211. King of the North (5)
#211
“Nice to meet you. “You bastards who ruined everything for me.”
“Barka.”
Ronan urgently turned the corner. Barca was nowhere to be seen. Only sparkling mana and a presence similar to Zyfar were stirring beyond the darkness.
“It’s like a young girl.
“I am not a fool Ronan. It wouldn’t be a smart idea to reveal yourself after experiencing your sword skills and strange powers. “Your ability must be to attract beings that come into contact with your vision or light.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. There were two things that surprised him.
One was that the fake Zyfa knew his name and the other was that he had seen through the Auror’s abilities at once. Barca said.
“It’s a powerful ability but the law of destruction is simple. “As long as either one of them doesn’t stand in front of you.”
“It would be nice if the poop was thick. “Who told you my name?”
“Have you put two Lycopos aside and hoped they won’t find out? It is no exaggeration to say that everyone in the church is targeting you. Of course my stupid brother also said something in a letter.”
“If it’s your brother then Zaifa was talking about me? “Is that guy related to you guys too?”
“Hahaha…well.”
An approving laugh was heard. The hand holding the sword hilt gained strength.
He immediately wanted to scream what bullshit that was but Ronan suppressed his doubts with a deep inhale and exhale. There was also a possibility that it was psychological warfare.
‘Calm down.’
It seemed like it was going to be an annoying fight. Unlike his older brother who pushed with force he used his head actively.
He tried to concentrate his mind to guess its exact location but strangely he had trouble detecting it. Has anything been done to this entire ice cave? Ronan glanced at the seven heads and opened his mouth.
“Did you make Jager like this?”
“You can say that. “I wasn’t the one who cut off his head.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Jager was literally like a maggot. He had a talent for gathering people so he tried to put it to use but somehow he betrayed him at the last moment. “Thanks to you most of my plans went awry.”
Judging from his tone of voice it seemed like he was very angry. Barka’s voice was coming from a completely different direction than before. But in the end Jager died as a king. Ronan clicked his tongue once and continued.
“The plan is to unite the North?”
“There is no reason for me to tell you up to that point. It looks like they are wasting time to escape but let me tell you first that it is a futile effort.”
“Plague.”
Ronan cursed. In fact he and Adeshan were moving stealthily toward the exit. Because there was nothing good about being in that guy’s mouth. Fuck you bastard. You’re quick to notice.
‘Is there anything good to talk about?’
He tried to move towards the exit as much as possible but the situation became awkward. Barca’s dark laughter suddenly stopped. It was the car where he said his villainous goodbye.
“Then let’s say goodbye here. well…”
“You used Jager as a puppet raised him as a tyrant and then tried to kill him. Then you can become a hero. “I think I understand why he didn’t increase his power even though he had the ability.”
Adeshan suddenly intervened and cut him off. Ronan raised his eyebrows. Before she knew it she had come to her side.
“senior?”
“Because you can’t escape Jaifa’s shadow by acting normal. There are still many more people who are satisfied with the peace achieved through Zaifa’s sacrifice. “I guess they were planning to reveal that the curse placed unreasonably on the North was a collaboration between humans and Jager.”
The eyes that had been shaking with anxiety calmed down. Perhaps because they had succeeded in getting their attention there was a fairly long silence. Barca’s voice became even more ferocious coming from the darkness.
“…The woman who was there at that time. “What is it?”
“You are the one who lost everything. “There’s just one thing I’d like to ask Barka.”
“What?”
“Why are you so obsessed with uniting the North? Is it worth doing such a thing to your compatriots? Even as you wring out the tears of those who will later become your people and army?”
No answer came back. The two started walking again.
Although there was considerable movement the passage was so long and winding that there was no sign of an exit. Wow. A sound like teeth grinding bounced in the darkness.
“…To show hell to you humans especially the people of the Empire. “Anyway everything will disappear in the starlight soon but it’s such a sweet and peaceful death for the pigs of the empire.”
“What do you mean starlight?”
“You will find out soon enough. And to that hateful Zaifa….”
Barca trailed off her horse. The gap between Ronan and Adeshan’s brows narrowed at the same time. Earlier I was saying something about the letter but this time I was confused as to which melody I should use to say it was hateful.
‘This…’
Ronan who was suddenly walking raised his eyebrows. The sound of waves crashing was heard not far away.
At this point I felt like I was close enough to the exit. The two people who exchanged glances were about to run out. Coogung! Suddenly the ice ceiling in front collapsed blocking the passage.
“What the fuck?!”
Ronan reflexively pulled at the hilt of his sword. The sword energy poured out like a torrent and hit the pile of ice.
Kwaaaaang! Cold debris flew and a path was opened. But immediately the ceiling further ahead collapsed blocking the path again.
“Fuck you.”
There was even more debris than before. It seemed like it would take some time to break through. At that time a similar sound of collapse rang out from behind them. Adeshan sensed something and shouted urgently.
“Ronan what happened? “It’s coming this way!”
“What?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. As she said I felt a hint of popularity that had not been noticed before. Something was quickly approaching the two people. A loud gut-wrenching sound was echoing in the ice cave.
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! “Kaaaaak!”
“It’s been a long chat. Say hello to Jager.”
In an instant Barca’s presence disappeared. But I didn’t have the energy to chase him right now.
Adeshan who was aiming inside the passage fired his crossbow. Sigh! At the same time as the sound of an arrowhead digging into flesh a shaped shadow rolled around on the floor.
“Kean!”
It was a werefox that looked similar to the boy who attacked Jager. Black blood was flowing from the open mouth. The joints turned in strange directions were noticeable.
“This is what I saw back then…”
Ade Shan’s crossbow was firmly planted in the center of his small head. His brain seemed to have been destroyed by a single blow as his body was unable to move and was trembling. Adeshan who was looking down at Werefox frowned.
“Of course. This was created through necromancy. “If curses aren’t enough it’s black magic…”
“My major is very different from your brother.”
Were Tiger Warlock was a very unsuitable combination. As Ronan grabbed the hilt of her sword a golden afterimage traveled up his right arm to the top of his shoulder. First of all escaping this fucking freezer was an urgent priority.
“Then I’ll go. “Follow me closely.”
Ronan said that and ran towards the exit. For a moment his hand became blurred and dozens of straight lines were drawn over the debris blocking his path. Ronan didn’t slow down and hit the wreckage with his shoulder. Quaaaang! The ice wall shattered with a loud noise like a bomb exploded.
“oh my god!”
Adeshan was impressed. Varen’s physical abilities enhanced by Auror made such a reckless act possible. Suddenly a tearing sound echoed from the front.
“Khhhhhhhh!”
“Grrrk Kiririk!”
“You do all kinds of things.”
Ronan laughed out loud after seeing the scene ahead. Contrary to expectations that it would be wide open the passage was extremely congested.
A dizzying thick smell washed over me. The passage was filled with beasts revived through necromancy. It was a car that made me wonder where it all came from. Kwajangchang! The ice wall in front was destroyed and a weardeer jumped out.
“Muik! My Iik-!”
“aha.”
It seemed like the bodies had been buried here and there in the ice. Ronan feeling an inexplicable sense of déjà vu tilted his head.
“Are some of them a bit familiar?”
“Those are the prisoners in Jager’s room…!”
His Ade Shan bit his lower lip. Among the living corpses was the one I had seen in Jager’s room. Rather than withdrawing it seemed like they had been annihilated by Barca. A were lion with all his mane missing was muttering in a broken voice.
“Ronan. Ronan. Ronan.”
“You really are a fucking bastard.”
Disgust towards Barca was increasing. The situation was unfortunate but he couldn’t help it. Ronan sprinting off the ground grabbed the hilt of his sword. A wide semi-circular slash was drawn over the lifeless face. Wow! The beasts’ heads rose up to the ceiling leaving only their lower jaws.
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
The headless bodies fell down all at once. At the same time waves of corpses rushed towards Ronan and Adeshan. Fifty from the front and fifty from the back. As far as I could see right away there were over a hundred of them. Ronan who struck with his sword once again looked back at Adeshan and asked.
“Mind control doesn’t work?”
“You can’t do this because they are corpses without intelligence…!”
“Fuck.”
It seemed like the only way was to go through it ignorantly. Ronan slashed and stabbed the crowds of corpses sometimes shooting them with sword energy and shattering them into pieces.
The prisoners who were already dead were not breathing. It was both bittersweet and funny that even though there were so many people there were only two people with their hearts beating and breathing sounds.
Ronan gathered his energy and swung his sword diagonally. A sword beam exactly the same width as the passage was shot forward. As the red crescent moon advanced in the darkness bodies torn in two popped up like popcorn.
“If you’re dead please go away nicely!”
Still the waves of corpses showed no signs of calming down. The ice wall broke again and the prisoners that jumped out rushed forward trampling on the dismembered bodies of their comrades. It seemed like they had really prepared well.
As the battle continued the situation became more unfavorable. The bodies of the two people were covered in rotten blood and turned black. The rotten blood was evaporating along with sweat taking away body heat.
Adeshan was struggling using crossbows and whips alternately but the already dead warriors clung tenaciously. Pow! The werewolf’s front paw dug in from a blind spot and struck Adeshan’s back.
“Ugh!”
“What are you okay?”
“are you okay. “Whoa I blocked it!”
Adeshan gritted his teeth. Fortunately I was able to halve the impact by quickly rotating the whip to protect myself. The werewolf’s head exploded like a balloon due to Ronan’s immediate stab. Ronan who suddenly sensed her confusion asked her.
“I’m just saying I’m confused but the passage is getting narrower right now right?”
“Yeah I think so…!”
Moreover if I was not mistaken the passage itself was becoming narrower. There seemed to be some kind of magic hanging over this entire block of ice.
It would be really difficult to continue like this. If I didn’t escape quickly not only would I miss Barka but I would end up as frozen meat along with the corpses of the prisoners. The needle of the blood meter was slowly moving north.
‘With that bastard’s personality he will definitely make sure we die.’
It seemed like he hadn’t escaped far yet. He is probably leisurely watching his trap operate from a reasonable distance away.
Ronan truly did not want to miss Barca. She could tell from just a few words of conversation. It was a monster filled with disgusting evil that should not exist in the world. Ronan’s eyes opened wide as he desperately tried to find a solution.
‘for a moment.’
I remember bringing it with me just in case. Ronan rummaged through his inside pocket with the hand that wasn’t wielding his sword. A small jewel-like object was touched by the tip of his finger. A smile appeared on the face stained with blood.
“This is it.”
Ronan took his hands out of his pockets. In his hand was a badge in the shape of a sun. It was a first-class merit medal awarded by Aun Pillar a master of fire magic when he saved the Dawn Tower from Vajra’s demonic hands two years ago.
Originally I kept it attached to my school uniform but I brought it with me in case I needed it in the cold northern part of the country. Aun Pillar had clearly said that he had engraved some self-defense magic into it.
Judging by the author’s temperament it was undoubtedly a very powerful fire magic. Because he was a man with a large physical scale. What will happen if I burn it all down and escape? Ronan said looking back at Adeshan who was struggling.
“Stick with me Senpai. “As close as possible.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Hey it’s noisy. Come quickly!”
Ronan stretched out his arms and wrapped them around Ade Shan’s waist. She gasped at the unprecedented close contact.
“Ro Ronan!”
“Let’s take a look at your skills. Aun Phila.”
I’m not sure how the magic works but it seemed like it would just need to be attacked. It was the moment when Ronan raised his badge in front of the beasts. A dizzying burning pain attacked him.
“Ugh!”
“Ronan?! are you okay?”
The pain was such that his body collapsed. A heat that seemed to burn the blood vessels of his entire body was spreading from inside his heart. Ronan’s mouth opened in pain that felt somewhat like déjà vu.
“Ugh…Navardose?”
It was the same pain he experienced when he was doing it in his father’s room. He vaguely felt the heat rising up his arm and converging on his badge.
‘What’s about to happen?’
I couldn’t find out the details. However it was said that he put his own spark in the place where his curse was extracted so it was only assumed that it was a side effect.
A huge werebear was slapping its front paws down. Ronan who shook his head to come to his senses held up his badge again.
“Come.”
“Kwaaeook!”
Its powerful paws had the power to blow away a human’s upper body in one fell swoop. It was the moment when the cold hardened meat ball came into contact with the badge. A flash of light centered around Ronan brightened up the dark passage.
****
The sky was cloudy. The fluttering snowflakes were disappearing upon touching the seawater. Drift ice washed up from the Sea of Ghosts was floating everywhere.
-Carr. Karrr.
Dolphins as white as ghosts were swimming in the black water. It was a type of fantastic species that was extremely rare to find but Barka was not interested in whales or anything like that. He muttered quietly while rowing on a wooden boat.
“I guess it’s over soon.”
His gaze remained on a huge block of ice that was moving further and further away. If this time had passed even if the Corpse Warriors had not been able to kill Ronan the ice would have covered the passage and he would have been crushed to death.
The glacier spanning the sea and land was a tomb and trap created to bury Ronan. How much effort did he put into building just that one thing?
“What a shame. “I wanted to kill him myself.”
Barca clicked his tongue. As he was the enemy who ruined everything he wanted to rip out the liver himself but since he was the opponent who killed Darman he could not let down his guard.
‘no. This is right.’
It was Barca Turgen’s way to be cautious. Moreover the best sprayer who was always carried around in a robe was currently receiving detoxification treatment in the lab. It was because he was stabbed instead of by a dagger.
“…Rapid worm.”
I still get hot when I think of Jager’s face. I had no idea that trash would show its potential. If he had known this would happen he would have turned him into a corpse soldier and used it for a long time instead of killing him by cutting off his head with a single sword.
“okay. “You can do it again.”
But Barca soon shook off his distress and regained his composure. All of his past except his resentment of the Empire was only an obstacle holding him back.
There was also some time left until the star descended. All he had to do was engulf the North with another operation. Anyway the laboratory located in the Sea of Ghosts was stocked with weapons that could unite the North.
He had made up his mind and was about to row again. Kwaaaa!! With a roar that shook the heavens and earth the glacier where Ronan was imprisoned exploded. Barka stood up without realizing it and shouted in embarrassment.
“What?!”
It seemed like a dragon was breathing from inside. A huge pillar of flame was fluttering towards the sky. Debris and charred corpses that had been flying high were falling into the sea like rain.
“It can’t be. “There wasn’t a wizard among them…!”
Barka stared at the burning ice forgetting what he was going to say. He couldn’t figure out what happened.
Did he commit suicide at the last moment? If it’s an explosion of that magnitude you probably won’t be safe so should we go check on the body? It was the car where he was dumbfounded and out of breath. A familiar voice came from at my feet.
“Whoa…I barely caught up. It was dangerous…”
“What?!”
“Ugh it’s cold…fuck.”
Barka hastily lowered his head. A beluga whale clung to the side of his boat. The eyes which should originally shine a beautiful blue color had become dull and grey. A young man covered in black blood and sea water all over his body was looking up at his whale with his neck wrapped around it.
“Ro Ronan?!”
“Hey…but they look really similar…?”
Ronan grinned. Without his hood on Barca’s face looked very similar to his brother’s. If it weren’t for his slightly reddish fur and the terrible scar across his face it would have been hard to believe that he was Jaipa himself. Barka couldn’t help but shout in embarrassment.
“How…!”
“That’s…hehe there’s no reason for me to tell you.”
bang! Ronan let go of the dolphin and leaped onto the ship at once. The moment he came out the sea water on his body completely froze. I need to finish this quickly because it sucks. Ronan brushed his bangs once and opened his mouth.
“For someone who will die soon.”
“this guy!”
Barca reflexively threw out his fist. As expected he was quite fast because he was of Turgeng blood but compared to his older brother his speed was much lower. Ronan who avoided the attack by lightly twisting his shoulder grabbed the hilt of his sword. Phew! A sting shot like a comet pierced Barca’s chest.
