Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 104: Star, The Winter Palace (4)

Chang-Sun finally found what he was looking for. He momentarily hesitated, however, but not because he had a problem.

‘No, I guess there being a total of eight [Everlasting Crystals] is a problem.’

It was a good problem, however, because beyond the transparent ice wall were eight [Everlasting Crystals]. They all looked different, much like snow crystals, and shone like jewels.

『Hyung-nim…!』 Baek Gyeo-Ul’s voice trembled for the first time since he had met Chang-Sun as he looked at the [Everlasting Ice Crystals].

Its beauty mesmerized him, and he wasn’t the only one who marveled in its glory.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is very surprised to find such pure Ice Crystals.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ furtively asks about what you think of offering one of the ice crystals to him.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ growls and says the question of the ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ is absurd. He says it is only natural for you to offer the crystal to him, who has given you a great blessing.]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ gently clears her throat, saying those ice crystals are indeed fine crystals.]

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ looks at the crystals with curiosity.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is showing her greed to have one after she saw how fervently the other deities are reacting!]

…

[Many deities want to know what you are going to do with the ‘Everlasting Ice Crystals.’]

[Many stars show their desire to have the ‘Everlasting Ice Crystals’.]

The [Ice Crystals] were pure enough to make numerous Celestials simultaneously react upon seeing them. Chang-Sun couldn’t examine the crystals in detail since they were still inside the ice wall, but he was certain they were of extremely fine quality.

‘I can probably use these to make relics… I understand now why the Sword of Ohsung Clan kept the Dungeon even though they called it a white elephant and why the Highoff remnants are obsessing over the crystals.’ Chang-Sun nodded.

Still, even if that many fine-quality [Everlasting Ice Crystals] were in the mine, the crystals would have been pies in the sky for the Highoff remnants since [Everlasting Ice Crystals] emitted severely cold air akin to that of Antarctica. Considering there were eight of them in the wall, the crystals would have created air tens of times colder, making it difficult for most rankers to go through the wall.

‘This wall is practically what’s making the Dungeon so cold, ’ Chang-Sun thought.

However, that only applied to ordinary Players. It didn’t matter to Chang-Sun, who was using the Jigwi’s Eon Fire.

Woosh!

The Eon Fire around Chang-Sun blazed up more brilliantly, quickly melting the surrounding ice wall. The ground was swiftly filled with puddles.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is watching with sparkling eyes!]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ is fascinated by how effective Eon Fire is!]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ is looking forward to seeing what will happen!]

When Chang-Sun reached out to grab an [Everlasting Ice Crystal], the sturdy ice wall quickly melted down as if it didn’t want to stop Chang-Sun. Soon, he finally obtained the first [Everlasting Ice Crystal].

[Frost Monarch’s Breath]

The Frost Monarch, the Yetis’ great ancestor, left this treasure for his descendants before he passed away in the Winter Palace, his home. Full of his vital force, this treasure constantly emits blue light and cold air.

Be careful with this treasure. Without enough power, grabbing it will trap you inside the ice.

· Type: Treasure. Material.

· Effect: Intensify cold air. Permafrost.

The description warned him to be careful with the crystal, but Chang-Sun grabbed it without hesitation.

[The lethal Ice Toxin is seizing your body!]

[The Effect ‘Single Eon Fire’ has started, cleansing your body of the Ice Toxin and suppressing the ‘Frost Monarch’s Breath’ resistance.]

[The ‘Frost Monarch’ is putting up fierce resistance.]

[The Effect ‘Single Eon Fire’ is suppressing the resistance.]

…

[The conflict between ‘Frost Monarch’s Breath’ and the Effect ‘Single Eon Fire’ has become severe!]

The [Everlasting Ice Crystal] writhed in an attempt to escape from Chang-Sun, but every time it did, the Jigwi’s Eon Fire grew bigger and tried to suppress it. The frost repeatedly covered Chang-Sun’s eyes and was melted down by the fire, making his skin crack like a turtle shell.

―Who are you?

Without budging one bit, the [Everlasting Ice Crystal] and Chang-Sun continued to confront each other. As they did, an old man spoke in Chang-Sun’s mind. He seemed to be the spirit of the Frost Monarch, the Yetis’ ancestor who created [Everlasting Ice Crystal].

―You’re not my descendant, so who are you? How dare you touch my body…!

However, seemingly not wanting to bother listening to the voice of a mere spirit who couldn’t even turn into a monster, Chang-Sun made the fire bigger and interrupted the spirit. “You talk too much.”

[The firestorm is pulverizing all resistance!]

[The ‘Frost Monarch’s Breath’ has been incapacitated.]

―No…!

Boom!

The stronger fire not only eliminated the Frost Monarch’s spirit but also melted down the other nearby ice walls in a flash.

Drip―!

One after another, eight [Everlasting Ice Crystals] dropped to the ground.

[Acquired the ‘Frost Monarch’s Breath ×8.’]

‘Good.’ Chang-Sun smiled faintly as he collected all of the crystals at once using his whip.

It seemed he wouldn’t have any problem finishing his body’s transformation to obtain [Reinforced Skeleton].

‘I have about ten minutes left until the curse activates,’ Chang-Sun estimated the remaining time before the Changgwi Cave curse activated after putting all the [Everlasting Crystals] into his inventory.

Ten minutes was a very short time to complete [Reinforced Skeleton], but Chang-Sun wasn’t worried. He had already chosen the Changgwi Cave to be the place he’d complete [Reinforced Skeleton]. However, to complete this goal, he had to meet one more person within the time limit.

‘The Phantom Demon should be close by now.’ Chang-Sun assumed.

He was looking for Jeong Yoo-Jin for a very simple reason. He was going to drag her to the Changgwi Cave when the curse activated.

‘I never thought everything I have when the curse activates will be dragged into the Changgwi Cave.’ Chang-Sun quietly chuckled.

By everything, Chan-Sun meant those he had ‘physically touched,’ not just his belongings. In other words, he was going to take Yoo-Jin to the Changgwi Cave and make her fight the Hongsal King! Since the Hongsal King and Yoo-Jin were both enemies of Chang-Sun, they would end up battling each other in the confusion. Once they did, Chang-Sun planned to retreat and obtain [Reinforced Skeleton]. If he fought against them afterward, he get a far easier victory.

[The Skill ‘Beast Senses’ has been activated, quickly scanning the area!]

Chang-Sun had caused a commotion even though he knew he would put the Highoff remnants on high alert since Yoo-Jin would certainly think Gwak Do-Woon’s killer had caused a fuss that made the Winter Palace shake. She was most likely infuriated already. Thinking Yoo-Jin had to have arrived at the underground driftways now, Chang-Sun sharpened his senses and scanned a wider area.

‘She’s here.’ Chang-Sun detected a large group of people moving over the collapsed driftway.

[Visualizing the area that you have scanned!]

As if Chang-Sun was standing right in front of the scene, Chang-Sun could vividly see the whole situation with his senses, which had been sharpened with [Beast Senses].

“Quick!”

“You idiots! What are you doing?! Make way!”

“The [Ice Crystals]...! Other ores like [Cold Iron] are all in there. What do we do?”

“Shit! Shit!”

“The palace has already been almost completely demolished, so what’re we supposed to…!”

The Highoff remnants violently cracked their whips to make the Yetis hurry. Getting their fur and fleshes ripped, the bloodied Yetis tried to remove the blocks of ice blocking the driftways, but there were too many of them. As time passed, the remnants looked more nervous. The venomous-looking woman standing amid them appeared to be especially nervous because she was chewing on her lower lip.

‘I found her.’ Chang-Sun smiled in satisfaction, realizing the woman was the Phantom Demon Jeong Yoo-Jin.

They wouldn’t expect the person responsible for causing the commotion to pass obstacles and gain in on them, so he should move now. However, as he was about to activate the Jigwi’s Eonfire…

Ding!

Ding!

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is looking at you.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ is looking at you.]

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ is looking at you.]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ is looking at you.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ is looking at you.]

Five messages simultaneously popped up before him. knowing full well why they were suddenly sending messages, he just ignored them. It would be more bothersome to react to every deity who wanted an [Everlasting Ice Crystal].

‘If I start giving them gifts, I’ll have to do it forever,’ Chang-Sun unpleasantly thought.

It didn’t matter whether they were deities or humans. He would end up suffering if he spoiled someone.

“No, I can’t.” Chang-Sun lightly snorted, seemingly showing there was no chance he was giving them the crystals. The deities instantly showed new reactions.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is disappointed.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ clicks his tongue in disappointment.]

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ is looking at you.]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ smiles bitterly.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ frowns.]

Woosh―!

[The State ‘Fierce Tiger’ has been applied, activating the Additional Skill ‘Fierce Tiger Dispatch’!]

Starting with his upper body, Chang-Sun wrapped the Jigwi’s wings around him as if he was wearing armor made of fire. He was about to spring forward afterward when he got another message notification.

Ding!

[Someone wants to send you a new message!]

Chang-Sun’s face crumpled up because he thought the message was sent by another deity who wanted to bother him about [Everlasting Ice Crystals], but…

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ shakes her head, saying she did not interrupt you.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ says it wasn’t him either, so he turns his head and asks the deity beside him. ]

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ is looking at you.]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ advises you to look around because it seems somebody else sent you the message.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ tells you to not bother yourself.]

‘What?’ Chang-Sun flinched and raised his head.

Being able to use the message system meant one had an outstanding Class, so it was impossible for ordinary Players to use it. Was there someone who could send him a message despite that? He widened his eyes, wondering who could have possibly sent the message.

『I was wondering…who took…the ancestor’s breath…but I didn’t expect a human to take it, not one of our own,』 Someone spoke in Chang-Sun’s mind.

‘[Mind Piercing!]!’ Chang-Sun’s eyes widened further.

Compared to [Dragontongue], [Deitytongue], and [Spirittongue], [Mind Piercing] was less powerful, but it was considered advanced [Mind Transmission], which only the ascetics who had cultivated themselves and reached a high level could use. Among various kinds of [Mind Transmission], [Mind Piercing] was considered one of the most advanced since it allowed one to deliver their message using only their willpower. It was mainly used by the enlightened high priests or demigods, so why would he suddenly hear [Mind Piercing] here? Chang-Sun inevitably became on high alert.

[The Skill ‘Beast Senses’ has been activated, sharpening your senses!]

[The State ‘Fierce Tiger’ has been changed into the State ‘Strict Tiger’, enhancing your ability to think!]

If a demigod suddenly showed up here and interfered with him, Chang-Sun wouldn’t have any weapons to counterattack. The demigods were monsters at least over level 100 and were rarely seen on Earth. He couldn’t defeat such beings right now.

‘I didn’t think they would be at ‘Yeti Hill’... I haven’t heard anything about it,’ Chang-Sun thought as he tensed up.

He hadn’t read anything about a demigod in the report given by Executive Director Oh and certainly heard nothing about them from the phantom mages. Hence, he naturally stayed on guard now.

‘Where in the world is the message coming from?’ Chang-Sun thought in frustration because he couldn’t detect anything even though he had enhanced his senses using [Beast Senses].

『There is no need to get nervous, human. I am just a pathetic old man who would die right away if somebody nudged me.』 A message sent by [Mind Piercing] echoed in Chang-Sun’s head again, but the message was somehow gentle, almost as if the sender was trying to assuage Chang-Sun. 『I simply wish to speak to the first visitor to my humble palace in a long time. Would you accept this old man’s request?』

Ding!

[The boss monster ‘Winter King’ has invited you to an unknown place. Will you accept the invitation?]

‘The Winter King?’ Chang-Sun tilted his head.

He never expected to see the Winter King’s name here. How could someone whom Yoo-Jin had blinded and was being held hostage sense Chang-Sun? That aside, should he even accept the invitation? Chang-Sun didn’t know what traps the Winter King had possibly set up in the place, and the Changgwi Cave curse would be activated soon.

Maybe because the Winter King had noticed Chang-Sun’s hesitation, he lightly chuckled and gently continued, 『I will not take up too much of your time. Only a moment of it is enough. It looks like you also have a long way to go..』

After momentarily wondering what to do, Chang-Sun decided to accept the invitation. No matter how much the Winter King had mentally cultivated himself, he couldn’t be physically strong, considering the Highoff remnants could hold him hostage. Chang-Sun was sure he could quickly escape any traps that the Winter King had set up.

Above all, Chang-Sun trusted his instinct. Hence, he nodded as he thought, ‘I’m not sensing any hostility.’

At that moment, the world surrounding Chang-Sun changed.

[Accepted the invitation!]

Paah!