Chapter 44 : Duke of the North (2)

The blizzard on the snow-covered mountain stopped.

The training grounds of Frostguard were covered in frost.

The Frostwolf Knights surrounded the training ground.

Armor engraved with white wolf patterns glowed simultaneously.

Even ordinary citizens gathered, eager to see an outsider challenge the Grand Duke in a duel.

“Indeed, this cold is unfamiliar.”

She slowly drew her sword.

The temperature around her sharply dropped.

Ice crystals rose in the air.

“This is the Frost Sword ‘Winter’s Bane.’ It is one of the symbols of Frostguard, imbued with the will of the past Grand Dukes.”

I summoned my holy sword.

The warm light of dawn spread out.

[Ha! You plan to face those icicles with me?]

“Be quiet.”

“Indeed, that famous holy sword, huh? But here…”

Her sword flashed.

“Neither the holy sword nor the hero matters!”

The duel began.

Every trace drawn by the frost sword summoned ice crystals.

With a single slash, dozens of ice blades flew out.

It was the ice swordsmanship passed down by past northern Grand Dukes.

The martial art of Frostguard.

A deadly swordplay resembling the fangs of a frostwolf.

“Cold.”

I barely blocked it with my holy sword.

The warm light of dawn melted the frost.

Kiara’s sword flashed again.

This time, she struck from above.

Following the path of the frost sword, enormous ice pillars rose up.

“Are you trembling?”

“No, I’m observing.”

I focused on defense.

I avoided and blocked with minimal movements.

It was to understand the characteristics of the frost sword.

“Ha! Didn’t you say you weren’t a coward? Yet all you’re doing is avoiding?”

Kiara’s sword moved like a dance.

There were dozens of changes with each attack.

“I’m still warming up.”

I moved like sliding on ice.

I adjusted the distance while melting the frost with the light of the holy sword.

Kiara’s gaze sharpened.

The chill emanating from her sword grew stronger.

“Warming up… I’ll take that as an insult.”

Her sword moved again, now with even sharper cold.

With each step Kiara took, the ground froze.

The history of Frostguard and her will dominated the chill of nature.

The holy sword of dawn glowed.

My arm, numb from the cold, gradually regained feeling.

“I’m starting to warm up now. It’s not as cold as before.”

I took a step forward.

The light of the holy sword grew more intense.

“Show me more, the strength of the north.”

“Not yet!”

Kiara’s pupils wavered.

My relaxed attitude seemed to have pricked her pride.

The frost sword split the air.

But this time, I blocked it easily.

My body had adapted to the cold, moving naturally.

“Is this all Frostguard has to offer?”

For a moment, the fur draped over Kiara’s shoulders fluttered.

Her blue eyes gleamed like a wolf’s.

“How dare you…”

A cold energy erupted explosively.

The wolf pelt on her shoulder shook.

The pelt began to move.

It formed into the shape of a massive wolf made of frost, rising from behind Kiara.

The giant frostwolf, Fenrir.

“Impossible.”

The guardian spirit of Frostguard materialized.

A giant wolf with blue eyes stood beside Kiara.

[This is getting interesting! Let’s tear that mutt apart!]

The holy sword voiced its excitement.

Wait, is this really the holy sword?

Does it like cutting things just because it’s a sword?

Grrr-

Fenrir growled and charged.

The chill from the frost sword and the wolf’s ferocious attacks blended perfectly.

“Ha!”

Kiara’s sword flashed, and Fenrir’s claws sliced through the air.

Double, triple attacks followed without a break.

But blocking them wasn’t difficult.

In fact, it was getting more fun.

I avoided the attacks with minimal movement.

When Kiara’s sword passed, I blocked the cold with the holy sword.

When Fenrir’s claws approached, I stepped aside just enough.

“Hero, you seem quite relaxed.”

Kiara’s voice turned icy.

The frost sword slowly pointed toward the sky.

The frostwolf circled around her, howling.

“I will show you the pride of Frostguard… my full strength.”

The temperature around us rapidly dropped.

The will of the past Grand Dukes was now embedded in the frost sword.

Suddenly, the space froze.

A cold so intense it was hard to breathe overwhelmed me.

‘This is…’

The ice swordsmanship that materialized her will.

Kiara, the guardian of Frostguard, ruled the surrounding area with her intent.

In an instant, the space around us completely froze.

Every breath felt like my lungs were freezing with pain.

“The tenacity of the north… the will of the north…”

Kiara’s frost sword spun and cut through the air.

With every step she took, ice crystals danced up into the air.

The history of Frostguard, her will, unfolded before my eyes.

“That is the tooth of the frostwolf!”

In the blizzard, her sword shone.

The cold swirled as if a wolf was howling under the moonlight.

“Indeed… the term ‘hero’ isn’t empty after all.”

I barely blocked it with the holy sword, but the cold climbed up my arm.

Even as the light of dawn melted the ice, the cold produced by Kiara’s will continued to surge forward.

“Ugh…”

The light of the holy sword tried to melt the cold, but it was futile.

Should I summon my dark sword?

Wipe them all out?

‘No, that won’t be necessary.’

The nature of my aura is ‘harmony.’

My ash-colored aura absorbed and adapted to the cold.

The light of dawn and my aura began to adjust to the cold created by Kiara’s ice swordsmanship.

The white slash from the holy sword clashed with the absolute zero cold.

But the world was no longer cold.

“Is this enough?”

After blocking Kiara’s finishing move, a sudden question arose.

She was certainly strong. But…

‘She matched the Four Heavenly Kings?’

Something felt off. It didn’t seem like it should be that way.

[Master, let me finish off that icicle!]

“Do you have to?”

Kiara’s frost sword once again emitted the chill of absolute zero.

But this time, I pushed it away with ease.

‘Winning here is pointless…’

It wasn’t wise to embarrass the Grand Duke in the Grand Duke’s territory.

This was just a duel, and if I truly wanted to win, I would have summoned my dark sword.

To fight the Four Heavenly Kings ahead, I would need her help.

“Grand Duke, let’s stop here.”

I sheathed my holy sword and took a step back.

Kiara also lowered her frost sword.

Fenrir slowly reverted back into the pelt.

We had tested each other’s strength. There was no need to settle the outcome.

“I’ve seen the strength of Frostguard. As expected, you truly are the guardians of the north.”

I intentionally raised my voice so that the nearby knights and citizens could hear.

Kiara’s blue eyes turned toward me.

Though still cold, a hint of surprise flashed in them.

“With such power, it’s no wonder Frostguard could stand as the last bastion of the north.”

The nearby knights relaxed.

Armor engraved with the symbol of the frostwolf gleamed with pride.

“The will of the frost sword and Fenrir guarding the snowy mountains… no wonder even the Four Heavenly Kings would hesitate to face it.”

Her expression subtly wavered. Was it the mention of the Four Heavenly Kings that made her react?

“I’ll offer the suggestion again. I’m sure that if we join forces, we can defeat the Four Heavenly Kings and end this endless winter.”

Kiara’s gaze turned sharp.

Had she caught onto my intentions?

“Hero, I’m sorry, but my stance hasn’t changed. We don’t need help. As we’ve done so far…”

But I ignored her words and turned to the people.

“Everyone, the proud citizens of Frostguard.”

I raised my voice toward the crowd filling the training ground.

“You’ve endured so well until now. In this eternal winter, under the threat of the demon race…”

I paused and looked around.

Everywhere I looked, there were eyes glimmering with hope.

“But now, things can be different.”

I turned toward Kiara.

I met her cold, blue eyes.

“I, the hero, have witnessed it. The Grand Duke’s strength. The will of the frost sword and Fenrir…”

A small cheer erupted from the crowd.

The knights’ armor gleamed with pride.

“I’ve already defeated two of the Four Heavenly Kings. That’s why I know.”

I raised my voice further.

“If the Grand Duke’s strength… if Frostguard’s strength, if our powers unite…”

A small stir spread among the citizens.

I paused and gazed at the people.

“Your will! The strength that hasn’t faltered even in this cold!”

The training ground was filled with cheers.

Kiara’s expression became complex, but it was already too late.

“Frostguard! Now is the time to strike back! If we are together… we can end this eternal winter!”

It was the final blow.

The citizens’ hope, the knights’ pride, and Kiara’s choice.

Her blue eyes wavered.

She seemed to have caught onto my strategy, which forced her into an inevitable choice.

But it was already too late.

The atmosphere had completely changed.

“I need time to think.”

Kiara’s voice rang out coldly.

But it was already too late.

“Hero is right!”

A knight stepped forward.

The frostwolf engraved armor glistened brilliantly.

“We need a chance. Grand Duke!”

Another knight agreed.

One by one, voices grew louder.

“If the hero and the Grand Duke join forces…”

“Now we too can face the Four Heavenly Kings…”

“A new era for Frostguard…”

A whisper from the edge of the training ground reached my ears.

“Finally, it will end, right? This eternal winter…”

“We’re not afraid of the Four Heavenly Kings!”

A hopeful murmuring spread through the citizens.

Their gazes were fixed on Kiara.

Eyes filled with expectation and longing.

For Kiara, the fact that I was a hero might not mean much, but for ordinary people, a hero is still a symbol of hope.

“Ha…”

Kiara let out a deep sigh.

The citizens’ expectations began to pile up one by one.

Their hope, their desperation, their eagerness started to bind Kiara.

A complex mix of emotions passed across her face.

She wanted to refuse, but she couldn’t.

The people’s hearts were already on my side.

“Hero, was this your plan from the start?”

Her voice was as cold as ice.

“I… just…”

“Fine.”

Kiara cut off my excuse and extended her hand.

“Let’s do it together. Let’s hunt the Four Heavenly Kings.”

“I’ll rely on you from now on.”

I took her hand.

Her cold temperature transmitted through her touch.

“Likewise.”

Her tone was polite, but her gaze remained sharp.