Chapter 289
'An Incarnate Body of a Constellation?'
At that moment, the ice statue in front of Zeke began to crack.
KRRRR-CRACK!
Ice crystals showered down, forcing Zeke, who was standing close, to step back.
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!
Hearing a sudden noise from behind, he turned to see the door he had entered through was closing.
THUD!
"Well, this is..."
By then, the ice statue had completely shattered, and an incarnate body with pale blue skin rose to its feet.
The incarnate body spread its two pairs of wings. The wings, which looked as if they were sculpted from crystal, shimmered with a beautiful light.
Zeke sensed an extraordinary aura from the incarnate body.
'It's not human, but it doesn't seem like a demon either. What is it?'
The incarnate body lifted its head and slowly moved its six hands. At the same time, it pursed its lips and looked up at the ceiling.
Wooooooooo—
A sound beyond the range of human hearing echoed throughout the hall.
"Kugh!"
Just then.
The ice statues that had been standing in rows since the entrance began to crack.
Richmond cried out in horror as he looked at the statues. "M-Master! Those ice statues are coming to life!"
KRRR-CRACK!
The ice statues shattered, and from within, warriors clad in armor rose up.
THUD!
The warriors, their faces hidden by thick helmets, exuded a menacing aura as they raised their weapons. They carried a variety of weapons, from greatswords and battle-axes to spears and iron maces.
Zeke shouted to the panicked Richmond, "Richmond! Summon a wall!"
At Zeke's command, Richmond hastily summoned a wall of bone.
KRRRRACK!
In an instant, a bone wall rose, blocking the path between Zeke and the warriors.
Zeke unleashed his Holy Flame on the other side of the bone wall. As the Holy Flame, imbued with the power of light, flared up, the warriors hesitated, clutching their weapons, and did not approach.
Just then, the incarnate body, the Queen of Snow, floated into the air and slowly approached Zeke's position.
Zeke equipped Hercyon and turned toward the Queen of Snow. He walked toward the Queen of Snow, who was floating in the air.
The Queen of Snow stopped in mid-air.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Zeke's mind.
[■ ■■■■ ■■ ■■■]
The System couldn't interpret what was being said. It was similar to what Hades had said before.
'The System said back then that it was a dead language, erased from the records.'
As if sensing that Zeke couldn't understand her, the voice in his head changed.
[You are a mere human, so you cannot understand the language of the gods.]
When the Queen of Snow spoke in the ancient Chronos language, the System translated and relayed it.
Zeke looked at the Queen of Snow and said,
"It said you were a sealed incarnate body. You don't seem to be a demon, so what are you?"
At Zeke's words, a faint vibration emanated from the Queen of Snow's body. She finally turned her head and looked down at Zeke.
[How arrogant for a mere human. To me, you are no different from worms crawling on the ground. How dare you ask such an impertinent question.]
The Queen of Snow spread all six of her hands and both pairs of wings as she continued.
[Though you are but a worm, I will grant you mercy and not kill you for the service of breaking my seal. Kneel at once and worship me. Otherwise, I will revoke my mercy, and all of your insignificant red blood shall freeze.]
The Queen of Snow had descended from the air and now stood before Zeke. Her chin was lifted high and her back was ramrod straight, a posture that seemed to demand immediate worship.
Zeke looked at the Queen of Snow and called for Arataso.
'Arataso.'
Arataso, whose soul was now completely settled in the green sword, responded to Zeke's call.
'What is it? I was in the middle of a good nap.'
'This being in front of me. It doesn't seem to be a demon. What the hell is it?'
'I can't see well from here. Take me out.'
Zeke took the green sword out of his inventory. Arataso vibrated and shouted loudly.
'Wh-what is that thing?'
'I asked you first, so what's with that answer?'
'No, that's not it... Th-that's Nephilim! How is one of those still around?'
'Nephilim?'
It was the first time Zeke had heard that word.
'That is a being born from the 'Sacred Blood' of a Constellation!'
Just then, the Queen of Snow looked down at Zeke and spoke.
[You do not recognize the grace of mercy, you insignificant human.]
She spread her wings again and flew into the air.
[Starting with you, I will kill all the worthless humans. Then that bastard Kaisir will come crawling back to me with that filthy face of his.]
'Kaisir?'
Something clicked in Zeke's mind. It was one of the most famous tales from the legends of the Hero-King Kaisir, the story of the 'White Witch'.
The story went that when the people suffered as the White Witch, who brought winter, froze all the land and water, the Hero-King Kaisir and his Knights of the Clock Tower went to the witch's castle, defeated the evil White Witch, and brought back the spring.
'Could that incarnate body be the White Witch?'
The chronicles of Kaisir also mentioned the White Witch.
'Master Kaisir said he hated the cold, so catching her was a bit of a pain.'
The body of the Queen of Snow, now floating in the air, became suffused with a white light, and at the same time, a blizzard began to rage.
K-K-K-K-K-KRACK!
Everything swept up by the blizzard turned into ice crystals.
Zeke activated his Holy Flame to protect himself. Even with both his Holy Flame and Hercyon active, he could feel the chill created by the Queen of Snow seeping into his body.
'This is an incredible cold.'
Zeke turned and ran toward the bone wall where Richmond was. However, the bone wall was already completely frozen, having lost its defensive function.
Fortunately, since they were undead, there was no risk of them freezing to death, but their movements had become noticeably slower.
Richmond shouted to Zeke, "Master! I can't see a thing!"
Just then, the warriors who had awakened from the ice statues charged toward Richmond and the undead.
GROOOOAR!
Letting out bizarre roars, the warriors attacked the Dragoons. One of them charged at Zeke as well. A heavy iron mace flew toward him.
CRACK!
Zeke blocked the iron mace with Roland.
"Haaaah!"
Activating his Holy Flame, Zeke sliced the warrior in half, mace and all.
THUD!
However, no blood flowed from the warrior's upper body that fell to the floor. Instead, ice crystals gathered and attached to the warrior's upper and lower halves, and the warrior multiplied into two.
'You've got to be kidding me...!'
The two resurrected warriors charged at Zeke. Zeke slammed his Mace of Light down upon them.
KABOOOOM!
As the powerful Mace of Light struck, the warriors' bodies were shattered to pieces. But soon, the ice crystals gathered again, creating even more warriors than before.
'I need to take down the incarnate body, not these guys.'
As Zeke turned to go after the Queen of Snow, dozens of Ice Golems and several Ice Kings appeared.
KIEEEEEEEEK!
The Ice Kings let out bloodcurdling screams and approached Zeke.
Zeke retreated for a moment and unleashed his Mace of Light.
KABOOM!
Only after the Mace of Light had laid waste to the surrounding area was Zeke able to break free.
He looked around to see Richmond and the undead struggling to hold back the charging warriors.
"Master! We're going to be pushed back at this rate!"
Zeke immediately summoned the Caiman and Gurav units.
KAAAAAK!
Gurav swung its massive tail, slamming the charging warriors against the wall.
The problem was the relentless, encroaching cold. He could feel his body gradually becoming more sluggish.
Just then, something flashed through Zeke's mind.
'What if I apply the Defense Mode here?'
Zeke shouted urgently, "Richmond! Create a wall again!"
Richmond gathered his mana and created a wall of bone.
Zeke activated the Defense Mode through the System and established a perimeter.
[Defense Perimeter Confirmed.]
[Updating Perimeter Information.]
[Abnormal temperature detected within the perimeter.]
[Adjusting abnormal temperature in conjunction with user's skills: Holy Flame and Magic Reflection.]
VWOOOONG!
A sphere made of Holy Flame formed within the Defense Perimeter of the bone wall, preventing the cold from penetrating.
As the chill dissipated, Zeke could feel his body recovering at a rapid pace.
THUD! THUD!
Information about the Defense Perimeter was displayed on Zeke's system screen. The wall's durability was gradually decreasing.
'System, is there a way to defend in this state?'
[Utilizing the Guardian among the user's summons can increase defense.]
Zeke had the Guardian Horus from the Celestial Sanctum, and the Guardians Idas and Lynceus from Death Valley.
'Can I use the Guardians now?'
[Limited-range operation is possible.]
Following the System's words, Zeke summoned the Guardians.
VWOOOONG!
The Guardian Horus, who had the appearance of a celestial, and the twins Idas and Lynceus appeared.
[Linking Guardians with Defense Mode.]
Horus was the first to move, positioning itself by the bone wall. As it fixed itself in place, its eyes began to glow with a red light.
Zzzzzzzzzing—
In an instant, red beams of light shot out from Horus's eyes. Simultaneously, the Ice Golems and Ice Bones that were attacking the bone wall melted and vanished in a single moment.
Then, the twin Guardians, Idas and Lynceus, also climbed onto the bone wall, fixed themselves in place, and stretched out their hands to create bows, from which they began to fire arrows made of light.
KABOOM!
The light arrows fired by Idas and Lynceus exploded, sweeping away all the surrounding monsters.
Watching the Guardians defend, Zeke was stunned by their power.
'So this is how you use the Defense Mode.'
If he were to use the Defense Mode in a proper fortress, it seemed it would unleash tremendous power. The problem was that maintaining the Guardians and the Defense Mode consumed a massive amount of mana.
'There's no time. I have to finish this as quickly as possible.'
Zeke said to Richmond, "Richmond, hold off the monsters while I strike the incarnate body."
"Understood, Master!"
Zeke activated Hercyon again and flew out of the Defense Perimeter with his Dragon Wings.
The cold enveloped Zeke's body once more. Zeke extended his hand, unleashing a Mana Sealing Technique and repelling the chill. Just then, something flew toward him from the air.
Kieeeek!
An Ice King riding on the back of an ice bird was aiming its staff at Zeke.
SWOOSH!
A cutting wind mixed with ice blades flew toward him.
Zeke steadied his breath and opened the Field of Firepower.
FWOOSH!
Controlling his strength as much as possible, Zeke created a Blue Flame and launched a sword strike imbued with the Field of Firepower.
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!
The blue flame flared up, swallowing the cutting wind, and along with it, the Ice King also melted away.
Just then, the Queen of Snow appeared from within the ice storm.
[That flame... Don't tell me! Is that the accursed flame of Kaisir!]
Zeke raised his sword and charged toward the Queen of Snow, shouting, "This time, I won't just seal you away—I'll erase your very existence!"
FWOOSH!
The Blue Flame erupting from Zeke's sword flew toward the Queen of Snow. As the blue flame enveloped her, the Queen of Snow beat her two pairs of wings.
[Insolent fool! I will crush you like a bug!]
Spears made of ice formed in the Queen of Snow's six hands. The six spears flew toward Zeke simultaneously.
K-K-K-K-K-KRACK!
The very atmosphere froze, and the ice spears grew sharper and larger as they flew.
Zeke steadied his breath again and increased the output of his Field of Firepower. His mana consumption was enormous, as he was supporting the Defense Perimeter as well as his summons.
The color of the flames enveloping Roland gradually changed until it became a White Flame, containing the purest form of fire.
FWOOSH!
In an instant, the White Flame enveloped Roland, releasing a blinding flash.
Zeke launched a sword strike imbued with the White Flame at the incoming ice spears.
FWOOSH!
The White Flame, the very essence of pure fire, revealed its true form. Like a single bird taking flight, it instantly melted the six ice spears and continued on toward the Queen of Snow behind them.
FWOOSH—
The bird of White Flame clung to one of the Queen of Snow's arms, engulfing it.
[Aaaaaaargh!]
The Queen screamed as her arm was incinerated by the White Flame.
Zeke did not miss the opportunity. He switched his sword from Roland to Bahamut and stirred his energy.
VWOOOONG!
The energy of the Astral Sword formed on his blade. Zeke took the stance of the Infinite Sword Form.
The Astral Sword was the Sword of Origin, a power that cuts through the very essence of things. That power now resided in Bahamut.
Zeke shot forward like a spring, rushing toward the Queen of Snow.