BRDM 87

chapter 87

Qing Xiao simply could not comprehend what he had just witnessed.

‘How… how is this possible? Jet was strong, sure, but how could he take down three of us all on his own…?!’

He had suspected that Lee Hyun might somehow be related to Gui Lei.

After all, the flow of magical power was as unique as a fingerprint—something that could never be perfectly imitated.

And lightning was no exception.

In myths, the thunder wielded by each god of lightning was described differently. It was their very identity—never something that could be borrowed from another.

So naturally, Qing Xiao had believed that Gui Lei and Lee Hyun must be separate people.

‘…But back then, Gui Lei clearly used Mukesh’s lightning as if it were his own. If someone could really wield another’s power that way, then it wouldn’t be strange if Lee Hyun and Gui Lei were one and the same…’

Of course, Gui Lei—known as a thunder-wielder—and Lee Hyun—whose style resembled that of a berserker—fought in very different ways.

Gui Lei was arrogant. Lee Hyun was calm and cold. Their personalities clashed like water and oil, impossible to reconcile.

And yet, Qing Xiao still couldn’t erase that nagging thought: “What if…?”

‘If Gui Lei truly is connected to Journey to the West as the Committee suspects… Sun Wukong was said to wield all manner of sorcery. In that case, could Gui Lei and Jet actually be the same person?’

But—

That speculation was shattered when Lee Hyun revealed not lightning, but an ability completely opposite of it—an ice-based skill.

‘What…!!’

When he activated the Ring of Permafrost, Qing Xiao felt as though his vision went dark.

That essence of a 4-star dungeon—something he thought only the Committee had access to—was right here.

And what’s more, the purity of Hyun’s mana and the perfection of his skill seemed even greater than Xu Changyou’s.

‘…If Jet can now wield the Ring of Permafrost that has tormented him all this time, then there’s no way he could be Gui Lei. Their inheritances are completely different—Gui Lei’s is Zeus, while Hyun’s now seems to be the Snow Queen. No way a proud deity like Zeus would allow his successor to carry a completely opposite legacy. Even if he did, no mortal body could endure it.’

‘But that only means I need to be more wary of Jet. If he can use the Ring of Permafrost so casually—the very foundation of Pingxin’s power—then this… this could shake everything.’

It wasn’t just Pingxin. Countless Committee projects depended on the Ring of Permafrost. Even the current operation to capture the Crater Demon King relied on it.

Qing Xiao’s mind flashed with alarm.

‘I have to report this. Somehow, I have to tell the higher-ups!’

But Hyun’s relentless assault left him no room to escape.

The moment the axe blade tore through all his relic defenses and closed in on his neck—

‘Damn it… I never wanted to use this, but…!’

[Nata advises now is not the time to hesitate.]
[Nata advises that our grand design must not be broken.]

Qing Xiao had no choice but to use his last resort.

‘Ring of Permafrost—!’

[The Iceberg’s Guardian ‘Samyiin’ opens its eyes.]
[Consumed one dragon from the relic ‘Myth of Nine Dragons.’]

Nata’s most famous myth was rebirth from the lotus.

Since he had already been resurrected once, his apostle could revive up to nine times.

And with the blessing of baptism—

[Using the Permafrost Baptism, your soul has escaped intact from your body without damage.]
[You secretly flee the scene.]

Among the Thirty-Six Stratagems, this was #21: Sloughing off the cicada’s shell.

A deception that leaves behind a decoy to mislead pursuit.

While Hyun’s eyes lingered on the false body, Qing Xiao’s soul darted toward the crater to warn the others—

That the Ring of Permafrost was no longer Xu Changyou’s exclusive domain.

How his body would be restored later was unclear, but right now, the mission came first.

Flash!

Qing Xiao’s soul streaked across the sky.

* * *

“Thank you… for saving us.”

“Truly… thank you.”

Lee Hyun carefully lowered the White Night squad members who had been tied high in the trees by the twin prodigies.

Tears streamed down their faces—part relief at surviving, part grief for fallen comrades.

Hyun handed them potions, assuring them they were safe now. Then, his gaze shifted to the crater.

A pale white trail was rising upward.

‘As expected—you’re running to report. Strategist that you are, Qing Xiao, right now warning your masters must be your top priority. Isn’t that so?’

[The Fire-Eyed Golden Ape observes the fleeing soul.]

The soul would now kindly lead him straight to the Demon King’s location.

And once it did…

Suppressing a murderous grin, Hyun raised his comm.

Crackle.

『As expected, the Lotus Prince used the stratagem of Sloughing the Cicada’s Shell. I’m pursuing now.』

『…Copy that.』

Kim Min-jung’s reply was tinged with disbelief.

After all, Hyun had just taken down three of China’s top-ranked elites single-handedly.

『Alpha Team, split into two. One escorts the survivors back to base, the other sends one member to support me.』

Crackle.

『I’ll back you up.』

Of course—it was Kim Min-jung.

『I’m moving fast. Keep up the cover fire. If you lose me, I won’t wait.』

『Acknowledged.』

Hyun slammed his foot into the ground.

Blue-white lightning erupted as he shot up the mountainside.

[The Trust of the Dokkebi King activates!]

Screeech!

System messages flooded his vision.

[You have successfully slain three Rankers solo.]
[Your ranking on the Celestial Tablet has been updated. View?]

[Many Logos are requesting access to view your record.]
[Making it public could attract favorable Logos, aiding future growth.]
[Make public?]

[You selected ‘No.’]
[You did not check the ranking.]
[You did not make your record public.]

It had been a while since he’d seen anything about the Celestial Tablet.

But Hyun ignored it all.

He couldn’t care less about the so-called “mighty ones of Heaven.”

Well—there was one reaction he was curious about.

[The Golden Boy shows displeasure at his apostle’s defeat.]
[The Jade Maiden screams at her apostle’s sudden death.]
[The Thunder God laughs gleefully, praising your might.]
[Nata looks at the Thunder God with disdain.]
[The Wind Emperor vents his irritation.]
…
[The Jade Emperor silently observes you.]

[Many in the divine society, <Heavenly Order>, show interest or anger toward you.]
[Your presence is beginning to affect the <Heavenly Order>.]

Hyun found their reactions amusing.

Through them, he could glimpse the Central Hero Committee’s strategies.

[The Snow Queen’s narrative clicks her tongue, saying there’s nothing amusing about being spied on by perverts.]

But to Hyun, their frantic scrambling was fun to watch.

[The Snow Queen’s narrative sighs at your unfathomable personality.]
[The Snow Queen’s narrative asks you to punish those who insult her myth.]

And then—

Ding!

[Sudden Event: “The Snow Queen’s Request” has triggered!]
[The Snow Queen feels deep displeasure at how her knights and guards are being treated.]
[Free her captured vassals. Returning them to their rightful mistress will strengthen your relics.]
[Reward: “Mantle of Permafrost” rank up.]
[Failure: No penalty.]

No penalty. That meant her fury was immense.

‘I was going to do this anyway. If she insists on rewarding me, who am I to refuse?’

[You accepted the event.]
[You now understand the Snow Queen’s narrative more deeply.]
[You have saved the Knight of the Snowfield, ‘Radeum.’]
[You can now summon Ice Spirits after a cooldown. Gained Sub-skill: Permafrost Baptism.]

[Spirits saved: 1/120]

‘The more of her spirits I liberate, the stronger I grow? If I smash Chang-woo’s skull and reclaim his relics, this will cause quite the uproar.’

The Ring of Permafrost had never belonged to Xu Chang-woo in the first place.

Hyun had planned to take it back regardless, but now he could steadily erode Chang-woo’s strength at the same time.

For Hyun, it was perfect.

And there were plenty of enemies eager to “deliver” those spirits to him.

[Combat Sense (S) detects an ambush!]

From every slope around the mountain, Pingxin elites sprang out.

Whish-whish-whish!

Hyun didn’t waste time on each.

Crack! Smash!

He crushed skulls with steel beads—

Or else—

Bang!!

Kim Min-jung’s sniping eliminated them from afar.

He couldn’t even tell where she was firing from, but her support was solid.

[Saved the Knight of the Snow Mountains, ‘Biorn.’]
[Saved the Northwind Guard, ‘Trine.’]
…

[Spirits saved: 5/120]

…

Beta and Gamma teams were also hunting Pingxin below the volcano, adding their liberated spirits to the tally.

At the same time—

[Your relic, ‘Mantle of Permafrost,’ is rapidly leveling up.]
[Your mastery of ice is deepening.]
[Your control over frost magic is solidifying.]

Hyun felt his mana sharpen, refined.

The lava streams and sulfurous winds that choked others posed no hindrance to him now.