Chapter 97: Chapter 97

Between the ice walls, there were paths as though someone had carefully cleared them.

They kept walking along the connected corridor. Sometimes it widened, sometimes it narrowed. The colossal transparent stalactites came in many forms—some were sharp like blades, others grotesque like beast's fangs.

Ran took in the fascinating scenery of Frost Cavern, one marvel at a time, having ended up here so abruptly.

"Let's rest for a moment."

Maya, who was in the lead, spoke up. The group picked out comfortable spots as they pleased and sat down.

Ran, drinking water from a leather pouch, glanced slyly at Kujo. He, who was always chattering nonstop, had been uncharacteristically quiet for a while.

"? So, it was that, after all."

Suddenly, kujo opened his mouth.

Startled, Ran choked and spluttered the water he'd been holding in his mouth. Kujo's bangs covered his eyes, making it impossible to read his gaze. He felt embarrassed, wondering if Kujo had caught him staring.

Kujo's voice was heavy. His demeanor was suddenly different than usual, and the mood abruptly sank.

Maya, too, looked at him, unfamiliar with this side of him.

"Finding the Bloodhorn seems nearly impossible."

Maya's face stiffened. Normally, she would have retorted sharply. Ran, too, hesitated.

Ragna spoke up in their stead.

"W-What are you saying all of a sudden, kujo?"

"Just so you don't misunderstand, I'm not doubting Bloodhorn's existence. I mean, it's literally just hard to find right now."

Kujo extended his clenched fists forward.

"Right, our ancient ancestors handed over the Bloodhorn to your ancestors. That's as far as the Thunder Anvil tribe's tradition goes. After that..."

He lightly tapped his right fist onto his left, then withdrew his right hand, opening his left palm wide.

"Your ancestors, who were entrusted with the safekeeping of the Bloodhorn, vanished without a trace, leaving behind just a mural and a phrase. That's it. Isn't that so?"

Maya nodded quietly. A fragment of memory flickered in her eyes.

She used to frequently visit the cliff caves at Ortega's shore with her grandfather to see the one and only Bloodhorn mural.

In Northland, murals serve as evidence backing up the existence of legends. The more there are, and the more detailed, the more likely they are passed down from generation to generation along with folktales. For them, legend is tradition. Some legends are copied onto multiple walls so as not to be lost.

The lengthy mural drawn along the cave walls depicted a figure leaving on a journey with a horn flute. At the very end was the image of a mountain.

Her grandfather's words came to mind.

'Our ancestor believed that the Bloodhorn should not be easily accessible to human hands.'

'Why? Isn't the Bloodhorn a divine relic of our tribe?'

"? Exactly, because it is a divine relic. If humans could wield it freely, with no prerequisites or restrictions, someone would inevitably abuse it."

Maya's pupils widened. For a moment, her grandfather in memory and Kujo overlapped.

"According to the mural and the phrase, it's most likely that your ancestor hid the Bloodhorn in the Gigantes. Maya, your grandfather must've searched the Frost Cavern to find 'the darkest yet brightest place.'"

From the mountain depicted on the mural and the word 'the frozen land' at the start of the phrase, it was deducible that it meant Gigantes' snowy mountain.

No one disputed the speculation that "the darkest yet brightest place" referred to somewhere in the depths of the Frost Cavern.

"The problem comes next. Even if your grandfather did find the location, it's unlikely he could have broken Bloodhorn's seal."

Next to Kujo, ragna swallowed nervously. Even Ran found himself wholly focused on Kujo's words.

"? 'The cunning shadow covets the noble.' That's a metaphor for the origin of creation."

"? The origin of creation?"

"And the concluding phrase, 'Just as original sin was born, so too will the mystery be revived,' is the same."

"Damn it. Can't you just be either nasty-tempered or dumb — not both? The origin of creation is the creation myth! It's even older than our gods, literally about the birth of this world!"

As Maya's hand moved to her dagger handle, kujo hurriedly continued.

"It's a metaphor. The Bloodhorn wasn't merely buried or hidden away. It was sealed by borrowing even the power of the gods so it could never emerge into the world again!"

This time, Ran cautiously asked:

"Is the Bloodhorn really such a big deal?"

"? Weren't you supposed to be the smart one? You're saying the obvious like you don't know at all. Why'd you come here, then? The Bloodhorn is an artifact that contains the true authority of the gods. Its power is on an entirely different level from the fake authorities humans gain or borrow from the gods. Do you get it? It's literally summoning the living, unfiltered power of a god into the mortal world!"

"Is it really possible for humans to make something like that?"

"That's what Thunder Anvil is."

Kujo grinned, and jabbed a thumb at himself. Wetting his lips, he continued.

"I got off track. Back to the point: 'The cunning shadow covets the noble'—that's the phrase describing the method, right? Here, 'the noble' refers to the Bloodhorn. So, what's the cunning shadow?"

Kujo's voice, briefly raised, dropped low again.

"? Urvashi. The mystical sword originally forged as the primordial serpent that tempted the first human to eat the forbidden fruit. Asthra, alongside Bloodhorn, is one of Northland's Three Sacred Treasures. And it's this sword that's the very key to breaking the Bloodhorn's seal. Without Urvashi, obtaining the Bloodhorn is impossible."

Silence fell. Everyone's expressions changed.

Ragna, gauging the mood, cautiously asked:

"Th-then we just need Urvashi, right? Where is it?"

"Er-hrm, that's the old wound of the Thunder Anvil tribe. It was stolen."

"Hey! Can't you hear? That's right, it got stolen. Well, as for Urvashi..."

Ice pellets cracked underneath as someone trod on them.

Ran and Maya reacted instantly, turning their bodies toward the corner where the sound came from.

Kujo sprang up, trembling as if spasming.

From around the corner appeared a large Northland warrior. He strode out with no intention of hiding his identity.

As he drew closer, the shadow over his face grew less distinct.

Poison Talon Eagle was a tribe formed by Northland's exiles banding together.

Warriors who had contributed great deeds or were once hailed as heroes would get banished instead of executed if they committed crimes.

At first, members of Poison Talon Eagle divided red eagle feathers among themselves to symbolize their remorse for past misdeeds.

With each step, the red eagle feather tucked in the oncoming warrior's hair trembled.

Kujo's mouth dropped wide open.

A man who had helped Kujo found the Poison Talon Eagle tribe suddenly halted ten paces ahead.

Halfdan suddenly let out a roar. His eyes gleamed red. His legs swelled as if they would burst.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Halfdan charged like a raging bull. Every time he hit the ground, shards of ice fell from the ceiling.

Maya was straight ahead in his line of attack.

Maya's eyes widened. Ran had stepped in front of her.

'That's definitely demonic energy.'

There was a slight difference. It wasn't just because he hadn't felt it in a long time—the scent was different.

'It's not a foul stench.'

Just as each flower has its own fragrance, yet all are called 'floral scent'—the moment he sensed it, Ran's body instinctively recalled demonic energy.

Halfdan was barehanded. He hunched his shoulders and charged as if he meant to ram with his whole body.

'I'll need to keep him alive for now.'

He'd realized his opponent was from the Poison Talon Eagle tribe right away. There was much to learn, so he decided not to finish him on the spot.

Ran shouted to Maya. He was confident he wouldn't lose in raw strength. But there was no need to meet an all-out frontal assault head-on.

He angled his torso and, just before impact, ducked fully and deflected Halfdan's body over his shoulder.

A tremendous crash echoed. Ran swiftly mounted the fallen opponent and struck at his jaw.

Normally, this would be enough to knock anyone out.

Halfdan, whose head had twisted away, immediately snapped it back and curled his lips.

Ran unleashed punches one after another. He made sure to hit hard enough not to kill.

Halfdan smiled, blood froth between his lips. His eyes flared viciously again, pupils wholly crimson with no whites.

The sensation surged. It scattered then clumped, as if it were organic.

Halfdan didn't miss the instant Ran let his guard down. He punched Ran's side and, as the grip loosened, tried to headbutt him.

Ran narrowly dodged, but Halfdan broke free of the hold.

'He's no normal man. I have to take him out.'

Ran was about to draw Nachal.

Kujo darted between the two. Halfdan's eyes, agleam with crimson light, narrowed.

"Y-Yeah! It's me, halfdan! You recognize me?!"

Now, even Ran was dumbfounded. He straightened up, rubbing his aching side, watching the conversation.

Demonic energy pulsed intermittently from Halfdan.

"What nonsense are you babbling, kujo. Speak plainly."

"? You, and the other brothers who first formed Poison Talon Eagle with me." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel-fire.ɴet

Kujo took a deep breath. Ran, maya, and Ragna's stares stung.

"After I left, you were done in by the newcomers, right? You got driven out and oppressed by a faction swayed by the black priests, didn't you?"

"Otherwise, why would you massacre the Thunder Anvil tribe—!"

Kujo had formed Poison Talon Eagle after being exiled from the Thunder Anvil tribe.

Men who had suffered every kind of betrayal and slander from their own tribes gathered together.

Vengeance was a petty, trivial emotion. Their hearts burned hot with passion.

Thus, they lived through Northland's age of romance.

As time passed, kujo left Poison Talon Eagle of his own will.

He didn't want to be a hindrance to the band of vigorous warriors, with his aging body.

He may have left his original tribe in disgrace, but his exit from his chosen second tribe was honorable.

Even if he died, kujo would have no regrets.

After wandering for years, he finally returned to the Thunder Anvil village—only to find it razed.

Kujo lifted his head.

Halfdan was shaking his shoulders, laughing low.

"Kahahah! If you're going to die, at least die cleanly, you senile fool! What's with the pathetic display, kujo! Kekekeke!"

After laughing for a while, halfdan hawked and spat out a mix of phlegm and blood swirling in his mouth.

"Enough nonsense. Move aside. I'll deal with the guy behind you, then finish you off. The old man who thought he was so smart has finally lost his mind."

No sooner had Halfdan taken a step than Kujo drew Asthra, slung on his back. He held it as if he were about to aim a bow—a grip the group had never seen before.

"Heh heh. You're still lugging that heavy rock around, huh? Still going on about the Three Sacred Treasures and that useless nonsense?"

"? Can't you tell by me wielding Asthra? I could smash you to pieces right now, halfdan! Let me ask one more time. Was it really your will, not just the black priests' instigation?"

Halfdan continued to sneer, mercilessly.

"For old times' sake, I'll make it simple. You're half right, half wrong. Sure, the black priests were appealing. But the one we chose to serve is the Lord of the Mountain of Gigantes."

"? What? The— Lord of the Mountain?"

"That's right. We attacked the Thunder Anvil tribe on his orders."

Red vapor began to rise from Halfdan's entire body.

"The Lord of the Mountain desires Urvashi. But it wasn't there. So out of anger, we killed everyone. Satisfied?"

The tip of Asthra, which Kujo was aiming at Halfdan, slowly lowered.

At the same time, halfdan leaped like a beast and attacked Kujo.

Silver trajectories bloomed in the air and vanished in an instant.

Ran and Maya both swung Nachal and their paired daggers.

Chunks of Halfdan's severed body fell heavily to the ground.