The all-knowing Player (Solo Leveling)

The Demon Castle (2)

The blue glow of my gate plunges our surroundings in a flickering light rivaling the deepness of my shadow as it covers the ground, expanding to let Jin-Woo's soldiers through. Beings of light and darkness mingle with those of shadows to form an army brimming with impatience at the sight of our enemies ahead. Our generals line up at the front, each finding their place at our side and ready to lead the troops into another battle.

Ahead, the demons' irises glint a menacing blood-red as they curl their lips to reveal ranges of sharp fangs in an ugly, yellow-stained snarl. Their impatient claws scrape the ground, waiting for us to near—come just a little closer in our foolish recklessness—to pounce. Some pass a purple tongue over their muzzle, eager to sink their fangs in our flesh and tear us into shreds. In their eyes lies the fire slowly consuming the city, yet assurance paints each of my movements as I step forward, soles crushing coal pebbles and extinguishing sizzling embers.

"Let's begin."

As soon as my words ring in the air, Jin-Woo's three shadow sorcerers lift their arms to answer my command. The already uncomfortable heat rises as flames materialize around their fingers, swirling into a large fireball that pulses with destructive energy. With one synchronic flick of their hands, they shoot the projectiles, releasing fire and devastation into the demon ranks. The ground explodes like a minefield at their feet. Howls of pain overlap screams of rage, and the monsters immediately lunge forward, as if the mages had announced the beginning of the fight with an ear-splitting gong.

"This place is disgustingly warm," a familiar voice hisses.

My head whips around to glance at Skadi, who glares at Vulcan with her long ears laid flat against her head. An ice blue glow erupts in her irises as a layer of ice coats her palms, ready to evolve into a sharp spear.

"Then you know what to do, don't you?"

She nods, a wide grin splitting her face. "Freeze everything!"

She jumps on the back of a wolf as the spear fully forms between her blue fingers, soon followed by both followers and shadows. Ice materializes under the wolves' paws, covering the terrain like a thin blanket that grows stalagmites piercing right through the demons' bodies. Bears and dragons throw themselves into the fight next to shadow knights, slaying their opponents with practiced coordination.

Two loud roars monopolize the attention of the monsters. As Iron and Cepheus stand back to back, standing their ground against the demons they taunted, Igris and Orion swirl around the battlefield, slashing their enemies with undeniable grace and ease. Heads fall under each of their blades. Purple blood seeps into the cracks of the ice ; corpses litter the ground in a glorious display of morbidity.

But I know that I can't rely on our armies completely. Not when Vulcan can wipe them off with a single blow.

I glare at the floor's boss. And it disappears. Within a millisecond, it swings its club above our armies' heads. Panic tightens my throat as I watch him slam his weapon against the soldiers. I didn't even have the time to gasp.

Just how fast is that demon? It lifts its club, revealing the regenerating bodies of the shadows sprawled over my followers, pressing them against the ground to offer maximum protection. The ice barriers the hyakki and wolves created to protect themselves have been blown into millions of pieces, now melting under the rising heat of the battleground. The chill brought by the ice beings disappears, giving in to the original fiery heat of the demons' environment.

"Guys!" Eira shouts, her voice laced with worry and sorrow.

She rushes toward the first injured soldiers, followed by her mother. But their concern fades away as the one the younger hyakki tries to heal turns out to be Iron. The large shadow sits up and gives her a thumbs up with a smile while regenerating under her shocked stare, seemingly unfazed by the pain. Both healers turn toward me comically slowly, pointing a trembling finger at the shadow.