Surviving Restructuring

Chapter 145. Whistleblower (6)

Boom!

The Ice Golem swept a massive hand across the snowfield, brushing aside everything in its path as casually as swatting away crawling insects. With a single motion, a violent snowstorm tore across the frozen plain.

[Blizzard of Eternal Frost has been activated!]

Fwoooosh—!

“Gaaaah!”

The biting wind ripped through the air, cold enough to flay skin from bone.

[The King of the Snowfield will appear.]

Perhaps because of that lofty title, this Golem was nothing like the ones Eun-Ho had faced during his Aptitude Assessment.

“That’s an impressive trick, but this is madness! Don’t throw your life away, just stay down until help arrives!” shouted the blond supervisor.

Eun-Ho understood his panic. The cold was so fierce it numbed thought itself, freezing even the will to move.

“Urgh...”

“Damn it! I can’t see!” Swear-Master shouted.

They couldn’t open their eyes nor take a step forward. All they could do was hunch over, curling up like clumps of snow.

“Everyone, stay behind me! Just hold out until reinforcements arrive!”

However, there were too many following behind Eun-Ho for him to simply hide.

[The special effect of the Virtuous Commander has been activated!]

[Followers: 12]

Crunch.

Eun-Ho took a step forward. Across the storm-white field where the blizzard had erased all tracks, his boots left glowing green prints.

Swish—

The solid crust of ice beneath his feet melted away, revealing dark soil below, where tender shoots began to sprout. Every step he took spread a ring of new grass outward, like ripples in water.

Then, the cutting wind met the widening green field.

Whoosh—!

[The Virtuous Commander’s Warmth shields against the cold.]

[Blizzard of Eternal Frost is subsiding!]

The raging storm softened, first to an ordinary winter chill, then to a mild spring breeze.

Shhhhh...

Finally, it faded away completely.

“What the hell just happened?!”

The blond supervisor’s astonished voice echoed behind him, but Eun-Ho didn’t stop.He sprinted forward, closing the distance between himself and the advancing Golem.

“Graaaaah!” The Golem roared, bristling as thousands of icicles formed all over it.

“Commander...!”

Whoosh—!

The transparent icicles shot forward like arrows, sharp enough to skewer a man. However, with a clatter of bones, ten streaks of pale-green light raced to form a shimmering barrier around Eun-Ho.

[The Skeleton Soldiers lend their warmth to you!]

[The Virtuous Commander’s Path melts the Frost Spikes!]

The deadly icicles dissolved, melting one after another before they could land.

Then, the Skeleton Soldiers raised their swords, marching across the snow toward his side.

“C-Commander...”

“We’ll fight with you...!”

Clatter—! Clatter—! Clatter—!

Their chipped blades coiled with dark crimson aura, reminiscent of serpents ready to strike.

“We’ve grown stronger...!”

“This time... It’s different...!”

They reached the icy plateau, standing shoulder to knee with the giant.

“Now!”

Crunch!

Their blades stabbed into the Golem’s frozen foot.

They were strong even during the siege warfare, Eun-Ho thought. Now that they’ve awakened the sword aura, just how powerful have they become?

Even with death looming over them, a flicker of anticipation rose unbidden. In the next moment, their swords scraped the surface, sliding uselessly off the Golem’s thick ice like dull knives against glass.

“... Huh?”

Boom!

The Ice Golem’s iron fist slammed into Number One, sending it flying. The impact buried it into the snow nearby, its bones scattering from the force.

Damn it.

Boom!

A breath of arctic frost burst from the Golem’s mouth, freezing Number Two’s femur solid.

“W-what?”

Only the panicked clattering of bones echoed through the frostbitten air. The sword aura hadn’t been enough.

In that case, I’ll raise it a level.

“Sword Force.”

Fwaaaaash—!

A deep blue glow spread across Eun-Ho’s sword, wrapping it in a translucent sheath of energy. Reversing the rising, azure blade in his grip, Eun-Ho thrust downward.

Crunch!

He stabbed once, twice and a third time.

Crack...!

Then, the sound of ice fracturing rang out as the sword sank to its hilt into the Golem’s foot.

“He had unlocked the Sword Force as well?”

Crack—! Crack!

Veins of fissures spread across the icy ground like tree roots. Eun-Ho channeled his Flame Sky-Shattering Blade’s flame into those cracks.

Fwoooosh—!

Red flames surged through the white ice, flowing like molten lava. What began as narrow threads widened into fiery veins that melted the frozen surface.

[76.9 %]

[75.5 %]

[73.8 %]

...

The Golem’s Stamina ticked downward as its icy flesh melted away. Heat rippled up from beneath Eun-Ho’s feet, warm enough that the soles of his boots grew damp.

Good. It’s working, he thought.

In the next moment, the world shook as the Golem roared. “Graaaaaah—!”

[The King of the Snowfield has sensed a critical threat.]

An ominous message followed.

[Hundred Winters Immortal Resolve has been activated!]

[The king’s will refuses retreat, even in melting.]

[The Ice Golem is regenerating!]

Shhhhhh—!

The falling snow suddenly shifted course, gathering over the Golem’s wounded foot. Blizzards, shattered ice, and heaps of snow rose and swirled like smoke, drawn toward their frozen King.

Crackle...!

Then, the cracks sealed over, refreezing as the Stamina bar climbed.

[74.2 %]

[87.7 %]

[93.4 %]

...

Damn it...!

The Golem was absorbing the surrounding cold to heal itself. The endless snowfield meant infinite supply.

It’s just like fighting a man plugged into an endless med-pack, Eun-Ho thought grimly.

Then came another alert.

[The Ice Golem has activated the Permafrost Curse!]

Shhhhh—!

A dark frost crept upward from the ground, black as dirty snow.

Zzzzt!

A chill stung his ankle, and a shadowy frost coiled around his legs, hardening instantly.

“Petrify!” Eun-Ho commanded.

His right leg froze the dark energy in place before it could spread, but his left leg was already caught.

Crack!

It fused to the Golem’s foot, locking him in place. Heat seared through the frozen limb, which was so cold it burned.

Even if I use the Demolitionist’s Glove from range, it’ll only melt the surface, not the core, Eun-Ho calculated, his mind running cold and fast.

He considered the flames of his signature sword, but he had freedom of movement and the Golem’s absurd regeneration to consider.

Ping!

Just then, a faint blue window appeared before his eyes.

[Would you like to borrow stats from Subject Kim Ji-Woong?]

Across the translucent pane, numbers glowed faintly under the heading Work.

- Stamina 15

- Strength 15

- Agility 10

- Intelligence 10

- Endurance 10

It was a full loan of nearly all Ji-Woong’s stats, without any guarantee. Even though Eun-Ho had told him countless times to only lend as much as he could still fight with. Still, as much as Eun-Ho wanted to refuse, he couldn’t.

“I’ll return them right away,” Eun-Ho said quietly.

“Take your time,” Ji-Woong replied with a grin. “I won’t charge interest.”

The next moment, Ji-Woong shouted, “Offset!”

Pop! Pop! Fwoosh!

Dozens of shimmering lights burst from Ji-Woong. They rose like glowing beads, before shooting straight into Eun-Ho without hesitation. A strange sensation washed over him, somewhere in between cold and warm.

[You have overcome the Permafrost Curse through sheer will and physical resilience!]

Power surged through his veins and strength welled up from deep within, spreading from his chest to every limb.

Crack—!

Eun-Ho clenched his teeth and shattered the ice binding his left leg.

“Son of a—!” Swear-Master finally screamed, grinding his teeth hard enough to squeal. “That big-ass frozen bastard! That empty-headed, water-filled freak should’ve just stayed still and died quietly instead of throwing a damn tantrum!”

There was still plenty more where that came from.

“King my ass! I’ll shred you, grind you, and turn you into slush, you piece of shit! You couldn’t make shaved ice if your life depended on it!” cursed Swear-Master.

Eun-Ho almost wanted to cover the Skeleton Soldiers’ nonexistent ears. The man was a walking string of expletives.

Then the curses took a darker turn.

“You think you’re the only one who can curse, huh?! Fuck that, I know a few tricks too!”

Ptooey—!

“Beep— Beep— Beep— Beep—!”

Ptooey—!

“Beeeeeeep—!”

Ptooey—!

His Insult skill, which steadily drained the target’s Stamina over time, came to life. His spewed black smoke slithered across the snow, climbing up the Golem’s massive foot and sank into its surface. Tiny black stains spread slowly over the white ice.

[91.8%]

[91.6%]

[91.4%]

Barely yet steadily, the Golem’s Stamina bar began to tick down.

Even as they dodged the Golem’s crushing fists, the Skeleton Soldiers tilted their skulls in confusion.

“W-what the hell...?”

“He’s... A dark mage?”

Then Eun-Ho froze, as an idea flashed through his mind.

Wait... That’s it.

He’d found the way to end this fight once and for all.

***

The Virtuous Commander’s Path spread warmth wherever Eun-Ho stepped. He decided to pour every ounce of that power into motion with one hundred percent, no, two hundred.

Thud!

Eun-Ho leaped and landed on top of the Golem’s massive fist.

“Is he insane?! What the hell’s he doing?!”

“Hyung!” Ji-Woong shouted.

“Why are you climbing that thing?! Get down now! You’ll die if you fall!” the blond supervisor yelled, struggling to rip his frozen whip free. He was clearly worried, not wanting the new recruit under his charge dying on his watch. “Wait! Damn it, I’ll—”

Crack—!

The whip broke clean off, making the blond supervisor grit his teeth in frustration.

“The longer this drags on, the worse it gets,” Eun-Ho said calmly.

As long as this special effect remained active, the blizzard would never end, eventually freezing everything solid. The Golem’s regeneration would also continue indefinitely.

That means, it has to end in one strike.

Whooosh—!

The Golem swung wildly, trying to shake him off. Each sweep of its arms howled like a hurricane, tearing at his ears. The air itself became a razor, flaying skin and slicing breath.

With every step Eun-Ho took, faint green motes blossomed, thawing the fresh frost. His sword’s flame burned hotter still, its heat creeping into the Golem’s icy hide.

Eun-Ho climbed higher, leaving behind a trail of green light. The glowing path spread across the Golem’s surface, melting the ice away.

“Graaaaah—!”

The Ice Golem bellowed, and the frozen plateau beneath Eun-Ho quaked violently. He had to tighten every muscle just to keep his balance on the cold, slick, and transparent surface. However, he knew a trap blacker than the Swear-Master’s curses would do it.

“Acceleration!” he shouted. “Summon. Activate!”

He invoked the same Shadow Snare that Cheong Jeong had once used to drag him down.

Shhhh—!

His own shadow rose, alive and moving, snaring the frozen surface in its dark grip. As Eun-Ho wavered, his own shadow shot upward, gripping his ankle like an anchor.

Then came the next step. Using the shadow as a foothold, Eun-Ho climbed higher up the Golem’s arm. Gravity turned against him, the world flipping upside down as he scaled the giant. Arms and legs worked in unison, hauling himself upward.

Blood rushed to his head, his face flushed hot. His legs, which were blue with cold, pressed against the Golem’s frozen skin. The higher he climbed, the faster the ice melted.

[85.0%]

[83.5%]

[82.0%]

...

He climbed past its arm, then its shoulder until, at last, he reached the head. Raising his sword high, he drove it straight into the Ice Golem’s crown.

Crunch!

Despite its impossible hardness, far tougher than stone, the blade sank in without resistance. Then a sound like ice being crushed between teeth rang out, shaking the sky.

Clack!

Eun-Ho pressed the crimson gem set into the sword’s hilt. Then, time itself seemed to snap back into motion.

Tick—

Fwoooosh—!

Heat surged from the hilt, racing up the blade. His palm went numb from the sudden shift between freezing cold to blistering heat. The sensation stung, as though dipping frozen hands into boiling water.

“Graaaah—!”

The Golem thrashed, the world trembling beneath its roar. The creature probably felt as if a parasite had gnawed into its skull, refusing to fall off or die.

Thud—!

It tried to move, but its half-melted form had already lost its weight and strength.

Fwoooosh—!

From the top of its head, down through the neck and shoulders, heat spread rapidly, turning frost to steam and ice to water.

“Graaaaah—!”

The King of the Snowfield let out a final, helpless groan and collapsed.

Thoom—!

[You have defeated the Ice Golem!]

[You have earned 2,000 Welfare Points.]

Eun-Ho had slain his third Golem.

[Your progress has increased.]

[Progress: 3/3 Hours]

[Monster Wave has been successfully repelled!]

[You have earned 3 Points and 3,000 Welfare Points.]

He exhaled slowly, finally allowing himself a breath of relief. Then, a sharp alarm cut through the air.

Beeeeep!

[The Snowfield has been lifted.]

A sudden message window flashed before his eyes.

[The Ice Golem has been destroyed.]

[Rental extension conditions have not been met.]

[Rental extension request has been denied.]

[Core retrieval in progress.]

Fwaaaash—!

A red light burst out, flaring like an emergency siren, making Eun-Ho squint. When he opened his eyes again, the core had shot upward like a rocket. Its trajectory led straight toward a crumbling building in the distance.

Wait. That’s...

The structure was half-collapsed, barely standing with makeshift supports. The glowing core flew straight into a gaping hole on the top floor, which was the apparent epicenter of the earlier explosion.

Through the cracks and rubble, Eun-Ho barely managed to make out the faded lettering on its exterior.

“Block E... Ninth floor?” he murmured.

A chill unrelated to the cold ran down his spine.

This feels familiar...