Chapter 297: While He's Away (2)

The intense heat of the flames instantly melted the accumulated snow around them. Manifested elemental fire, once ignited, is notoriously difficult to extinguish.

Kendrick and Tania fearlessly leaped into the blazing wall of flames. In that instant, they saw it:

Amidst the inferno, the piercing yellow eyes of a reptilian creature glaring back at them.

Waldo was still alive, completely unharmed, even within the flames.

“Left!”

“Then I’ll take the right!”

As if they had anticipated this move, the Flame siblings split apart without hesitation, dispersing to either side.

Grrr…

Waldo let out an uneasy growl as he watched the Flame siblings rapidly close in on him. Even he sensed it:

The humans approaching against the flames were no ordinary prey.

Yet Waldo was a demon, reigning supreme as a top-tier predator even in the Maha.

Even dragons regarded this monster with caution. There was no way such a creature would retreat from mere humans.

Kruk!

Instead, the creature charged toward the Flame siblings with a gleeful smile, initiating a 2-on-1 battle.

Kwaang!

An ear-splitting explosion reverberated, so massive it defied belief that it could result from a clash between two living beings.

Klang! Klang!

Kendrick’s crimson Spirit Sword aimed for Waldo’s vital points, while Tania, clinging to Waldo like an airship, unleashed a barrage of punches like shrapnel.

Kwajik!

Waldo countered with six arms moving with invisible speed. His demonic energy erupted, threatening the Flame siblings’ necks and hearts.

Tudud!

The three combatants clashed and separated in invisible exchanges, repeating the cycle. Facing the Flame siblings, who were backed by the Wall of Zero, Waldo fought with such ferocity that he truly embodied the title of “Dominant Species” of Maha.

The delicate balance that had been maintained for some time suddenly shifted with the addition of a new weight.

Pfft.

A blue arrow pierced through the surrounding wall of flames and flew through the air. Seizing a fleeting opening in the battle between the Flame siblings and Waldo, the arrow aimed for the dragon’s vital spot. The archer’s skill, calculating the trajectory in a mere 0.1 second, was worthy of being called divine archery.

The blue arrow’s arrival created an opportunity for the Flame siblings.

Kwajik!

While Waldo focused on the arrow, Kendrick’s sword sliced through two of the dragon’s six arms.

Chiiik!

“Good job, Jerome!”

The severed limbs’ stumps emitted thick black smoke as they seared. Waldo’s momentary lapse had widened the opening, and Tania seized the opportunity.

Woom!

0.3 seconds.

A surge of powerful energy condensed in Tania’s fist.

0.5 seconds.

Her arm shot forward.

0.7 seconds.

Tania’s infinitely trained fist struck Waldo’s abdomen.

0.8 seconds.

Thud.

With a dull sound, Tania’s body recoiled from Waldo.

And then…

1 second.

Whoosh!

Flames erupted from the back of Waldo’s body, and a 30-centimeter hole appeared where Tania’s fist had struck.

Whoosh!

The heat from the hole Tania had created spread rapidly through Waldo’s entire body, reducing him to black ash.

Thud!

Waldo’s body, split in two by the gaping hole in his abdomen, collapsed to the ground.

Tania glanced down indifferently at the charred remains before crushing the blackened lump underfoot.

Kendrick approached her.

“Good work.”

Despite Kendrick’s words, Tania silently raised her head.

Screech!

Graaaah!

Gurgle!

Through the gaps between the demons, she saw Nabi wreaking havoc, mowing down the creatures with ruthless efficiency. Without hesitation, Tania launched herself toward the fray.

”…”

Kendrick watched silently as his little sister’s figure faded into the distance, nodding grimly. Elvis’s voice then rang in his ears:

“Kendrick! Reinforcements needed in the west! They’re trying to breach the line!”

”…Understood.”

After one last glance at Tania, Kendrick threw himself into action, following Elvis’s strategic command.

How much time passed, he couldn’t say.

Waaaaah!

The triumphant roars of those who had survived another day on the Great Wall echoed triumphantly through the air.

After the brutal battle ended, Kendrick wandered through the campsite inside the Great Wall. He spotted a golden-haired man with a white bow slung across his shoulders. Kendrick waved at him.

“Hey, Jerome. Nice support earlier.”

”…”

Jerome nodded without a word. Kendrick, well aware that Jerome’s reticence wasn’t directed at him personally, smiled and asked another question.

“Where’s Abel?”

”…Tending to the wounded.”

If you wanted to hear Jerome speak, you only needed to ask about Abel. She was the only topic that ever drew more than a few words from him.

Kendrick turned his gaze to the distance.

A woman in white hurried among the wounded. She was the Holy Mother of the Winter Continent.

Abel was even busier after the battle than during it.

Kendrick tore his gaze away from her and looked toward the command post.

Elvis must have gone to report on the situation in the north.

A few days ago, the Order of the Divine Body, responsible for the Northern Front, had requested assistance. Having just resolved that matter, Elvis was likely reporting back to command.

As Kendrick pondered this, Lavina and three others—a man and two women—approached from one side.

Lavina gently caressed Kendrick’s cheek.

“You’ve been working hard.”

“Same here.”

Kendrick and Lavina exchanged warm smiles.

Behind Lavina, a woman in her mid-twenties pursed her lips.

“Are you two getting a little too hot?”

“S-shut up! If you’re jealous, go get a boyfriend yourself!” Lavina retorted, her face flushing with anger.

Kendrick, who had chuckled at the earlier exchange, now asked with a slightly stiffened expression, ”…Where’s Tania?”

Lavina answered with a hardened face, “She’s probably… outside the castle wall.”

“I see… Thank you.”

Nodding, Kendrick turned and headed toward the castle wall once more.

As they watched him leave, one of the men asked, “Lavina?”

“What?”

“I’ve been curious for a while… Why does Lord Kwon always go outside the castle wall whenever we reach the Great Wall?”

Lavina turned to the man who had asked the question.

Hmm…

Ever since arriving on the Winter Continent, she had been locked in a never-ending battle against demons. Through this struggle, she had formed countless connections and saved countless lives. Six years had passed in the blink of an eye. Lost in the chaos of battle, she hadn’t noticed the shadowy figures that had begun to trail them—the talented, driven few who clung to their heels. Among them was the man before her, who had been doggedly pursuing them since the earliest days of their battles on the Winter Continent. He had even learned a few tricks from Kendrick and Tania along the way.

In a way, he could almost be considered her disciple, but…

This guy… he used to have feelings for Tania.

She appeared slightly aloof but had decent looks. Moreover, she was an outstanding talent who had reached Tier 2 at the young age of twenty-seven. A noble with a daughter would undoubtedly covet such a catch.

But…

Unfortunately, the wall is too high, Child.

Lavina shook her head.

Well… it’s time he knew.

At least knowing the truth would make it easier to give up on her.

Lavina spoke calmly.

“Do you know…?”

“Huh?”

“That Tania used to be a cheerful girl who smiled and joked around a lot?”

“What?!”

“Really?”

The others were startled by her words and asked in disbelief.

Their astonishment was understandable. The Tania they knew had always worn an impassive expression, like an emotionless automaton who didn’t understand humor.

“Yes.”

“But why isn’t she like that anymore…?”

“Because she lost all reason to smile.”

”…?”

“I asked earlier why Tania always goes beyond the castle wall whenever we come here.”

“Right, you did.”

“That girl… she’s waiting for someone.”

“For whom?”

“For someone she loves.”

“Ah…”

The crowd fell silent, their faces somber at this first glimpse into Tania’s past.

Then, the woman who had teased Tania earlier spoke up again.

“So… when will the person Tania is waiting for return?”

”…”

Lavina silently turned her gaze toward the castle wall.

Remembering Tania, who was still waiting for “him,” Lavina pursed her lips.

“He won’t return.”

“Huh?”

”…He’s dead.”

”…?!”

Watching the shocked reactions around her, Lavina smiled bitterly.

“I wish I could see Tania smile again.”

The setting sun seemed particularly melancholy today, its rays slowly fading into the horizon.

Meanwhile, at that very moment, in the highest reaches of the sky—where even clouds couldn’t reach—a thin, white dotted line materialized.

Tsu tsu tsu.

The luminous line, emitting pure light, gradually expanded its territory left and right, forming a rectangular patch of pristine white space.

And then…

Whoosh!

“Ugh!”

“Ouch!”

Two figures were expelled from the space.

“Were you here?”

Tania, who was holding Nabi, answered briefly to the voice coming from behind her.

“Yeah.”

Although she answered, Tania’s gaze remained fixed straight ahead.

Her eyes were focused on the Maha where the demons had been swarming just moments before.

Seeing his younger sister like this, Kendrick sighed softly.

“Isn’t that enough? It’s already been six years… no, almost seven… Isn’t it time to let go?”

The moment Kendrick finished speaking, Tania whipped her head around.

Her eyes were fierce and wide.

A sharp voice cut through the air.

“Forget? My teacher? How dare you say that now?”

“But it’s been seven years. If he still hasn’t returned, then the Twin must be right.”

“Shut up!”

Kendrick’s worry deepened at his younger sister’s icy reaction.

My younger sibling, once so lively and quick to smile, changed about seven years ago, after returning from a long journey of half a year, following his guru’s command.

The day he returned after the long journey…

Instead of Louis welcoming him, it was the tearful Twins.

Brother… Louis…

Louis… he’s dead.

The tragic news the Twins delivered was too shocking and surreal.

Louis had never seemed like someone who would die.

His guru had felt so far removed from the concept of death.

At first, no one could believe the news.

Then came the even more shocking story.

In Maha, a forbidden realm humans couldn’t reach, an inexplicable and overwhelmingly powerful enemy had appeared.

Of the four Zero Rank Ancient Dragons present in Maha at the time, only one managed to escape narrowly. Louis and the other three were said to have been annihilated by that entity.

This was accepted as fact, having been confirmed multiple times by the dragons themselves.

Upon hearing of Louis’s death, Tania collapsed on the spot. For days afterward, she refused to eat or drink, remaining confined to her room.

Then, one day, she emerged and declared:

“I will go to the Winter Continent.”

Tania refused to believe Louis was dead. Yet, she also believed—her guru was still alive. She was certain he was still breathing. And so, she resolved to wait for him near Maha, the site of his last known actions.

Respecting Tania’s decision, the travel party followed her to the Winter Continent.

There, Tania channeled her fury into slaughtering the demons spewing from Maha. Perhaps if she killed enough demons, Louis’s return would come even a moment sooner.

Perhaps fearing that her faith might weaken and she would accept Louis’s death, Tania slaughtered demons relentlessly, like a woman possessed. For over seven years, she fought with all her might against the demonic hordes.

This relentless battle had propelled her skills to dizzying heights, allowing her to now glimpse the Wall of Zero. Yet, in the process, she had erected an even higher wall within her heart.

Haah…

Kendrick sighed at his little sister’s murderous glare and nodded in resignation.

“I’m sorry… I misspoke.”

“Watch your tongue from now on. Even if everyone else accepts the teacher’s death… I… and you, brother, must never do the same. Think of what the teacher gave us!”

“You’re right… I was momentarily insane.”

After Kendrick’s apology, Tania turned her gaze forward again.

As if to comfort her, Nabi licked the back of Tania’s hand.

Kendrick stood silently beside her, saying nothing more.

The siblings gazed endlessly at Maha.

Then, in that moment—

Sniff!

Nabi’s nose twitched in Tania’s arms.