Chapter 13 : Orb of Water (5)

Thump!

Thump!

Should I say this was just like the north?

With every step, my legs sank into the snow up to my ankles.

If I had come wearing standard-issue shoes, a chill would have started creeping into my feet by now, but as expected of an officer's shoes, they didn't get wet, and I didn't even feel the cold.

However, even if the cold couldn't penetrate my feet, walking through a snowfield like this was no easy task.

Especially for someone with a weak body like mine.

“Hoo, hook……!”

I hadn't gone far, but as I trudged through the snowfield, the heat from my body instantly drenched my back with sweat.

Sweating in this weather… It made me realize just how good the cold-proof performance was.

Fortunately, there were no signs of demonic beasts nearby.

Because even though I had a gun, it was a fact that it would be dangerous if I encountered a pack of demonic beasts.

‘It should be around here…….’

The place I came from was the direction of Winter Castle's south gate.

The reason I came this way, despite it being the complete opposite direction from the Demonic Realm, was simple.

It was because a shortcut leading directly to the location of the Orb of Water was here.

Crunch, crunch.

Walking through the snowfield, careful in case the ground beneath my feet gave way, I soon reached a frozen river stream.

‘It should definitely be here…….’

There was no way I had mistaken the location.

Because this was a path I had traveled dozens, even hundreds of times.

So then, what did it mean that the river stream here was frozen?

The water here was not supposed to freeze.

No matter how much the northern cold wave raged, the power of the Orb of Water protected this place.

And yet it was frozen…….

‘Certainly… it seems there is something wrong with the Orb of Water.’

Aichuwong had called the Orb of Water the Orb of Winter.

There was a possibility that an orb of a new attribute was actually discovered in the Demonic Realm, but considering the various circumstances, it was more likely that the nature of the Orb of Water had changed from what I knew.

However, there were still questions.

It was true that the harsh environment of the Demonic Realm weakened the Orb of Water, but not to the extent of changing its nature itself.

Putting it all together, it was right to assume that something was wrong with the Orb of Water.

‘Still, I have to go.’

Coming this far, I had many thoughts about whether I really needed to go this far.

No, if it were the old me, I wouldn't have even made such an attempt.

However, my strangely sharpened judgment led me here and did not even permit me to turn back.

I already knew.

That if I couldn't obtain the Orb of Water here, I wouldn't be able to last long in Winter Castle either.

‘My offensive capability through the gun is considerable, but the problem is that my physical ability is at rock bottom.’

In Winter Castle, battles big and small occurred literally every day.

That's how frequent the appearances of demonic beasts were, and sometimes large-scale legions of demonic beasts, enough to be called waves, would attack.

In fact, hadn't I, despite being a trainee only two days into my enlistment, already gone through actual combat with demonic beasts?

That's how much Winter Castle was always a place where death lurked, and if one could not overcome fear and move forward, one would ultimately succumb to the harshness of Winter Castle.

It meant that the result of dying someday would be the same if I didn't obtain the Orb of Water now.

‘First, I have to break the ice.’

In any case, I had made various preparations for such a situation, so there was no need to go back.

Clang──!!!

As soon as I struck the ice with the field shovel, a tingling sensation shot through my fingertips.

If I had been careless, my grip might have been torn apart.

“Ugh…….”

The moment I struck the ice, I felt it.

Ah, I can never break this with my own strength.

‘……Is there no other way?’

There was a way.

Clack─

Humans are tool-using animals.

So I think I'll try using a tool even more powerful than a field shovel.

The tool is called Colt garrison B-09.

Bang!!─

With a short gunshot, the bullet from the Colt garrison B-09 struck the ice at once, and small ice fragments splattered on the ground.

The bullet's trajectory didn't end there.

The bullet, having failed to pierce the ice, spun at high speed on the ice sheet.

“……What the?”

As it was a sight I hadn't expected either, I watched it for a moment before shifting my gaze.

There was a crack in the ice sheet.

The process was a little strange, but in any case, the attempt was a success.

‘Then…….’

There was no time to hesitate.

I once again gripped the field shovel and struck the ice with all my might.

Clang!

With that, the ice that hadn't budged at all just a moment ago began to crack along the fissure.

Crack─

Crackle!

Taking that as a sign, I struck the field shovel even more violently.

Clang!

Clang!

The more I struck with the field shovel, the more the crack in the ice sheet spread like a spiderweb.

If the ice had been just a little thicker, this wouldn't have been nearly enough, but fortunately, the ice's thickness was just right.

Ch-ch-chang!

With the final strike, a small whirlpool finally revealed itself beneath the broken ice sheet.

Whoooosh…….

As expected, the shortcut created by the Orb of Water still existed.

‘Strictly speaking, it's not a shortcut, though.’

In fact, although I had previously expressed it as a shortcut, strictly speaking, it was closer to a type of trap created by the authority of the Orb of Water.

A trap leading to death.

However, if one knew how to deal with it, it was also true that it became quite a useful shortcut to the Orb of Water.

“Hoo…….”

I had already made my decision long ago.

Placing the military pack I had brought down, I took off the officer's cold-weather uniform, hat, and shoes I was wearing and tied them together.

I intended to make a sort of tube using the waterproof function of the officer's cold-weather uniform.

‘This should be enough.’

Having tied the makeshift tube I created to my body, I took a deep breath.

“Huaa…….”

The chill seeping into my lungs.

This chill clearly told me where I was right now.

Having finished all my preparations, I jumped straight into the middle of the whirlpool.

Splash!

As soon as I jumped into the whirlpool, the first thing that greeted me was the bone-chilling cold of the river water.

[You have fallen into the Water Trap!]

[This is a deadly trap! Find the path to life! If you fail to find it within the time limit, you may face death.]

It was a familiar notification window.

And a notification window I had wanted to see more than anything.

There were several paths within the Water Trap.

The crossroads leading to life and death.

Naturally, the path I would choose among them was already decided.

Gurgle!

The river's coldness was numbing my body's senses, but I moved my body without stopping.

If I stopped here, I would die.

I had not the slightest intention of meeting such a foolish death.

Bubble, bubble…….

I was out of breath.

As befitting an incomparably weak body, my cardiopulmonary endurance was also abysmally poor.

‘Still… I have to go.’

I had no sensation in my hands and feet.

No, I couldn't even feel the sensation of thrashing my limbs.

Nevertheless, I did it.

To live on.

To somehow survive in this goddamn world.

[You have failed to escape the Water Trap!]

[You have entered the deepest part of the Water Trap.]

Finally, a streak of light appeared.

I desperately moved towards that light.

“Puha!”

The air of the world, tasted after such a long time, was so very sweet.

At the same time, it was incomparably cold.

“Cough! Cough!”

I forced my unmoving limbs to pull my body out of the water.

The place I came out to was inside a cave.

For me, an incomparably familiar place.

It was the very cave where the Orb of Water was sealed.

‘Is that it?’

The orb, situated in a corner of the cave.

It certainly looked similar to the Orb of Water, but something about its appearance was definitely different from the Orb of Water I knew.

The biggest change was, as expected, the overwhelming chill emanating from around the orb.

Originally, this place itself did weaken the Orb of Water, but the chill the Orb of Water was giving off now was clearly foreign.

‘……This won't do.’

I untied the cold-weather uniform I had fastened to my body and put it on.

Since my body was wet, it wasn't easy to put on, but if I didn't put it on now, I felt like I would freeze to death.

“Hoo…….”

Despite wearing the cold-weather uniform, the bone-chilling cold remained.

It meant that no matter how thoroughly I prepared, it would be difficult to last long in this place.

[A chill is assailing your body!]

[Maintain your body temperature. If this condition persists, it may lead to death.]

Chatter, chatter.

I shivered, my body trembling, as I looked at the orb.

Only then did I think I understood.

The unidentifiable energy I felt along with the chill emanating from the Orb of Water.

‘……Indeed. So that's what happened.’

Demonic energy.

An energy that the Orb of Water should never have emitted originally was being felt from around the Orb of Water.

This must have been what amplified the chill that had originally only weakened the Orb of Water.

‘The Demonic attribute…….’

As I had mentioned before, the Demonic attribute is originally very rare.

‘Something is happening.’

And for some reason, I had a feeling that the cause was related to the Ascension Stone Fragment.

‘This is actually for the better.’

If the reason the Orb of Water was corrupted was due to the Demonic attribute, then I had a way.

Clack─

The bullet knows the answer.

As it always has.

Bang!

With the pulled trigger, the bullet from the Colt garrison B-09 surged towards the energy surrounding the Orb of Water.

[Due to the 'Postponer of Ruin' trait effect, the target with the Demonic attribute is driven away.]

Crackle!

Along with that, a strong spark erupted, causing a fierce repulsion.

Fsshhh…….

Perhaps because the inhabiting demon was so powerful, one bullet was not enough.

But it didn't matter.

Because there were still many bullets left.

“Let's see who wins.”

With successively pulled triggers, the demon chasing bullets relentlessly drove out the demonic energy dwelling in the Orb of Water.

[Due to the 'Postponer of Ruin' trait effect, the target with the Demonic attribute is driven away.]]

[Due to the 'Postponer of Ruin' trait effect, you stand against the Demonic!]

[Due to the 'Postponer of Ruin' trait effect, you gain absolute superiority in affinity against the Demonic!]

Whoooosh…….

The chill that was being emitted from the Orb of Water momentarily disappeared.

‘Now.’

Not missing that chance, I rushed in and snatched the Orb of Water at once.

[The 'Orb of Water' resists!]

[An intense chill assails your body!]

[Due to the 'Postponer of Ruin' trait effect, the Demonic harbored by the 'Orb of Water' is suppressed!]

The Orb of Water, caught in my grasp, thrashed violently and emitted a chill, but I did not let go of the Orb of Water even as my hand was getting frostbitten.

“Behave, and listen to me.”

I smashed the Orb of Water I was holding in my hand straight onto the ground.

Clang!

Claang!!─

Once, twice, three times, four times…….

After I brutally slammed the Orb of Water on the ground like that several times, the resistance of the Orb of Water, which seemed like it would freeze me solid at any moment, gradually subsided.

[The 'Orb of Water' has acknowledged you as its true master.]

[You have acquired the 'Orb of Water'.]

Finally, the Orb of Water accepted me as its master.

As expected, whether it's people or things, you have to beat them to make them listen.

“Huaa…….”

Clutching the Orb of Water, I collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

I felt a burning sensation from my frostbitten hand, but joy outweighed the pain.

‘Finally.’

I immediately checked the Orb of Water.

────────────

[Orb of Water]

Classification : General

Grade : Legendary

An orb containing the energy of water.

It protects the one it acknowledges as its master.

────────────

I had driven out most of the demonic energy that was suppressing the Orb of Water's power for now, but because the environment itself inhibited the Orb of Water's power, it couldn't display its original strength.

However, if I were to leave the northern region later, it would then be able to display the true power of the Orb of Water.

‘Of course, even this is enough for now.’

The reason I tried to find the Orb of Water first is simple.

Because the Orb of Water could partially solve the issue of my defense, which was currently my weakest point.

‘I guess I can say that the possibility of suddenly dying a violent death has decreased a little now.’

At that moment.

Whoooosh!!!───

With a sudden sound of something tearing through the air, something came flying towards me.

It was too late to react.

No, even if I had reacted, I wouldn't have been able to dodge that.

‘I'm going to die.’

The moment I sensed my death.

[The 'Orb of Water' protects the user.]

With that, an ice shield emitted from the Orb of Water blocked my path.

Craaack!

What was blocked by the ice shield was a single spear.

And soon after, the owner of that thrown spear appeared from beyond the cave.

“I heard a strange roar and came to check… What are you? How did you get in here?”

The moment I heard that question, I could tell one thing.

The fact that the person who had just appeared was guarding the entrance of this cave where the Orb of Water lay dormant.

‘Which means…….’

One conclusion was soon drawn.

“……Aichuwong?”

“Aha, I thought you were an uninvited guest, but you're a customer? It was worth the long wait.”

Aichuwong grinned.