The moment Lee Hyun stepped into the range of the palace gates, the world itself seemed to reject his existence, the air freezing instantly around him as if space had turned hostile, the ground beneath his feet cracking under invisible pressure, and from the depths of that frozen throne, it emerged.
The Frost Sovereign without rush, roar or acting like a beast, it simply stepped forward, and with that single movement, the entire battlefield shifted into its control, an overwhelming force spreading across the land, freezing everything in its path, declaring silently that this was its domain and no one had the right to stand within it.
Min Seoah gritted her teeth as multiple high-level monsters surged toward her from the sides, creatures formed from condensed frost and corrupted energy, their bodies sharper, faster, far more lethal than anything before, yet she did not hesitate, her body moving instantly as frost erupted from beneath her feet, forming spikes that pierced through the first wave.
Her eyes cold, focused, her entire presence shifting into battle mode as she held her ground, not stepping back even once, because she understood clearly that if she faltered even for a moment, Lee Hyun would be overwhelmed from both sides.
Lee Hyun, meanwhile, had already moved. The moment the Frost Sovereign raised its hand, the entire space twisted, and a wave of absolute zero temperature descended toward him, not just cold but annihilating, capable of freezing even energy itself, yet he stepped forward instead of retreating, his sword igniting with demonic resonance, crimson energy clashing violently against the pale blue frost, the collision creating shockwaves that tore apart the ground beneath them.
The first clash exploded. The impact sent him sliding back several meters, his feet carving deep marks into the frozen ground, his arms trembling slightly from the sheer force behind that single attack, yet his eyes did not waver, instead they sharpened further, locking onto the Sovereign with absolute focus.
"You're stronger than expected…"
He muttered under his breath. The Frost Sovereign tilted its head slightly, as if analyzing him, and then spoke, its voice echoing like ancient ice breaking apart.
"Insignificant… yet… interesting…"
Before the words even faded, it vanished. Lee Hyun's instincts screamed. He twisted his body at the last second, barely avoiding a blade of frost that sliced through the space where his neck had been, the attack continuing forward and splitting a distant ice formation in half as if it were nothing, and he countered immediately, his sword cutting upward in a perfect arc, infused with demonic energy.
The blade connected, but it barely scratched. The Sovereign's body reformed instantly, the frost reconstructing as if damage meant nothing within its domain.
"Tch…"
Lee Hyun clicked his tongue. Behind him, Min Seoah was already surrounded, dozens of monsters attacking in coordinated patterns, their strikes precise, their timing perfect, forcing her to move constantly, her frost powers clashing against theirs in a violent dance of destruction, her attacks elegant yet deadly, every motion calculated, every strike purposeful.
A monster lunged from behind. She turned instantly. A blade of ice formed in her hand and she slashed it. Its head separated cleanly. Another attacked from above. She raised her hand. A burst of frost exploded outward. It shattered mid-air. Her breathing grew heavier, but her eyes burned brighter.
"I won't fall behind…"
She whispered. Back at the center, Lee Hyun was being pushed. Every exchange with the Frost Sovereign carried overwhelming pressure, its attacks not only powerful but absolute, each strike layered with domain authority that suppressed his movements, slowed his reactions, and tried to freeze his very existence.
He activated Void Domain. For a brief moment, time staggered and space bent. But even then, the Sovereign resisted. Its domain clashed against his, creating a distorted battlefield where reality itself seemed unstable, cracks forming in the air as two authorities fought for dominance.
"You dare… oppose my domain…"
The Sovereign's voice deepened.
Lee Hyun smirked faintly despite the pressure crushing him.
"Yeah…"
"…I do."
He moved again, his body flowing into the first pattern of Dragon Blade Dance, his movements becoming fluid, almost artistic, yet every step carried deadly intent, his sword slicing through space with increasing speed, adapting, learning, evolving with every second.
The Sovereign responded faster, stronger and sharper to his every blow. The battlefield turned into chaos. Frost pillars erupted from the ground. Void energy tore through them. Explosions echoed continuously. Shockwaves shattered the surrounding terrain. Minutes felt like hours.
And slowly, the difference began to show. Lee Hyun's breathing became uneven. His movements become slightly slower. His body accumulating damage.
The Sovereign, however, remained stable, untouched and unyielding. Another clash and he was sent flying.
His body crashed into the frozen ground, cracking it upon impact, blood spilling from his mouth as his vision blurred slightly, yet he forced himself to stand again, gripping his sword tighter.
"…Not enough…"
He whispered. The Sovereign raised its hand. This time, the attack was different. The entire battlefield froze. A massive blade of absolute frost formed above him, compressing all surrounding energy into a single point, its presence alone enough to distort space. This, was a killing blow.
Lee Hyun's instincts screamed louder than ever before. He tried to move, but his body didn't respond fast enough.
"…So this is it…"
For a split second, that thought crossed his mind. And then, a figure appeared before him. A blur of frost. A flash of white. The attack descended. And she took it. The impact exploded.
A shockwave spread across the battlefield, freezing everything in its path, the force tearing through the ground, sending fragments of ice flying in all directions.
"NO—!"
Lee Hyun's voice broke as he saw her.
Min Seoah stood before him. Her body felt different. Her presence has become overwhelming. She was in her Frost Sovereign Form. Her aura surged violently, surpassing her previous limits, her entire being radiating absolute cold, yet, cracks. Fine lines spread across her skin. Like glass breaking.
"Don't use that…!"
His voice trembled with anger and fear.
"You'll kill yourself… just go away… I'll handle it… you don't have to risk your life…"
But she didn't move or turn. Her voice came out steady.
"Why…"
"…you can do that for me…"
"…but I can't?"
He clenched his teeth.
"No—"
She cut him off.
"Why?"
His voice softened. Because the truth slipped out.
"…Because you are precious to me…"
"I don't want anything to happen to you…"
"…So please… just leave…"
For a moment, she froze. Then, she smiled. A faint, tired smile.
"What are you saying…"
"…can't a junior save her senior?"
He couldn't respond immediately. His thoughts halted. And in that moment, she stepped forward. Her frost erupted again, stronger, purer, absolute within its element, her form resisting the Sovereign's attacks completely, her immunity allowing her to clash directly, her strikes landing with terrifying precision.
But, the cracks grew. Her body was reaching its limit. Lee Hyun forced himself to move, grabbing potions from his system, consuming them rapidly, his wounds healing at visible speed, his energy recovering as he pushed his body back into fighting condition.
"Now stop…!"
He shouted.
"Go back—!"
She didn't argue. Instead, she unleashed one final attack. A massive wave of frost surged forward, freezing the Sovereign momentarily, locking its movement just enough. Then, she stepped back, far from the battlefield. Her body was trembling.
Lee Hyun stepped forward. This time he didn't hold back. Void Domain expanded fully, and the world froze. But not in frost, in void.
Demonic energy surged violently around him, merging with the surrounding frost, creating a chaotic fusion of destruction, his sword absorbing everything through Devouring Edge, the blade turning darker, heavier, more dangerous with each passing second.
The energy built up, compressed then condensed to its absolute limit. His body trembled under the strain. But his eyes were steady and focused.
"This ends now."
He moved. In an instant he was before the Sovereign. And then, he swung. The explosion was beyond anything before. A massive burst of energy erupted outward, tearing apart the domain, shattering the frozen world, the impact echoing across the entire region as the Sovereign let out a distorted scream, its body breaking apart under the overwhelming force.
For a moment, everything went silent. Then, fhe Sovereign collapsed. Destroyed completely. Lee Hyun stood there barely. His body swayed, his vision darkening and his breathing unstable. But his mind, forced him to turn, to look at her.
Min Seoah stood at a distance alive and safe. Surrounded by the remains of the last monsters she had defeated. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Good…"
And then everything went dark. He collapsed. The battlefield fell silent once again.
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To be continued..