’s hand flashed. Countless ice spears flew towards us.

Kiara swung the Frost Sword. The ice spears shattered and scattered.

“You’re still using that sword.”

White Snow’s voice became even colder.

She closed the distance in an instant. White Snow’s hand reached for Kiara’s neck.

“Kiara!”

I swung the Holy Sword and blocked White Snow’s attack. The light of dawn melted the cold air.

“So you’re the Hero…”

White Snow turned her head towards me. The same face, but completely different emotions.

“Interesting. So, you’re the one…”

A cold smile spread across her lips.

“I don’t need warmth.”

White Snow’s cold air exploded. Ice crystals filled the air.

“Because I’ve already abandoned everything.”

Madness dwelled in her cold eyes. A gaze that was no longer human.

“I’ll freeze everything… everything.”

The power of the Four Heavenly Kings became a blizzard and engulfed us. This was the true power of bitter cold.

White Snow’s cold air swallowed everything. No matter how much I wielded the light of the Holy Sword, or used the cold air of the Frost Sword, it was useless.

“This is why… I didn’t want to…”

Kiara’s voice trembled. Her Frost Sword vibrated faintly in the face of White Snow’s cold air.

Giant ice pillars exploded in succession. Shards poured down like rain.

The soldiers’ screams rang out.

“At this rate…”

[Haru-nim, I’m sorry, but my power isn’t enough.]

The light of the Holy Sword flickered uneasily. The surrounding temperature dropped to tens of degrees below zero in an instant.

“Let’s retreat.”

Kiara blocked my path. Her hand, raising the Frost Sword, trembled slightly.

“But…”

A strange emotion dwelled in her voice.

White Snow continued to gesture. Ice pillars flew towards us, aiming for us.

I barely managed to block them with the Holy Sword, but my body trembled. This won’t do.

Kiara grabbed my arm.

“It’s too dangerous beyond this point. Let’s retreat for now and reorganize…”

Before she could finish speaking. My left hand throbbed and became hot.

The black inverted cross burned red.

[Hehe, do you desire power?]

‘What’s with this concept.’

A sweet whisper echoed in my ear. The Demon Sword had awakened.

The Demon Sword urged my hesitating hand.

“Okay…”

I raised my left hand. The black inverted cross shone even more intensely.

“Demon Sword Twilight.”

In an instant, a purplish-black aura spread out like an explosion. Darkness swirled, cutting through the cold air.

[Is it my turn now, Master?]

“Let’s go.”

The blade of the Demon Sword glowed ominously.

“That sword is…?”

Kiara’s eyes wavered. Her hand, holding the Frost Sword, gripped it even tighter.

“A Demon Sword…?”

White Snow also showed signs of panic for the first time.

[Those who desire power… offer blood.]

I put more strength into my left hand, holding the Demon Sword. Purplish-black magic power burst out like an explosion.

“Keuek…”

A sharp pain pierced through my entire body. It was as if all my blood vessels were burning.

[More… give me more, Master.]

The moment my life force was converted into magic power, explosive power pierced through my entire body.

One step. Two steps.

The blizzard was cut off.

Purplish-black darkness split the surrounding cold air and opened a path.

“When…?”

[That woman let her guard down.]

Her defense was delayed due to the unexpected speed. Purplish-black magic power flashed and headed towards her chest.

‘This is the end.’

White Snow raised both hands. Hundreds of ice spears floated in the air.

But it was already too late. It was within the Demon Sword’s range.

Twilight’s blade smiled ominously. A small smile spread across my face as well.

I swung the Demon Sword.

“This is the end…!”

But purplish-black darkness spread out along the trajectory drawn by the Demon Sword.

Darkness that seemed to swallow everything, even ice and cold air.

Twilight flashed and headed towards her chest. White Snow’s expression distorted at the unexpected attack.

It was that moment.

“Hero-nim! It’s dangerous!”

Kiara grabbed my body forcefully. We lost our balance and rolled down the snowfield in a tangled mess.

“Why…!”

I urgently searched for White Snow’s figure, but she was already nowhere to be seen.

The roar of a giant ice dragon, cutting through the snowy mountains, could be heard. It was the signal for the Legion of Bitter Cold to retreat.

“Ah…”

I lay on the snowfield and looked up at the sky. Kiara was lying next to me, gasping for breath.

I raised the Demon Sword. Purplish-black darkness turned towards Kiara.

“What are you doing?”

Kiara slowly raised her head.

“It, it looked dangerous…”

“Me? It was clearly the perfect opportunity to finish off White Snow!”

Now that White Snow knew that I had the Demon Sword and knew my full power, such an opportunity would not come easily.

“In the first place, to wield such an ominous sword… is that really something a Hero should have?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

I took a step forward. The darkness of the Demon Sword deepened.

“Explain everything.”

Kiara’s gaze wavered. A moment of silence followed.

“…Let’s return to Frostgard for now.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll tell you everything. But here…”

Her gaze swept around. Soldiers were watching us from afar.

“…It’s not an appropriate place.”

I lowered the Demon Sword. Kiara was right.

“I understand.”