The nights were long, and the mornings were short. It was the height of winter.
As if the biting cold wasn’t enough, even the sun seemed sluggish.
Despite the sky faintly brightening, few people were out and about.
The accumulated snow reached up to the ankles, and those who did move were wrapped in thick layers of clothing.
It was a winter where people warmed their hands with their breath and focused on their footing, struggling with every step.
Of course, there were worlds entirely removed from such things.
Those who burned with passion regardless of the cold, the long nights, or the short days.
The Royal Knights’ outdoor training ground was naturally one of those places.
Thump!
The snow that had piled up overnight was sent soaring into the sky by a single stomp of Claire’s foot.
Blazing flames swirled around her as she leaped as if flying.
Melting all the snow in her vicinity, her form streaking through the air was like a meteor shower in the night sky.
K-boom!
Her strike was blocked by two swords made of ice and snow.
“How hot,” Melissa said.
The two were sparring in the Royal Knights’ private outdoor training ground at the crack of dawn.
Most of the snow in the area had vanished because of them, and even the midwinter chill could not penetrate the heat of their battle.
“To think it’s this hot when winter has finally arrived.”
Yet, it was still winter.
For Melissa, who wielded snow and ice, winter was the optimal season.
No matter how hot or high Claire’s flames burned, as long as winter could not be pushed back, this place was essentially Melissa’s domain.
Soon, snowflakes began to fall from the sky one by one.
The fact that they could descend through such intense heat meant they were no ordinary snowflakes.
As if to prove it, each one transformed into a small blade and lunged toward Claire.
There were at least 100 of these ice blades.
They were small, sharp, and infused with Melissa’s Magic Power.
Even if Claire surrounded herself with fire as before, she would be pierced.
Thus, Claire responded in the same manner.
She split her flames into small pieces and moved them individually.
The number of flame fragments matched the number of ice blades exactly.
This happened in the brief moment the two characters clashed and retreated.
K-boom!
The ice blades and flame fragments collided.
Thick steam billowed out, obscuring their vision, and the scattered Magic Power made it difficult to focus their senses.
Despite that, Claire accurately pinpointed Melissa’s location and prepared for the follow-up attack.
Seeing this, Melissa let out a small chuckle and withdrew her skill.
“The raid is coming up soon, so let’s stop here, Claire.”
At any other time, they would have continued the duel until a winner was decided, and as always, it would have ended in Melissa’s victory.
However, with the raid on the 58th Floor fast approaching, they needed to wrap things up at a reasonable point.
“…41.”
Claire also withdrew her skill with a look of regret.
The steam began to clear.
The flow of energy, which had been unstable due to the collision of skills, settled.
As Claire’s form was revealed, Melissa chuckled once more.
It was because Claire’s appearance was perfectly composed.
Not a drop of sweat was visible, and her clothing wasn’t even ruffled, meaning she had blocked all 100 blades perfectly.
That was no ordinary feat.
No matter how much it was her own skill, to subdivide power so minutely and control each piece individually was impossible without peak talent.
Compared to a few months ago, her growth rate was unimaginable.
The reason was her practical experience gained through the 55th, 56th, and 57th Floors.
Claire was someone who grew stronger the more she fought in real combat.
Furthermore, those floors weren’t types with many variables, like the Labyrinth or the Floor of Breakthrough where people are scattered randomly.
It was purely combat — floors that consisted of nothing but battle after battle.
That was the reason Claire could grow so quickly.
“I still… have a long way to go.”
Claire approached while extinguishing her flames.
She couldn’t help the heavy breathing, as white plumes of heat escaped her mouth.
Unlike Claire, Melissa’s breathing was as steady as when they started, so the result would have been obvious had the duel continued.
“You’ve caught up this much in just a few months. How much further do you want to go?”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes. Your goal is too high to begin with. So don’t try to get there all at once and don’t be impatient. That impatience could actually hold back your growth.”
The duration of Claire’s sparring sessions with Melissa was steadily increasing.
This meant her ability to react to and counter Melissa’s skills was improving.
Even the 100 flame fragments she had just deployed were a skill she came up with after seeing Melissa’s ice blades.
Since she was being taught directly by Melissa, who was among the top five fingers of the Empire in skill application, and sparring with her daily, it was only natural.
There was no reason to be impatient.
No matter what anyone said, Claire was growing stronger at a rapid pace.
If she maintained this growth rate, she would join the ranks of the most prominent powerhouses within a few years.
Therefore, it was more important to have composure and look at the long term rather than being anxious.
That was Melissa’s thought, and that was the advice she gave Claire.
“I understand.”
Claire nodded.
She was well aware of her own growth rate.
It was just that her goal was so high that it didn’t seem to make a dent.
Still, if she continued to grow like this, she would surely reach her goal one day.
She would be able to be of help to him.
There was still plenty of time.
‘Let’s go back. It’s time to prepare.’
It was a particularly cold midwinter day, just before the start of the 58th Floor raid.
That was Claire’s thought.
[Point Shop]
[Stamina +1: 10 points]
[Strength +1: 10 points]
[Agility +1: 10 points]
[Magic Power +1: 10 points]
[Remaining Points: 27 points]
[Status Window]
[Name: Gijong Cheonma☆★]
[Strength: 250]
[Agility: 250]
[Stamina: 500]
[Magic Power: 500 (+77)]
[Spiritual Power: 103]
[Holy Power: 421]
[Main Trait: Genius of Mana Resonance]
[Sub Trait: Cannot Live Without Style!]
[Support Trait: Everything is Doubled!]
[Hidden Trait: Violence is Forbidden! (Patience: 271/1000)]
[Trait: Ghost Eyes, Spiritualization]
[Skill: Thunder Emperor, Azure Flame, Death God Summon, Celestial, Domain of Void]
***
The season that had been at the end of autumn when he cleared the 54th Floor, the Floor of Breakthrough, had already turned into midwinter.
Over the past few months, his Reputation Points had accumulated steadily.
When he looked through the records to see what events had earned him so many points, the largest portion came from the Abyss raids.
Because the grounds for the rumors were solid and the danger had been clearly demonstrated by the previous raid failure, most people on the Continent were interested in and aware of the Empire’s expedition.
Therefore, it was only natural for Hio’s fame to soar as he played an active role.
On top of that, rumors of his previous exploits spread again, bringing in even more Reputation Points.
Of course, the increase wasn’t as large as when the rumors first started, but it was still a significant amount when accumulated.
If that wasn’t enough, rumors of Hio in the outside world — that is, on Earth — had yet to die down, continuing to provide him with bits of Reputation Points.
The first thing he did with the points he earned was raise his Stamina stat.
Although Holy Power was the next most important thing after Magic Power, he believed that raising his basic stats was the priority, and that turned out to be a valid judgment.
Now, at the very least, he wouldn’t have to cower anywhere because of lacking stats.
“Hmm…”
After filling in his lacking stats, he immediately immersed himself in magic research again.
From Blink to the Sarcophagus of Death and the Ancient Grimoire: Book of Dragon Summoning, he had learned all the 5th Circle spells he wanted, so now he needed to reach the 6th Circle.
However, from this point on, it wasn’t a problem that could be solved simply by having a massive amount of Magic Power.
The limit for holding an infinitely wide and thick ring of mana with only the power of a Circle Inscription was the 5th Circle.
Even if one had firmly established the center with the first ring, the First Circle, everything from the sixth ring onward became unstable the further it was from the center.
That was why what people commonly called enlightenment was necessary.
The reconstruction of the body to enter the realm of a Transcendent.
Only after undergoing that could one finally enter the full Sixth Circle.
“It’s difficult.”
Despite seeking advice from Regarda, it wasn’t easy.
‘Was the willpower handled by a knight really the same thing as a magician’s enlightenment?’
Since there was no one else to ask, he was stuck here.
Furnel had apparently not reached the 6th Circle during his lifetime either, so he couldn’t provide an answer to such questions.
“Well, it’s not like I can solve it right now by racking my brain.”
For now, he was investing his time in searching for another house of a Holy Magician.
He was currently in the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Hibernia.
In the 3rd Basement Floor of the House of the Holy Mage of Hope, a priest and magician who served the Goddess of Hope.
For nearly two months, he had been reading the books here and researching the parts he didn’t understand.
And just now, with the last book he closed, he had finished reading all the books filling the 3rd Basement Floor.
Hio put the book down, blinked his strained eyes a few times, and then looked to his side.
“How is it?”
Airlights was sitting next to him.
Her mouth was slightly agape in deep concentration.
Her busy fingers were moving here and there in the air.
“Hmm… I think it’s almost done…”
Other eyes might not see it, but Hio could see it clearly.
He saw the form of Magic Power being pulled out in thin strands, attempting to form a Circle Inscription.
Airlights’ skill in handling Magic Power had also improved dramatically, finally reaching a state just before completing a complex inscription.
“Good. Just a little more like that…”
But soon, her concentration seemed to reach its limit.
As her Magic Power twitched, the inscription that was nearly complete vanished fruitlessly.
Hio had the Genius of Mana Resonance trait along with Everything is Doubled!.
If he focused, he could not only feel Magic Power with his entire body but also visualize it.
That was how he was able to immediately mimic Berga’s magic without any trouble from the first time he encountered Circle Inscriptions.
However, Airlights didn’t have such traits.
Despite that, the fact that she had achieved this much in less than half a year meant she had considerable talent.
Although the person herself seemed to feel dejected, given her discouraged expression.
“…Failed again.”
It was an expression she wore because she couldn’t see the Magic Power with her own eyes.
She felt hollow because she didn’t know how close she had come, or how beautiful the nearly completed inscription made of hundreds of fine strands of Magic Power was.
“You’re really almost there. At this rate, you might complete the inscription by tomorrow.”
“Really?”
Hio smiled and nodded at Airlights’ brightening expression.
“It’s enough. By tomorrow at the earliest, or the day after at the latest, you’ll be able to create your first ring. You’ll become an Apprentice Magician.”
Once she created the first ring, there would be many things she could do.
First, she would be able to go down to the 4th Basement Floor and use the portal with Hio, allowing her to go to Tetradia.
Additionally, with Hio there, advancing to the 2nd and 3rd Circles wouldn’t be difficult.
“Then I can really go with you starting from the next raid!”
“I suppose so.”
Hio slowly stood up from his seat.
The promised time had come.
It was time to move for the raid on the 58th Floor.
“What about what you were looking for, Hio? You said it was a new holy magic, right? You were trying to find it by going through all the books here. Did you find it?”
At the words of Airlights, who stood up after him, Hio nodded as he took out a light green necklace.
“I found a clue.”
Hio turned his gaze toward the last book he had read.
The hint regarding the house of another Holy Magician was written in that final book.
“That’s a relief. Then let’s go there together once this raid is over. By then, I’ll be able to use the underground portal with you.”
Hio nodded once more at Airlights’ words, as she gave a cheerful laugh at the mere thought of it.
He then held the Pavlenko Family necklace against the wall.
Rumble!
With a heavy sound, the door to the 4th Basement Floor opened.
A staircase covered in various layers of protective magic was revealed.
As Hio began to walk down, she waved her hand with a smile.
“Good luck. By the time you’re back, I’ll be a proper magician just like you!”
The door to the basement stairs closed again, with Hio’s smirking face being the last thing she saw.
Silence returned to the 3rd Basement Floor, and Airlights was left alone once more, but it didn’t matter.
Once this 58th Floor raid was over, she would be out on raids again.
She would go to Tetradia, which she had only heard stories about, and stop by the other Holy Magician’s house where Hio had found a clue, finally being of real help to him.
By then, it would likely be a warm spring rather than this cold winter.
She was sure of it.
To make that happen, she quickly moved to the desk and focused on creating the inscription.
She had no idea how cold the wind was blowing outside.
“Alright.”
She focused on the task at hand, believing that this too would pass.
The warm spring was not far off, and the future she had so long desired felt within her reach.
“It won’t be long now.”
The night is darkest just before dawn, and winter is coldest just before spring.
“Let’s focus and succeed in one go!”
Right now, it was the winter just before spring.