“Haaah…”

I let out a deep breath, feeling cool air of the night brushing against my face.

| Are you ready? |

“Yeah…”

I murmured, gently pressing my fingers against the small communication earplug tucked into my left ear.

After leaving the Iron Forge’s shop, I returned to the hotel and spent the rest of my time with Alaine and the others.

Yesterday, I continued training.

I also attempted to create another spell related to time, one that, instead of freezing time, rewinded it, but of course, I wasn’t able to accomplish this, as there was no elemental synergy between Winter/Ice and Time, except for freezing time.

Even if I understood the theory, the mana flow, the mental image… it simply wouldn’t work; there was something missing.

So, I decided to keep it as an idea for now.

And currently, it was 00:12.

Two minutes before the guards swapped shifts, just like Selene said.

In my left hand, I held the cursed, poisoned dagger that Selene had given me, and in the other, a mana suppression charm: a thin talisman wrapped in silver threads, trembling slightly in my palm.

“…Release.”

The charm dissolved in an instant, breaking apart into glowing dust that wrapped around my body like a thin mist.

My mana signature disappeared into nothingness.

Nothing.

Then I reached into my inner coat and retrieved the scroll Selene had given me—a pale parchment woven with fine golden runes.

Riiip!

I tore it.

Fsssshh—

A soft, golden glow enveloped me from head to toe.

I could feel the magic seep into my bones—stealth enhancement, noise nullification, and a temporary vision filter for detecting mana traces.

Normally, it was supposed to be a scroll that temporarily blocked detections, but Selene decided to spend a bit more money to ensure the mission would go correctly.

| It’s time. Proceed to the east wing, where there are two guards at the entrance. They’re due for a shift change in one minute. |

I nodded silently.

Then, I jumped from roof to roof, making my way towards the east wing of the base, making sure that no one could see me.

The base loomed ahead, a fortress of stone and steel. I approached the east wing, spotting the two guards. They stood lazily, their weapons resting on their shoulders.

So… I waited.

00:13

The guards yawned, stretching.

00:14

And finally, they turned to leave, their replacements approaching from the corridor.

So, it was time for me to move.

『 Judgement Eye (✦ S+ Level Skill ✦) 』

I scanned their weak points with my eyes and then dashed forward.

Shhk!

My dagger found the first guard’s neck, slicing cleanly. Blood splurted out, as his body fell completely dead to the ground.

“WHO’S—”

The second one barely got a word out.

Splurt!

I buried the blade straight into his chest, right between the ribs, and twisted hard.

“Gh—!”

He gasped, grabbing at my arm weakly.

Then nothing.

I knelt down and gently pressed two fingers against my earpiece.

“Entrance clear.”

| Good. Proceed to the main corridor. Three guards are patrolling in a triangle formation. |

I navigated the dimly lit hallway without making a single sound until I finally saw the three guards who were moving methodically, their paths intersecting before they turned around.

I timed my approach.

As one guard turned a corner, I struck.

Shk!

Splurt!

I stabbed the first from behind, straight through the lower back. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Then, he collapsed.

The second turned, noticed the missing man, and stepped forward.

“Hey, where’d y—”

Splurt!

My blade slashed across his neck, blood spraying across the wall.

Thud!

His body fell to the ground, making a dull sound, which immediately warned the third guard, who immediately drew his weapon.

His eyes scanned his surroundings as I waited to make my first move.

『 Ice Generation! (✦ 1st-level Spell ✦) 』

Creating a small icicle of ice, I threw it right behind him, getting his immediate attention.

Tink!

It hit the floor behind him, shattering.

“Who’s—?”

That was all he managed to say.

I was already behind him.

Shhhnk.

The blade slid up under his chin.

Dead weight.

“The corridor is done, where to now?” I asked Selene.

| You’re almost at the main chamber. Bigger threat ahead, the guard rotations are heavier, and… I see mages. Lots of them, and they’re forming a defensive ring, so you won’t be able to sneak past them so easily. |

Hearing her words, I quietly advanced as the hallway widened.

The door ahead was thick iron, magic runes etched deep into the surface.

Beyond it… I could feel multiple presences.

At least twelve of them were between low S-rank and high A-rank.

I approached the iron door and looked through a narrow gap.

The room beyond was quite big, at least four basketball courts wide. Torches flickered across stone pillars.

Dozens of soldiers circled the perimeter.

Some wore armor laced with enchantments.

Others held staves.

Their robes glowed faintly under dim light.

| This will be hard to handle quietly… |

To her words, I simply replied with a faint smirk, rolling my shoulders.

“Then let’s simply go all in.”

| Huh…? What do you me—! |

Mana flooded into my leg like a tidal wave.

Crackle…!

My thigh tensed.

My silver mana hummed loudly, crackling like lightning in my veins.

And then—

CLAAAANG!!

FWOOSH!!

My foot slammed into the metal door with full force.

It blasted open—ripped from the hinges—sailing across the room like a battering ram.

CRAAASSHH!!

The door crashed into the wall that was in the other end, smashing through some crates and knocking two guards out.

“INTRUDER!”

Mages raised their staffs, and the knights immediately brought out their swords.

I stepped through the smoke, silver mana crackling around my fingertips.

『 Ice Series: Frost Spikes! (✦ 3rd-level Spell ✦) 』

KRRSSHHH!

From the floor, sharp spears of ice shot upward—three, then five, then ten—impaling the nearest group of guards.

Blood sprayed.

Some tried to dodge.

But they were too late.

“SHIT, HE’S HERE—!”

『 Ice Series: Frost Chains! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

CRACK!

Thick chains of jagged ice burst from the ground, wrapping around the legs of two sword-wielding knights, freezing them in place.

“ARGH—! MY LEGS!!”

“Shut it.”

Mana surged in my feet again.

『 Ice Series: Glacial Dash! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

FWOOOSH!

I shot forward like a cannonball, shoulder-checking a mage mid-chant.

CRACK!

His staff snapped.

His body flew against the stone pillar with a sickening thud.

『 Ice Series: Ice Fang Barrage! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦)』

“Ughh…?!”

Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!

Dozens of shimmering ice blades formed behind me, then launched like guided missiles—

CLANG! THUD! SPLURT!

Piercing through armor, shredding robes, lodging in flesh.

The mages collapsed, their spells dying with them.

I spun around just as three more charged me. One with a halberd raised high above his head, prepared to split me in half.

“TAAAAKE HIIIIM—!”

『 Mixed Ice Series: Frozen Mirage! (✦ 4th-level Spell ✦)』

BOOM—!

A layer of glistening mist exploded around me, thick and white.

They rushed in, blinded.

I split into three mirrored illusions—

One behind.

One to the side.

And me? I was above them.

I landed on the halberd guy’s shoulders.

CRUNCH!

My knee smashed into the side of his head.

“AGHH—!”

『 Ice Series: Ice Fang! (✦ 2nd-Level Spell ✦)』

I jabbed a short, glowing ice blade into his back.

He jerked.

Then fell.

One of the illusions stabbed the second guard with a fake weapon.

He flinched.

I took the real chance.

THUD!

I kicked his knee inward, then—

『 Frost Explosion! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

BOOOOM!!

Ice exploded beneath his chest.

He flew upward, ribs frozen and shattered.

Blood rained.

I wiped some off my cheek with the back of my hand.

Still more came.

Ten of them, in armor with glowing glyphs.

Magic knights.

Selene’s voice buzzed through the earplug.

| You’re attracting everything. Their elite force is moving! |

“Good. It saves me the trouble of searching for them.”

I raised my right hand—

『 Mixed Ice Series: Ice Lotus Explosion! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦)』

FSSSSHHHH—

I threw my hand out, and a blooming lotus of pale blue ice swirled in the air, petals spinning faster and faster.

BOOOOM!!

A shockwave burst outward.

Shards of razor-sharp ice exploded in every direction.

Screams echoed.

Some were sliced, some thrown.

Others never stood a chance.

And still, I kept moving.

『 Frost Reversal (✦ Counter Technique ✦)』

One knight swung his sword down.

I caught it with a palm of frozen energy.

SNAP!

The blade cracked.

Frost spread up his arm.

“AHHH—!!”

His whole limb went completely stiff and then shattered.

『 Ice Series: Frost Barrage! (✦ 3rd-level Spell ✦) 』

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Dozens of crescent-shaped ice pellets shot through the room, moving like a machine gun.

THUD! SPLAT! CRUNCH!

Guards ducked.

Some screamed.

Others choked on blood.

Still standing?

“Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art…”

『 Third Move! (✦ Moonlight’s One Flash ✦) 』

Fwoop!

Everything went still for a second.

Then—

SPLAT!

One knight’s chest was cleaved clean through.

He didn’t even get to scream.

I landed again, letting out a deep breath, but before I could try and rest a little, footsteps echoed from the far end.

“Fucking hell…”

A large magic circle was forming—eight magicians.

Their leader, cloaked in deep blue, pointed a staff at me.

“Kill him! NOW!”

I didn’t move.

I took a breath.

‘Increase output to seven.’

Then—

『 Shield Series: Winter’s Barrier! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

FWOOOM!

A circular wall of transparent blue ice spun around me, absorbing the oncoming crimson red fireball.

BOOOM!!!

“NO EFFECT?! WHAT IS THAT SHIELD?!”

Now… it was my turn.

『 Minor Frost Explosion! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

I flicked the light blue orb into their formation.

They panicked.

Too late for them.

KAAABOOOM!

Four were sent flying, backs snapping on impact.

Others collapsed, writhing.

The leader, coughing blood, reached for another spell.

But before he could do that, I raised my hand and descended it.

『 Ice Series: Frost Crash! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

The floor under him lit up.

He looked down.

CRACK!!

A massive weight of ice crashed down from above, like a meteor.

The stone shattered.

His body was gone.

Nothing remained but broken robes and ice dust.

Silence returned.

Only the soft drip of melting ice remained.

I stood there, surrounded by corpses and shards of frozen blood.

“…Main chamber secured.”

| …You really went all in, huh. |

I smiled deeply at her words.

However, before I could advance, I suddenly stopped in my tracks, and at the same time, Selene’s warning voice reached my ears.

| Aestrea… there’s something bad coming towards you… And it doesn’t feel human at all. |

“Shit…”

I frowned deeply.

A dark, ominous, and unsettling mana…

And it was rushing towards me.

And then…

BOOOOM!

The ground crackled.

“GRRHHHHH!”

And something not human roared.

Two glowing red eyes reminiscent of my own, along with a head that was adorned by two majestic horns that curved back.

“…What the fuck…?”

I couldn’t help but curse.

After all…

The ‘creature’ in front of me… was none other than the Archdemon of Pride that had been killed a month ago.

“I’m fucked.”

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