"The King of the Frost Giants is an honorable entity who enjoys a legitimate challenge from a worthy challenger," Professor Boladi explained kindly, sensing Yi-Han's curiosity.
Indeed, it was the erudition befitting a professor. Yi-Han momentarily suspected that Professor Boladi knew in advance who resided within the twisted realm corridor.
‘It seems likely,’ Yi-Han thought.
"I've heard about it too..." Direth said with a trembling voice.
Among the beings dwelling in other realms, like spirits, demons, and angels, there were those with considerable renown. The King of the Frost Giants was one such entity, taking pleasure in legitimate challenges and bestowing fitting rewards.
But, of course, that didn't change the strangeness of the current situation. Even if the entity enjoyed challenges, pushing a first-year student into such a situation seemed utterly wrong!
Unable to hold back, Direth spoke up, "Professor, it seems too early for a freshman to challenge the King of the Frost Giants."
"You're wrong," came the immediate reply.
“...”
Direth felt anger well up within her, having mustered the courage to speak, only to be dismissed without a second thought. Her fellow senior classmates, horrified, grabbed Direth's sleeve.
"Direth, hold back. The professor is not just anyone!"
"He has no title!"
“Isn't this too reckless, he’s too young?”
Unexpectedly, support came from an unforeseen quarter – the King of the Frost Giants himself. The King tilted his head, observing Yi-Han. Despite knowing that mages often showed exceptional talents from a young age, the mage before him seemed excessively young.
"I vouch for this challenger's capability in my name," Professor Boladi declared firmly. Sensing the strength emanating from the opposing mage, the King of the Frost Giants nodded in agreement.
"If you stake your mage's name..."
"..."
Yi-Han, who had been listening quietly, wore a dubious expression.
Did he really have to go as far as to stake his own name for a challenge when the opponent was talking like this?
"Challengers meeting the King must reveal their names."
"I am Yi-Han of the Wordanaz family."
"Very well, young challenger," the King of the Frost Giants said, pointing to the blue ice crown atop his head. "If you can inflict damage on this crown, symbolizing pride, victory shall be yours."
Yi-Han swiftly formulated a plan, noting the King's surprisingly gentle and amiable demeanor. The King's assurance of victory upon damaging the crown, and his relaxed posture, suggested a certain distance from sincerity. However, it wasn't unusual for him to lower his guard against a first-year student.
Yi-Han knew he had to exploit this, readying a powerful strategy unique to him. He would strike first while the King was off-guard.
"But, Your Majesty, King of the Frost Giants," Yi-Han interjected.
"What is it?"
"With the current twisted state of this realm, will winning the challenge resolve this issue too?"
"If that is your wish, so it shall be. It's the rightful privilege of the victor," the King nodded easily.
It seemed the King played a key role in maintaining the current state of the realm. If the King departed, the twisted realm corridor would likely return to normal.
Yi-Han took a step forward. The recent conversation wasn't of much importance; the real challenge was about to begin.
The critical aspect was closing the distance!
‘Just one more step.’
"Oh King of the Frost Giants, I have one last question for you."
"Proceed."
"Is that entity behind you one of your subordinates?"
The King of the Frost Giants turned his head.
At that moment, Yi-Han extended his staff and shouted.
"Strike down, Ferkuntra's Thunderbolt!"
It was the fastest and most intense spell Yi-Han had ever cast.
He couldn't draw out any mana in advance, as it would alert the enemy.
As the King of the Frost Giants turned, Yi-Han maximized his mana, chanted the spell, and unleashed an explosion of energy from the tip of his staff!
"!"
The fourth-year students' eyes widened. The power of the lightning magic launched was much stronger than expected.
Up until now, the magic combat style of the freshman was to rapidly fire simple spells to increase firepower.
It was impressive, but the difficulty level was something fourth-year students could achieve given time.
The magic itself was not particularly difficult.
But the surprise attack he just demonstrated was several levels higher.
Controlling the inherently unstable element of lightning so quickly was extraordinary.
This was not just about casting speed.
It required a strong control over and deep understanding of the lightning element.
‘I couldn't even properly control fire when I was a first-year, let alone lightning…’
The shock was so great that they hadn't even realized the freshman had tricked and ambushed the King of the Frost Giants.
Students of the White Tiger, unaware of the significance of the magic just shown, murmured among themselves.
"Is it okay to deceive an opponent like that?"
"If in a disadvantageous position, isn't it permissible?"
Bang!
However, Yi-Han's attack did not reach the crown.
A wall of blue ice appeared in front of the crown worn by the King of the Frost Giants, blocking the lightning.
"..."
Yi-Han seemed to understand why Professor Boladi insisted on perfecting the <Autonomous Cold Shield> spell.
'The performance is... impressive.'
The King of the Frost Giants, though ambushed, did not show anger.
Instead, he seemed intrigued.
“You definitely possessed the qualifications.”
"Thank you…"
Yi-Han prepared to launch a water orb while expressing his gratitude.
But the King of the Frost Giants was not fooled twice.
Crackling sounds filled the air!
Behind the King of Frost Giants, ice burst forth in a semi-circular shape.
And this ice, as if alive, rushed towards Yi-Han.
"...Rise up!"
Yi-Han chanted the spell and leaped into action.
It was the true beginning of the challenge.
"Bones, bind my foe. Cloak, engulf me!"
As Yi-Han summoned the bone-binding orb and cast Gonadaltes' invisibility cloak, the King of the Frost Giants looked on with interest.
He had wondered what the mage behind the barrier had relied on to issue such a challenge, but seeing the battle now, it was clear this young mage qualified as a challenger.
Firstly, an almost boundless amount of mana.
The spells he used still felt unfinished, but the immense amount of mana compensated for this shortcoming.
Especially evident when casting fire magic.
This place, marked by the King of Frost Giants' power, should suppress any flame, yet the boy's spells rose fiercely, unaffected by the cold.
Moreover, quite ferociously!
Flames roared.
Given the antagonistic nature of fire to cold, the ice wielded by the King of Frost Giants slowed in the presence of the flames.
Of course, that alone wouldn't have allowed him to hold out for so long. The young mage had other advantages.
‘He has a keen sense,’ the King of the Frost Giants admired, noting the mage's exceptional sense of danger.
The way he sensed the movement of elements around him a step ahead and dodged in the opposite direction was so adept that it made one question if he was indeed just a young human.
This remarkable sense, combined with his massive mana to sustain various enhancement spells, made him agile enough to evade the King of the Frost Giants' attacks.
And finally, his flexibility in combining a variety of magic spells.
The King of the Frost Giants asked curiously, "Most mages delve deeply into their specialty, but you cover an unusually broad range. Do you have a reason for that?"
The array of magic displayed by the challenger in front of him was diverse, encompassing elements (fire, lightning), illusion, enchantment, and dark magic.
Considering the mage's young age, it was all the more remarkable.
Yi-Han didn't respond.
In truth, it was more like he couldn't respond due to exhaustion.
With the enormous ice before him writhing like a living creature, there was no way he could afford the luxury of a relaxed response, especially when sharp ice shards were flying at him like raindrops...
Professor Boladi answered on his behalf, "He learned it himself out of necessity."
"Indeed. To teach oneself combat magic at that age is impressive," the King of the Frost Giants admired.
Many mages knew their weaknesses and sought to compensate for them, but it was rare to see one so young take such proactive steps.
The fourth-year seniors also admired him.
‘Was that the reason?’
The students of the White Tiger admired as well...
Bang!!
"Yi-Han!!!"
Dolgyu screamed in alarm. A giant pillar of ice had just impaled the spot where Yi-Han had been standing.
"Don't worry, Dolgyu."
Rolling to the side, Yi-Han gritted his teeth and spoke. He had managed to dodge by sensing the movement of the elements just before the ice fell.
His body ached...
‘It's maddening. He doesn't give me a moment's respite.’
Yi-Han felt overwhelmed for the first time in a while.
No matter how much mana he had, it was meaningless if he couldn't weave it into magic.
If only he had a bit more time, he could summon flames in all directions to increase his firepower, but the King of the Frost Giants relentlessly pressed on, leaving no time to retaliate.
"Shield, unfold!"
Instead of recklessly attacking, Yi-Han chose to defend.
It was grueling and challenging, but it seemed the most viable option at the moment.
The King of the Frost Giants' eyes sparkled with interest at the young mage's uncharacteristic persistence.
"Challenger, do you insist on using fire magic for a reason? You've only been using elemental fire magic so far."
The King of the Frost Giants pointed to the flame shield Yi-Han had raised, inquiring about it.
In truth, the flame shield was one of the least used among elemental shield spells.
It was weak in defense, consumed a lot of mana, and was difficult to maintain its form...
But to Yi-Han, these were minor issues.
"Cold and... fire are opposing elements, aren't they?" Yi-Han replied cautiously as his opponent paused the attack.
"True, they are opposites. But a mage should utilize their environment. Why deliberately oppose the power of cold that fills this area?"
"…Oh?"
Yi-Han paused.
Was that the case?
Upon reflection, he realized it made sense.
Another mage might have noticed the ineffectiveness of fire magic and switched to using cold magic...
But Yi-Han, reveling in the control he had over his hard-earned fire magic, had focused solely on using it.
‘Has the cold numbed his mind?’
"I understand. Challenger. It must be your pride as a challenger. I highly value that pride."
"No..."
“But this challenge is not a matter of life and death. Sometimes, it's necessary to set aside one's pride and learn to utilize other forces.”
Instead of explaining, Yi-Han tightened his grip on his staff.
Then he shouted.
"Freeze!"
Ting!
Instantly, a massive block of ice materialized in the air.
It was enormous, dwarfing any flame in comparison.
Yi-Han swung his staff, attempting to transform its shape.
"Shatter!"
Just as he had controlled multiple water orbs simultaneously, Yi-Han now maneuvered the ice shards.
Dozens of pieces of ice separated from the mass and began to fly rapidly.
However, the King of the Frost Giants was not at all surprised. He summoned the same blue ice wall that had blocked the lightning earlier.
In that moment, Yi-Han's hand moved instinctively. His body acted before his mind could decide, releasing what it had learned.
The advanced application of the water element taught by Yumidifus.
"Evaporate!"
Suddenly, the blue ice wall conjured by the King of the Frost Giants thinned and then disappeared.
It reformed almost immediately, but the ice shards were faster.
The ice shards Yi-Han had fired with all his might penetrated the barrier.
"They hit!"
With a sharp metallic sound, one of the ice shards embedded itself in the crown worn by the King of the Frost Giants.
