Episode 206

“The King of Frost Giants is an honorable being who enjoys the rightful challenge of a worthy challenger.”

Professor Voladi kindly explained when Lee Han looked curious.

It was indeed the erudition befitting a professor.

For a moment, Lee Han suspected that Professor Voladi had known in advance who was inside the twisted dimensional corridor.

‘It kind of feels that way.’

“I’ve… heard of him as well…”

Direte said in a trembling voice.

Among the beings who dwell in other dimensions—spirits, demons, angels—there were some who were quite renowned.

The King of Frost Giants was one such being.

He enjoyed the rightful challenge of a worthy challenger and bestowed a fitting reward for that challenge—a being of honor.

…Of course, that didn’t change the fact that the current situation was strange.

No matter how much the opponent liked challenges and was honorable, wasn’t it too much to push a first-year into this!?

Direte couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“Professor. I think it’s too soon for a freshman to challenge the King of Frost Giants.”

“Wrong.”

“……”

She had mustered her courage to speak, but to be shot down without a second’s hesitation made Direte furious.

The fourth-year friends panicked and grabbed Direte’s sleeve.

“Direte. Hold it in. He’s a professor!”

“He’s a No-Disciple professor!”

…Isn’t he too young? This seems reckless.

But then, an unexpected party sided with Direte.

It was the King of Frost Giants himself.

The King of Frost Giants tilted his head as he looked at Lee Han.

No matter how much of a genius wizards were, showing outstanding ability from a young age, the wizard before him looked far too young.

The King of Frost Giants, who preferred fair and square challenges, didn’t want to face such a young challenger.

“O King of Frost Giants, I vouch for this challenger’s ability in my own name.”

Professor Voladi spoke firmly. Sensing the strength from the opposing wizard, the King of Frost Giants nodded for now.

If it was in the name of a wizard…

“……”

Lee Han, who had been listening quietly, made a reluctant expression.

Did he really have to go so far as to stake his name on this challenge?

Let the challenger reveal their name to the king.

“I am Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family.”

Very well, young challenger.

The King of Frost Giants pointed to the blue ice crown atop his head.

If you wound this crown, which symbolizes my pride, it shall be your victory.

‘More than I expected…?’

Seeing the unexpectedly kind and gentle demeanor of the King of Frost Giants, Lee Han quickly formulated a plan in his head.

It seemed the king’s attitude was far from serious.

The fact that he would acknowledge Lee Han’s victory just by scratching the crown, and his rather relaxed posture, all pointed to that.

Well, it would be stranger if he was truly on guard against a first-year student…

In any case, Lee Han had to make the most of this.

The powerful strategy he had used until now, one that only Lee Han could pull off.

Finish it with a preemptive strike while the opponent was off guard!

“But, O King of Frost Giants.”

What is it?

“The dimension around here is twisted right now. If I win the challenge, will that problem be resolved as well?”

If that is what you wish, so it shall be. It is the rightful reward of the victor.

The King of Frost Giants nodded readily.

It seemed he was indeed one of the core beings maintaining this twisted dimensional corridor.

If the King of Frost Giants left, the corridor would soon return to normal.

Lee Han took a step forward.

In truth, the content of the conversation just now wasn’t that important.

What mattered was closing the distance!

‘Just one more step.’

“O King of Frost Giants. May I ask one last thing?”

Proceed.

“Is that behind you one of your subordinates?”

The King of Frost Giants turned his head.

At that moment, Lee Han thrust his staff forward and shouted.

“Strike, lightning of Perkuntra!”

It was the fastest and most intense spell Lee Han had ever cast.

He couldn’t draw out any magic in advance, lest the opponent notice.

The moment the King of Frost Giants turned his head, Lee Han drew out as much magic as possible, chanted the spell, wove the magic, and exploded it from the tip of his staff!

“!”

The fourth-year students’ eyes widened. The power of the lightning spell was far greater than they had expected.

Up until now, the freshman’s magical combat had been about rapidly casting easy spells to increase firepower.

They had been impressed, but the difficulty itself was something even fourth-years could do with enough time.

The spells themselves weren’t that hard.

But the ambush he just showed was several levels higher.

To handle lightning, one of the most unstable elements, and complete and cast it so quickly.

That wasn’t something that could be done just by casting quickly.

Without strong control and deep understanding of the lightning element, it was impossible!

‘When I was a first-year, I couldn’t even control fire properly, let alone lightning…’

They were so shocked, they didn’t even realize the freshman had tricked and ambushed the King of Frost Giants.

The White Tiger Tower students, who didn’t quite grasp how amazing the spell was, whispered among themselves.

“Uh… Is it okay to trick him like that?”

“Isn’t it fine since he’s at a disadvantage?”

Bang!

But Lee Han’s attack didn’t reach the crown.

A blue ice wall formed in front of the crown worn by the King of Frost Giants and blocked the lightning.

“……”

Lee Han now understood why Professor Voladi had told him to master the floating cold shield spell.

‘It’s… effective.’

Though he’d been ambushed, the King of Frost Giants wasn’t angry.

If anything, he seemed intrigued.

You are indeed worthy.

“Thank you…”

As Lee Han gave his thanks, he prepared to launch a water orb.

But the King of Frost Giants didn’t fall for it a second time.

Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack!

From behind the King of Frost Giants, ice burst forth in a semicircle.

And that ice, as if alive, charged toward Lee Han.

“…Burn!”

Lee Han chanted as he threw himself aside.

The true challenge had begun.

• * *

“Bones, seize the enemy. Cloak, swallow me!”

As Lee Han summoned bone restraints and cast Gonadaltes’s transparent cloak, the King of Frost Giants looked on with interest.

He had wondered what the wizard behind the barrier was relying on to vouch for this challenger, but seeing the fight, this young wizard was indeed worthy.

First, it was the seemingly endless amount of magic.

The spells he used still felt somewhat incomplete, but the sheer volume of magic made up for that flaw.

This was especially evident when casting fire magic.

This area was a place where the King of Frost Giants had declared his power, so ordinary flames shouldn’t even be able to rise, yet the spells this boy cast blazed without regard for the cold.

And quite fiercely at that!

Fwoosh—

Since fire was the element opposed to cold, the ice wielded by the King of Frost Giants slowed before the flames.

Of course, that alone wouldn’t have allowed him to last this long. The young wizard had other strengths.

‘He has good instincts.’

The King of Frost Giants was impressed by his keen sense for danger.

Sensing the movement of the surrounding elements a step ahead and dodging in the opposite direction—was this really a young human?

That keen sense, combined with the vast magic that allowed him to maintain various enhancement spells, made him agile enough that even the King of Frost Giants had trouble landing a hit.

And finally, the flexibility to combine various spells.

The King of Frost Giants asked curiously.

Most wizards specialize deeply in one area, but you handle an unusually wide range. Is there a reason?

Just the spells the challenger had shown so far included elements (fire, lightning), illusion, imbuement, black magic, and more.

Considering he was a young wizard, it was even more remarkable.

Lee Han didn’t answer.

In truth, it was more that he couldn’t answer because he was exhausted.

With a massive ice formation writhing before him like a living creature, there was no way he could answer leisurely.

If he let his guard down even a little, sharp shards of ice would rain down like drops of water…

Professor Voladi answered in his stead.

“He learned on his own out of necessity.”

I see. To learn on your own at that age to master combat magic. Impressive.

The King of Frost Giants was amazed.

There were many wizards who recognized their own weaknesses and worked to overcome them, but few so young who acted so proactively.

The fourth-year seniors were impressed.

‘So that’s what it was?’

The White Tiger Tower students were also impressed…

Bang!!

“Lee Han!!!”

Deorgyu screamed in fright. A massive ice pillar had just crashed down where Lee Han had been.

“Don’t worry, Deorgyu.”

Lee Han, who had rolled to the side, gritted his teeth as he spoke. He had been able to dodge thanks to sensing the movement of the elements before it fell.

His body ached a bit…

‘This is crazy. He’s not giving me a single opening.’

For the first time in a while, Lee Han felt overwhelmed.

No matter how much magic you had, it was meaningless if you couldn’t weave it into spells.

If he had just a little more time, he could summon flames all around and build up firepower, but the King of Frost Giants gave him no time, pressing relentlessly.

He barely had enough attention to dodge, let alone counterattack.

“Shield, unfold!”

Lee Han chose defense instead of forcing an attack.

It was tough and painful, but this was the only path with the highest chance of success.

The King of Frost Giants’ eyes glinted at the tenacity unbefitting a young wizard.

Challenger, is there a reason you insist on fire magic? You’ve only used fire element spells since earlier.

The King of Frost Giants pointed at the fire shield Lee Han had raised and asked.

In fact, the fire shield was one of the least used elemental shield spells.

Its defense was weak, it consumed a lot of magic, and it was hard to maintain its form…

Of course, for Lee Han, those problems didn’t matter.

“Because… it’s the counter to cold, isn’t it?”

Lee Han answered warily as the opponent paused his attack.

It is a counter. But a wizard is one who uses the environment. Is there a reason to go against the power of cold that fills this area?

‘…Huh?’

Lee Han hesitated.

Was that so?

Come to think of it, he was right.

Other wizards would have noticed fire magic wasn’t working and switched to cold magic…

But Lee Han, enjoying the thrill of controlling fire magic in such adversity, had just kept using fire.

‘Is my brain frozen from the cold?’

I understand, challenger. It must be your pride as a challenger. I respect that pride.

“No…”

But this challenge is not a duel to the death. Sometimes you must set aside your pride and use other powers.

Instead of explaining, Lee Han gripped his staff tighter.

And shouted.

“Freeze!”

Crack!

A massive chunk of ice formed in midair.

It was incomparably larger than any fire spell.

Lee Han swung his staff, attempting to change its shape.

“Shatter!”

Just as he had moved multiple water orbs at once, Lee Han manipulated the ice shards.

Dozens of ice shards split from the mass and began to fly rapidly.

But the King of Frost Giants was not surprised at all. He once again summoned the blue ice wall that had blocked the lightning earlier.

At that moment, Lee Han’s hand moved instinctively. Before his mind could decide, his body unleashed what it had learned.

An advanced application of the water element, learned from Yumidihus.

“Vaporize!”

In an instant, the blue ice wall thinned and disappeared.

It reformed immediately, but the ice shards were faster.

The ice shards Lee Han had fired with all his might penetrated the barrier.

‘It hit!’

With a sharp metallic sound, one of the ice shards lodged itself in the crown worn by the King of Frost Giants.