BRDM 85

chapter 85

“…Damn it. What kind of ridiculous thing is this?”
“You rookie. I was just going to watch you turn into a fighting cock… and now you’ve really grown. Damn it.”
“Senior, what do you plan to do now?”

In front of Lee Hyun and Cheongroe lay seven bodies, each quietly enclosed in body bags.

Lieutenant Yoon Baekjo and other Baekya unit members—three additional corpses had been discovered through the surrounding search.

Most of them were frozen, their faces stained with pain…
…Cheongroe was familiar with all of it.

It was exactly the same as four years ago.

They were all trying to suppress the boiling rage inside.

“We have to catch them. Somehow. But first, we need to confirm if Seochang-woo really appeared here, just as Baekjo said. Our response will depend on that.”

Oh Sooheon, a junior of Lee Hyun from their military history studies but subordinate in Cheongroe, nodded beside him.

“Something’s off. If a person like that had moved, it’s strange that he wasn’t detected until now… And the General didn’t say anything about it either.”

High-rankers are typically classified as national assets. Their every move is usually monitored thoroughly by intelligence agencies.

A powerhouse like Seochang-woo would find it particularly difficult to operate freely in Korea.

“Did he use a teleportation scroll? Or did the Jade Emperor somehow… Damn it. I need to know what’s going on.”

Go Jinwoo scratched the back of his head, while Lee Hyun calmly replied:

“Or he could have used some kind of item connected to him.”
“An item?”
“Do you have any clues?”

All eyes turned to Lee Hyun.

His eyes briefly glowed with a pale golden hue before returning to normal.

“Maybe a little. I’m not certain yet. But it seems Pingxin’s magical power and abilities grew massively with Seochang-woo’s help, and he went completely berserk.”

He gestured toward the traces left around them.

Lieutenant Yoon Baekjo had said it clearly:
This place was filled with Seochang-woo.
That’s why the Baekya unit had fallen.

“It’s like a herd of enraged bulls swept from there to here… That’s probably why the Baekya unit was taken unaware.”
“So their attempt to trap them backfired.”
“Reports of Pingxin’s special tactics never mentioned this. This must be a newly developed skill.”

A heavy silence fell.

“But it’s not a proper technique. They don’t seem fully conscious. I think they were moved by some kind of collective brainwashing…”

Lee Hyun seemed to know where Pingxin, who had crushed the Baekya unit, had moved. He looked toward the forest.

A desolate forest stretched ahead.

“But thanks to this, we can at least know where they are.”

A chilling wind blew from that direction.

Cold that didn’t fit with the volcanic area—absolute zero cold that could freeze even magical power.

The event that destroyed the Baekya unit clearly originated there.

‘That’s probably also why external rescue requests didn’t go through.’

“The survivors moved northwest, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll split the teams from here. Beta and Gamma teams will track and rescue the survivors. We don’t know how many enemies are pursuing.”
“Confirmed.”
“Confirmed.”
“Alpha team will provide cover for me from now on.”

Kim Minjung, leading Alpha Team, was surprised.
“Senior, you don’t mean—”
Lee Hyun nodded gravely.
“The battle just happened, so their formations probably aren’t fully restored. We’ll take advantage of that,”

Lightning flashed in his eyes.

Crack!

“We eliminate all of them.”

Cheongroe dispersed again to carry out their respective missions.

Lee Hyun checked the Dokgakwi set and infused magical power into his earrings to activate the inheritance skill.

[Inheritance, ‘Day Goblin Dance’ grows furious.]

Crack! Fizzzt!

Blue-white aura flared from his shoulders, like it was about to explode, fueled by his restrained emotion.

At that moment:

[The Snow Queen advises that she must have possessed her followers through a baptism ritual.]

A message appeared at Lee Hyun’s eye. The Snow Queen had been wanting to speak to him.
‘Baptism ritual?’

[The Snow Queen explains that she and her followers are a type of spirit. If the enemies received the freezing power from her relics, the followers could awaken and go berserk.]

It matched Lee Hyun’s hypothesis about Pingxin’s sudden rampage.
‘It’s like what happened in the Ice Palace. Back then, they just tied our hands, but this is worse.’

The knights and guards serving the Snow Queen were difficult to defeat because of their “undying” state. Even if they were struck down, they could disperse as smoke and reassemble when conditions were met. Sometimes the smoke even infiltrated the respiratory tracts of her soldiers.

That must have been the “possession.”
‘We refused possession, but if we had accepted it… it would definitely boost power.’

[The Snow Queen advises that the baptism can solidify the followers’ presence.]
‘Can I interrupt the ritual?’

Lee Hyun looked at the emblem on his hand.
The Frozen Emblem—a relic of the Snow Queen containing immense authority, including Cryostasis.

[The Snow Queen shakes her head: once possessed, it’s like the soul freezes; very difficult to reverse.]

But it wouldn’t help against the enemies immediately.
Then…
‘Could I personally use the baptism on someone else?’

[The Snow Queen confirms it’s possible.]
[But she says she has no followers yet, so she can’t assist in possession.]

‘No. Possession isn’t needed. That answer is enough.’

[The Snow Queen shows confusion.]

Lee Hyun didn’t answer. He already saw how to approach this battle.

Then:

“AAAAHHHH!”

A scream came from afar. Lee Hyun hurried toward it.

Ftzzt-

[Attempting stealth while stepping into the shadows.]

Shadows at his feet rose, enveloping him, disappearing into the darkness.

Silent, yet far from peaceful—an ominous calm descended.

In the forest along the volcano path, Pingxin gathered among the parched shrubs.

“Damn it! How long are we stuck here? Just go out and finish off the remaining ones, like before!”

The elder twin of the Twin Calamities, Duan Yan.
His biggest flaw was his recklessness—far more immature than his younger twin, Duan Xue.

[Na Ta looks at the foolish subordinate with a mixture of disgust.]

Cheong Xiao’s sharp eyes spoke firmly:
“We cannot.”

“Why not?! The annoying ranker is dead now, isn’t he? By my hands! Crush! Remember? Now there’s only small fry left!”

Duan Yan remembered Lieutenant Yoon Baekjo, who resisted to the last to protect his subordinates. Such a foolish man, yet worth killing.

“But still, we cannot. Hold your position.”

“No, no! Don’t just say no—be flexible!”

“Let’s say that to Chairman Peng and the leader too, shall I?” Cheong Xiao held out her phone, showing the contact name: Xu Changyou.

Duan Yan flinched, stepping back. Even a reckless man feared Peng Jinghao and Xu Changyou.

“The earlier skirmish was necessary. Remember, our goal is Dungeon Break and capturing the Bongma King, not eliminating them.”

“….”
“But since the break failed, we must at least capture the Bongma King. Until the capture team succeeds, we should focus on containment, not extermination.”

Duan Yan gritted his teeth under his subordinates’ watchful eyes.
‘That damn woman dares to lecture me?’

Then:
“And we’ve received intelligence that Qinglei (Cheongroe) will strike soon. The fight isn’t over yet.”

A sinister smile spread across Duan Yan’s face.
“What? You’re scared of Cheongroe? Already washed-up veterans?”

“Jet is back. Don’t underestimate them.”

“Ha ha ha! So you admit it!”

Duan Yan’s eyes glinted with madness.
“We were baptized by Xu Changyou! The Frozen Emblem is with us! If they attack, we’ll tear them apart like the Baekya unit!”

Cheongroe. Jet. Names that once frustrated Duan Yan’s generation of rankers.
But no longer.

The Snow Queen, who destroyed Cheongroe, now stood with them—hence the name Pingxin (New Ice).

Yet:
“Still, return to your positions.”

Once again, only Cheong Xiao’s cold reply returned.

Duan Yan’s face twisted in anger.
“…You!!”
“Brother, let’s go. There’s no point arguing.”
“Damn it!”

Duan Yan wanted to retort, but his younger twin Duan Xue’s intervention forced him to leave empty-handed.

Cheong Xiao finally exhaled once the twin calamities disappeared from sight.
‘How long must I clean up after such idiots…?’

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!”

After arguing with Cheong Xiao, Duan Yan returned to the mission area, still boiling with rage.

Duan Xue, looking sullen, asked:
“How long will you stay like that?”

“Annoying! Didn’t you see her expression? She’s all smug with Jet, even though she’s scared!”

“Well, Cheong Xiao wasn’t wrong. We’ve all lost to Jet before.”
“Xue… even you…!”

Duan Yan’s eyes flared, but Duan Xue remained calm.
“Then let’s finish them both this time.”
“…What?”

Unexpected. Duan Yan blinked in disbelief.

Xue smirked.
“Finish them. Her and Jet—together.”
“Are you serious?”
“Think I’d joke?”
“…!”

Duan Xue coldly twisted her hair around her finger.
“I was already irritated by her. She keeps playing with the prisoners.”

She pulled a lever nearby.
Dr-r-rk-

“Fun, isn’t it?”

“AAAAHHH!”
“AAAAHHH!”

Screams rang out as the pulley spun. Five Baekya unit members dangled from ropes above the trees.

Their limbs were bound backward, the ropes lined with serrated edges cutting into the skin when levers were pulled—a torture device made purely for amusement.

Blood dripped like rain.

Duan Xue watched in ecstasy.
“See how fun this is?”

Even Duan Yan found his sister terrifying.
‘Most of the Baekya guys died like this. Even Yoon Baekjo…’

The screams of the helpless Baekya members still echoed in his ears.

Xue grinned.
“When Cheongroe moves, a chaos battle will surely erupt.”
“Then we finish them then?”
“Yeah. If Jet appears, we just lead him toward Cheong Xiao.”

Duan Yan chuckled unconsciously.
Such a childishly calm face suggesting the elimination of allies.

“And after this mission, Pingxin’s command will shift. Wei’s section chief is missing, and Xu’s team leader is almost inactive. Who gets command then?”

“Us!”
“Exactly. So for our promotion, we need to take her out early.”

Duan Yan felt clear-headed hearing his sister’s reasoning. A grim smile spread across his lips.
“Then we’ll wait for the right opportunity.”

“When Qinglei moves, we slip back. While Cheong Xiao and Jet are busy, we’ll…”
“Take advantage?”
“Bingo. Brother, finally your brain’s working?”
“Ha ha. Thanks to your explanation. I really can’t do without you.”

Duan Xue smiled coldly.
“The obstacles will be gone, and a smooth path opens for us—a perfect happy ending. So that’s the plan?”
“Good. Ha ha. Feels like a burden lifted.”

Excited as if it’s already done, Duan Xue thought her brother was easy to manipulate.

“Even the elders seem to be stressed because of Jet. So if we bring her head, they’ll be thrilled…”

Her voice suddenly cut off.

Duan Yan blinked.
“Xue? What—”

Puaaah!

His sister’s neck was sliced, blood gushing.

Duan Yan was drenched in it.

Her head rolled to the side.
Thunk!

Roll…

Her expression frozen mid-sentence.

“Xueeee!”

Duan Yan’s scream was drowned out by the thunder roaring from behind.

Kuurrrr!!

[The rage of the Revenant erupts!]