Chapter 257 : Shall We Break It?

Saaa—

As I poured my ice art into the Night Sky Sword I was holding, frost began to form on the blade, and soon it was completely frozen white.

The black Night Sky Sword had turned pale and was now engulfed in a cold chill.

I created a Blue Flame in my other hand and then carefully placed it on the Snow Branch.

The blue flame settled on the white branch as if it were wriggling.

I watched the sight and then carefully swung the sword in the air.

The blue flame did not flow down from the white branch, but moved as if it were shimmering along with the sword.

Every time I swung it, a blue afterimage followed.

I scratched my cheek and muttered.

"It worked, but..."

Snow Branch, Blue Flame.

I had somehow succeeded in making the two opposing energies, which repelled each other as much as they were opposites, coexist.

I had also received the Heavenly Demon's confirmation that I had reached the eighth stage of the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art.

I had been watching the flame that burns ice for a long time, pondering why it was possible, taking in its principle, trying and failing, trying and failing, and repeating it over and over again...

It became possible.

So, to explain in detail, it could be said that it was the result of maximizing one aspect of each of the two energies' properties to minimize the repulsive force and increase the attractive force.

The blue flame is quiet, but once it attaches, it has the property of a leech that doesn't let go until it turns to ash.

The white chill is like an extremely condensed, cold blizzard that freezes everything it touches, whether it's an enemy or an ally.

The Blue Flame has the energy of a leech, and the Snow Branch has the feeling of freezing.

In the process of training, my understanding of the Snow Branch and the Blue Flame deepened, and fine adjustments became possible, and this was the result of applying that.

It could be said that it was a success built on countless failures.

Strictly speaking, I hadn't directly grafted the two energies.

I had just put my internal energy between them to act as a buffer.

It was a place I had reached after much contemplation and countless failures.

"..."

I stared blankly at the two energies, which had temporarily become somewhat okay with each other.

The two were flowing on the surface of the sword with an invisible, transparent line between them.

It was like watching two enemies who were trying their best to pretend they didn't see each other.

...It was somewhat awkward.

I didn't like it.

It was as if I had forcibly reformed two guys who didn't get along for a short while.

It felt like they were reluctantly putting up with it because they were looking at their master.

If I wasn't looking, it seemed like they would fight to the death and never see each other again.

Woooong—

I could feel an enormous energy, as if the Heaven-Reversing Light had been melted into the sword, but I wasn't very satisfied.

I could tell intuitively.

That this was not the end of the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art.

The Heavenly Demon snorted.

[Of course not. Only when you reach the ninth stage can you finally produce the complete Snow Branch Blue Flame.]

I had taken a step forward in the fiercely blowing storm, but it felt as if the treasure I was trying to obtain was still more than ten steps away.

"..."

I stared blankly at the two guys who were pretending to be close while looking at me, and then I dispersed the energy.

Swoosh—

The blue flame scattered, and the white frost melted.

A sense of exhaustion washed over my whole body.

I glared at the blade of the Night Sky Sword, which had returned to its black color, then put it in its scabbard and threw it on the bedside, and at the same time, I collapsed onto the bed.

Thump—

I had been maintaining the incomplete, unfinished, weak, and insufficient Snow Branch Blue Flame for quite a long time, so sleepiness poured over me.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, then created the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art in both hands and then brought my hands together in the middle and clumped them.

Immediately, the precursor symptoms of the Heaven-Reversing Light appeared.

The sight of a white and blue wolf spinning around, chasing each other's tails.

I still hadn't grasped the ultimate principle that the Heavenly Demon had mentioned.

How could I make those two enemies get along naturally?

Did I have to realize this to reach the ninth stage?

Could I produce the complete Snow Branch Blue Flame?

What in the world was the mystery of the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art...

I fell asleep watching the white and blue colors spinning in a circle.

.

.

.

I had a dream.

In my dream, I was walking in a mountain dominated by winter.

Crunch, crunch.

The scream of the snowy field that I heard every time I took a step was endearing.

As I was walking through the snow-covered forest...

I suddenly looked to the side.

There was a tree that was particularly covered in white snow.

As if the snow had fallen intensively only there, the branches were covered in snow and were all white.

As I was looking at the snow-covered white branches...

Soon, a blue snake appeared, coiling around the branches.

Soon, I met the eyes of the snake, which was sticking out its tongue and hissing.

The moment it suddenly opened its mouth and rushed at me.

The Heavenly Demon's low voice, which I had heard sometime, brushed past my ears.

[Have you ever seen ice burn?]

Flash!

"Ashuban!"

I don't know which came first.

At the same time I opened my eyes, Shushuruta burst open the door and came in.

As I sat up halfway and looked at Shushuruta, she said to me in an urgent tone.

"The wave is coming!"

I got up from my seat and reached for the two swords on the bedside.

The final battle had begun.

Whether it would be my last, or the magical beasts' last, was not yet decided.

* * *

The strategy was simple.

When the wave rushed in, we would watch the situation for a moment, and then Sherwood would also charge out as if to greet them.

Of course, it wasn't a head-on confrontation; we would pass by as if brushing past.

We would go against the wave and reach its source.

If we went out to deal with the king and queen of the magical beasts before the wave rushed in, there was a high probability that we would be surrounded by the other magical beasts and be subjected to a concentrated attack.

Because they were literally the king and queen of the magical beasts.

Since they were strong enemies, the battle was likely to be long, so we couldn't even try a hit-and-run guerrilla warfare.

Then, what should we do?

We had to disperse them.

We had to separate the loyal people from the king and queen.

We had to aim for the time when their people were advancing toward the barrier and staging a siege.

Of course, even then, their retainers would not be absent from their surroundings, but at least we wouldn't be surrounded to the point where we couldn't do anything.

99% of the magical beasts were simple.

When the wave began, they would just look ahead and run, crashing their bodies into the barrier.

When most of the magical beasts had advanced toward the barrier, following the initial command, we would take the opportunity to defeat the king and queen individually.

That was the best strategy that the duke's vassals had come up with, and the Sherwood members, including myself, agreed.

It was a simple strategy, but it was certain.

In battle, the simpler it is, the more effective it often is, so I was rather relieved.

I stood on the wall and looked at the black wave that was rushing in from the distance.

The white hell was being dyed black.

If we couldn't block it, the entire Maia would be dyed black like that.

The duke, who was next to me, said.

"They're coming."

"They are."

"See you after it's over."

"Yes."

Since neither the duke nor I were very talkative, I exchanged a simple greeting with the duke and then jumped down from the wall with Shushuruta.

I could faintly hear the flustered voices of the soldiers, but I didn't care.

For the friends of the wind, what was this height?

Thump—

Shushuruta and I landed lightly at the bottom of the wall, each in our own way.

When I looked around, the Sherwood members were waiting with their usual appearances.

A leisurely attitude, as if they were going on a picnic.

The Red Witch, Scarlet Bellucci, with a languid face, puffing out smoke while holding a long pipe.

At her feet, the worst magical beast, Miho, was yawning with its mouth wide open.

The disaster-calling spirit master, Hudmilla Everett, surrounded by spirits, accepting their pranks with a face that said she was annoyed to death.

The two-faced demonic swordsman—the beast sword Hartz, the ice mage Sorrow—with his yellow eyes like a beast's and his glacier-cold, blue eyes flashing, and the corner of his mouth raised like a beast.

The babbler Dofang, who had joined late for some reason and was muttering excuses that no one was listening to.

The golden-furred martial artist, Schmidt, with an expressionless face, cracking his wrists and ankles, which were shimmering with a golden energy.

The master of poison, the madwoman Linda, with a very poisoned face, staring at the vial in her hand.

The Shadow Phantom Thief, Shushuruta, offering dried fruit to the bird that looked like a black snowflake on her head.

Seeing them all gathered in one place like this...

Even if I tried not to care, the empty seats of a few members caught my eye.

The Debauched Knight, Lyle; The Crybaby, Viola; and The Unbelieving Saint, Siri.

But I soon shook my head and shook off my disappointment.

There was nothing to be disappointed about.

After this was over, I would go and find them one by one and kidnap them.

And... even the people outside the Sherwood Mercenary Corps.

The mad black mage, Adrian, who was rubbing his palms and licking his lips as if he were excited.

Sir Monde, the princess's delinquent guardian knight, who was grumbling with a very frowning face.

And, Princess Lilia, who had become a fat snowman by wearing a lot of clothes.

"Hero."

I looked at Princess Lilia, who had come out to see me off even on the last day.

"I told you I'm not a hero."

The princess naturally held out her two hands, and I lowered my posture slightly and held her two hands.

Princess Lilia smiled brightly.

"We'll find out whether you're a hero or not after this battle is over, right?"

"Maybe."

"Please be careful. I'll give you all my strength. Hup!"

A warm energy flowed through my hands and went straight to my heart.

"How is it? Do you feel a little stronger?"

I gave her a grin.

"It's more than enough."

"It's better than not enough."

"That's true."

Just then, Dofang stealthily approached.

"Um, Princess. I came a little late, so I didn't get any strength..."

I grabbed Dofang by the scruff of the neck and dragged him to the open passage.

"You're late, Brother Dofang. Who told you to be late?"

"Keuk...! O heavens! Why did you gift me with oversleeping on a day like today!"

The princess waved her two hands at us as we slowly headed to the passage.

"Everyone, be careful! I'll be cheering for you!"

Whoooosh—

When we came out beyond the barrier, a fierce blizzard greeted us as always.

For some reason, it seemed even fiercer today.

Was it just my imagination?

I breathed in the cold northern wind and looked at Sir Monde, who had come out last.

He had just come from giving a series of warnings to the knight in charge of the princess's escort.

"Sir Monde."

Sir Monde looked at me.

"Sir Ashuban."

Had he also matured?

Sir Monde answered in a surprisingly serious tone.

At the title 'Sir', Dofang and the demonic swordsman chuckled, and then quieted down at Scarlet's glare.

"Please take good care of Adrian. If anything happens, just grab him and run inside the wall."

Sir Monde looked around at the terrifying grotesque creatures that Adrian had created and replied.

"I don't think that will happen... but I'll keep it in mind."

I also gave a glance to Adrian.

"Adrian."

"Yes, Sir Ashuban."

"Do you have any regrets?"

"Hahat, of course not."

Adrian spread his two arms and laughed coolly, as if he really had no regrets.

"Today is the best day of my life."

The flower that had bloomed after a long period of persecution and hardship was grotesque, but it was a good sight to see.

No more words were needed.

I patted Adrian's shoulder once and then took a step toward the white hell.

The members followed me.

Footprints were dotted on the pure white snowy plains.

I pointed to the black wave that was rushing in from the distance and said impulsively.

"Shall we break it?"

Dofang grinned and replied.

"It would be a good warm-up."

As the captain of the mercenary corps, I gave the order.

"Gentlemen. We will become a moving reef for a while. Let's break it head-on."

Schmidt nodded, and Hartz grinned.

"I like that it's straightforward."

The rest just had a gentle smile on their lips, as if they were reminded of the old days.

"Let's go."

We shot our bodies toward the wave of magical beasts that was pouring in blackly.

(End of Chapter)