Yoo Baekjun pulled all sorts of things from his pouch.
Unidentified pills, magic items, and scrolls. He popped one of the pills into his mouth.
"What are you eating?"
"Something that tastes awful. Want one too?"
Jin Seoyeon stared intently at the pill.
It looked like a simple, ordinary pill—but something about it felt off. She could sense mana from it.
"......"
Jin Seoyeon cautiously accepted the pill and swallowed it. It dissolved instantly, and moments later—
"This is…"
She could feel her body activating.
Her movements became easier, and the amount of mana inside her increased. Even the recovery rate sped up.
"Amazing. Did you make this?"
"My master helped, but yeah, I made it. The formula is entirely my own."
"This pill... hmm…"
If this were put on the market, it would sell for a hefty price.
It was easy to carry, easy to take, and the effects kicked in fast.
'Impressive.'
She had thought Yoo Baekjun was simply skilled in martial arts, but to think he could also make something like this.
Yoo Baekjun popped another pill into his own mouth.
"These are fun little tools."
"They'll all come in handy later."
Yoo Baekjun attached several items across his body and stood up. A system window appeared before his eyes.
[Ghostbusters]
Snow Tiger was once a mythical creature that protected Seorak Mountain, but has now become a vengeful spirit.
It's a tragic tale, but what's done is done—let's help him find peace. Let's go, Ghostbuster. Time to catch some ghosts!
Reward: 500P, Ability Increase
It was a new quest.
The target was Snow Tiger, and judging by the high reward, the difficulty was also steep.
'Ooh, with that many points, I could probably learn a B-rank Trait or Skill.'
He couldn't help but hum cheerfully. Nearby ice spirits pointed the way forward. The two of them followed.
"What does Snow Tiger look like?"
"Big, white, patterned with a bluish hue. Like his name implies, it's related to snow and ice."
"Then his attack type is probably ice and snow."
"Yeah, and he's huge."
He remembered the creature being the size of a house. That size meant every attack was deadly. Even a graze could be fatal.
'A head-on fight isn't possible with current stats.'
Which meant they'd need to try another method.
Yoo Baekjun strode forward. The deeper they went, the thicker the mana became. So thick, it felt hard to breathe. Roars filled with rage echoed constantly.
–KRRRRRHH!
"He's really pissed."
They arrived at the source of the noise.
A wide entrance stood ahead. Beyond that was the enraged vengeful spirit.
Yoo Baekjun glanced at Jin Seoyeon.
"You'll help, right?"
"You drag me all the way here, then ask that now? You're shameless."
Jin Seoyeon scoffed.
If she hadn't sensed the overwhelming mana around them, maybe she could've left. But now that she had, turning back wasn't an option.
'Besides, the Tears of Snowfield need to be dealt with now.'
Yoo Baekjun thought to himself.
Some events in this world could lead to disasters if not handled in time.
The Tears of Snowfield was one of them.
If Snow Tiger's vengeful spirit wasn't dealt with now, she would eventually descend the mountain, claiming she wanted to reclaim her body.
'That'll lead to major casualties in the Sword Saint Clan, and several cities will get destroyed too.'
To be exact, Snow Tiger hadn't fully turned into a vengeful spirit yet.
You could say she was still lacking in power.
So this was the time to act.
"Let's go."
Yoo Baekjun stepped forward. Jin Seoyeon followed while casting a spell. They entered the vast chamber.
–GRRRRRR...
A low growl echoed.
It was the sound of an apex predator. Just hearing it made their bodies tense up.
At the center of the chamber was that predator.
"So that's what we're fighting?"
Jin Seoyeon sighed.
Floating in the center was a massive aura of malevolence. Yoo Baekjun spotted the being within.
"Still awe-inspiring every time."
It was a tiger the size of a house. A massive body packed with muscle, covered in pure white fur and glowing blue patterns.
Its body was semi-transparent, surrounded by ominous black energy. And those eyes—
'A little too close for comfort.'
There was no trace of sanity.
Only sheer madness in those crimson eyes. Had they come any later, Snow Tiger might've gone berserk and descended toward Seoul.
–GRRR, GRRHH...
Snow Tiger looked at them and drooled. Ready to pounce. Yoo Baekjun pulled out a scroll.
Shrrip! He tore it in one go.
FWOOSH!
–KRRRRRAH!
The scroll burst with holy power—lethal to ghost-type monsters. Snow Tiger flinched.
"Keep that thing from getting close."
Yoo Baekjun pulled out another scroll, then scattered holy water and magic items onto the ground, preparing something.
'Fighting a monster like this…'
Physical attacks didn't work on vengeful spirit-type monsters—only magic could harm them.
To deal with them, one needed special weapons or to strip them of their strengths.
BZZZZT!
In such cases, a magic circle was necessary.
A magic circle that could give form to ghost-type monsters. Called the
Jin Seoyeon gave a small gasp.
"That's a pretty rare circle."
Yoo Baekjun infused the scroll with mana. The paper ignited in blue flames.
A giant magic circle appeared on the floor.
–GRRRRR…
Sensing something strange, Snow Tiger growled. She prepared to attack. Yoo Baekjun gave Jin Seoyeon a nod. She cast a spell.
CLINK!
Chains manifested in the air and bound Snow Tiger's limbs. Her charge halted. Bind. And at a nearly master-level proficiency. But—
"It won't hold for long."
The chains were already straining.
But a moment was all they needed. Yoo Baekjun stomped the ground.
BOOM! His mana surged outward.
FWOOOSH!
The magic circle glowed blue, then turned blinding white. But more time was needed.
–KAAAH!
Just then, Jin Seoyeon snapped her fingers. A massive wall of ice rose before the charging Snow Tiger—not just one, but three layers.
She raised her hand.
SCREEEECH!
Ballistae emerged behind the wall. Flaming javelins loaded in their strings pulled taut—and moments later:
–KRRRRRAAAH!
The Bind shattered.
Snow Tiger smashed through the ice wall in a straight-line charge. The walls shattered like glass.
THWUMP!
The javelins shot into Snow Tiger, striking her torso. But they didn't pierce—only momentarily halted his advance.
'A mythical beast is still a mythical beast.'
He was probably easier to handle when alive.
Now, as a vengeful spirit, Snow Tiger had gained even more strengths. Which made her all the more troublesome.
"Damn it!"
Jin Seoyeon stomped the ground.
A massive wave of fire surged from her foot, engulfing Snow Tiger.
–GRRHHH…
It seemed effective—Snow Tiger writhed in pain.
But now, enraged, his eyes locked onto Jin Seoyeon. She smirked.
"What, are you mad?"
–KRRRAH!
Snow Tiger charged—this time at Jin Seoyeon. She calmly calculated and assembled a spell in her mind.
"Now!"
Before she could act, the magic circle completed.
Yoo Baekjun slammed his fist into the ground. The entire chamber lit up with dazzling light. Snow Tiger shrieked.
–KYAAAAAAGH!
"Watch out! That thing can use magic too!"
"What?"
Snow Tiger's once-semi-transparent body began to solidify—and she started going berserk.
He raised his foot.
CRACK!
The stomp fractured the ground. Above, thousands of icicles began to tremble—and all at once, they fell.
"Jin Seoyeon!"
"I know!"
She deployed a massive barrier.
CLANG! A screeching sound echoed. The deadly icicles tried to pierce the barrier.
But they couldn't and eventually crumbled.
–GRRRR…!
Snow Tiger used magic again.
A blizzard swept through the chamber—accompanied by needle-sharp hail.
RUMBLE! The barrier shook violently.
–BANG!
Snow Tiger crashed into the barrier. It finally shattered, and she swung her massive claw.
But Jin Seoyeon remained calm.
"......"
She moved her fingers like a conductor.
First, a massive stone fist rose from the ground and uppercut Snow Tiger.
–KRAAAH!
Then fire rained from above, engulfing him. Next came lightning, and then blades of wind like guillotines. A storm of magic.
'How much mana does she even have?!'
Yoo Baekjun, watching, was stunned. To cast magic of that scale without rest was absurd.
But Jin Seoyeon wasn't as composed as she looked.
"Yoo Baekjun! Do something!"
"You say that like I've just been standing here!"
Yoo Baekjun kicked off the ground.
Truthfully, that kind of boss monster was still too much for him. He didn't have enough Skills yet.
'Tch, whatever.'
He dashed into Snow Tiger's range. The red eyes tracked him.
"What are you looking at?"
–KRAAAGH!
Yoo Baekjun kicked the ground hard. The snow and stone flared with fire and struck Snow Tiger's face. Her face started to burn.
–Y-YOU … HUMAN…!
Snow Tiger's body began to fully materialize.
Now physical attacks would land.
–UWAAAAAGH!
The Magic Circle of Manifestation also weakened ghost-type monsters.
Snow Tiger, feeling her body weaken, howled. Her intelligence partly returned—she could now speak intelligibly.
–I'LL KILL YOU!
His eyes gleamed with malice. Yoo Baekjun gulped. One hit could mean death.
Still, he was confident.
'I've already learned your patterns.'
Snow Tiger stomped, scattering snow and blinding Yoo Baekjun's vision.
'She'll swing her tail now!'
Yoo Baekjun rolled to the side.
The tail narrowly missed where he'd just been. He got back up and launched forward.
–GR…!
"Shut your mouth!"
Next was a breath attack. Before Snow Tiger could release her frost breath, Yoo Baekjun hit her jaw with a Strike skill.
CRACK! Snow Tiger's mouth slammed shut.
–GRRK!
"Jin Seoyeon!"
The breath, now trapped, swirled inside her mouth. Yoo Baekjun called out.
She'd been waiting. She cast her spell.
FWOOOSH!
A violent gust blew away the obscuring snow. Yoo Baekjun leapt onto Snow Tiger's back and grabbed her neck.
"Now!"
–KRAAAH!
He forced Snow Tiger's head up.
The frost breath burst toward the ceiling. A massive explosion followed, shattering the ceiling into shards and icicles.
FWOOOM!
Jin Seoyeon enchanted the fragments with flame and hardened the icicles into steel.
They all fell onto Snow Tiger like rain.
TAH!
Yoo Baekjun leapt back beside Jin Seoyeon.
She looked impressed.
"Did you train at the circus or something?"
"You should be asking if I learned martial arts, not circus acts!"
"Well, you looked like a circus performer…"
"Whatever, it's not over yet."
Yoo Baekjun ignored her and nodded toward Snow Tiger. The creature's back was a mess, yet she still stared daggers at Yoo Baekjun.
"Come on."
Yoo Baekjun beckoned with his finger.
–KRRRAAAH!
The wounded beast's roar echoed throughout the chamber.