The hunters watched in shock but also in awe.
Kaelthar was the mountain's deity.
Born from the world's nature, he kept the mountains in check. The mountain's life was kept due to his guard.
Kaelthar was said to be territorial. When a chieftain from hundreds of years ago came to claim the mountain for himself, Kaelthar struck the mountains rather than the chieftain, showing his dominion over the peaks.
"Then... Just how strong is lord Ri-hyun..."
"Only those in the level of a Warlord would be able to contend with Kaelthar's power."
"Immediately, help lord Ri-hyun!"
The hunters carried Kaelthar by their shoulders and returned to the village along with Ri-hyun.
"How are the two right now?"
Ri-hyun asked.
"They are still unconscious my lord. Ciro's condition isn't in a serious condition due to his physique but the burns still need time to heal."
"Then what of Ael?"
"His energy is going berserk, it is our first time witnessing it. It is as if he is being boiled from within."
Ri-hyun paused slightly before kneeling down and placing his palm on Ael's chest.
"Leave us."
Remus understood and told everybody to not go near the house where Ciro and Ael were lying down in.
"His yang qi is circulating aggressively through his meridians, Yang Fire Rebellion."
"I'll need to cool him down and connect his meridians with mine so I can take the yang qi from his body and return the balance of his energy."
Ri-hyun sat down in a lotus position and held his hand tightly.
"Lord... Ri-hyun..."
"Shut up and clench your teeth."
"What...? Urgh!"
Ri-hyun sealed his meridian to stop the circulation and forced his yin qi inside while taking in Ael's yang qi.
"It's cold!"
"There!"
Ri-hyun released the seal and allowed the yin qi to circulate through the burned meridians to cool while leaving behind a portion of yang qi to balance with the circulating yin qi.
Ael's breathing calmed down before falling asleep.
"All they need is rest now."
"Hm?"
A screen appeared in front of him.
[An amazing feat has been achieved.]
[Calculating rewards...]
[Defeated the Mara Mountain's warden Kaelthar.]
[1100 exp has been credited to the system. Status points has been automatically allocated.]
[
Name: Baek Ri-hyun
Title: None
Age: Unknown
Level: 116
Attributes:
- Physical Power: SSS+
- Speed: A+
- Mana: NONE
- Durability: SSS+
- Magical Power: NONE
Unique Skills:
- Myriad Forms Asura Art: Mastered
- Nine Hells Domain: Mastered
Traits:
- Sovereign's Authority
- Hellfire Immunity
- Fire Immunity
- Infernal Regeneration
- Aura of Tyranny
]
"I've been studying this magical illusion until now and still it's amazing to me to this day."
"To think the effects of this status points would strengthen me this much."
"I should be careful, whoever is capable of blessing me with this form of illusion is a strong one."
Two days passed.
Ciro and Ael were able to return to their hunting duties but with minimal restriction to the output of the power they use.
Ri-hyun stayed at the office of the small manor that was built for him by the villagers.
"The funds are running low for the village because of the village's reconstruction, if this goes on, the village will meet a starving end."
"Other than the harvests from the farms, is there something here more valuable..."
Ri-hyun concentrated, closing his to think.
Soon after, a faint lingering energy was felt by him.
It was cold and familiar, coming from the cave dungeon of the village.
He stood up and ran inside, but was only met with the empty cages within, though as he got closer, he could feel the energy stronger behind the cave's walls.
"It's here."
Ri-hyun charged his fist and broke through the wall, where minerals can be seen.
"This is it...!"
"My lord!"
Ciro and Ael arrived from hearing the loud bash from his from breaking through the wall.
"This are..."
"Arcanites!"
Ciro said.
Arcanite, a pale blue-gray ore threaded with faint glowing striations of silver.
A mana-conductive metal formed from highly condensed concentration of mana.
Though Ciro and Ael were looking at the amounts of Arcanites, Ri-hyun was staring at a different metal in the cave.
"This... Is Cold iron."
"Cold iron? That's star iron my lord."
Ciro said.
"You seem to know about this metals."
"I came from noble family that dealt with trading, though I'm here now..."
Ri-hyun placed his hand on Ciro's hair.
"Whatever happened, stay strong."
"Since you know about trading, I'll leave it to you."
"Ael, gather the hunters and get ready to harvest this metals."
"Yes!"
Ael exited the cave.
"Ciro, what's the situation with Kaelthar."
"Kaelthar is resting in the empty hut my lord."
"Stay here until Ael and the hunters arrive. I'll go see Kaelthar."
Ri-hyun disappeared into thin air and reappeared inside the hut, where Kaelthar was lying down in a bed of gathered leaves.
"Wake up, I know you're already awake."
"You... Just what are you?"
A heavy voice came from Kaelthar.
"You're the warden of this mountains. I wasn't expecting such a small land to possess a warden."
"I was born in this mountains. That is why I live to protect it from monsters like you."
"I'll take that as a compliment. But to say you live to protect it, you are doing a pretty bad job at it."
"This mountain and it's people were enslaved by an organization of humans yet it's warden was nowhere to be seen."
"... I have no excuse."
"I fell to a deep slumber to heal myself from a fatal wound given to me by you humans."
"A human was able to hurt you, now I'm curious."
"It was a female swordsman, her blade pierced through my skin that no ordinary blade could."
Ri-hyun thought to himself. If a group of masters or grandmasters were to struggle against Kaelthar, then it could only be someone above that realm.
"Either somebody in the Unrestrained Realm or above..."
"Still... I left the people due to my own weakness and left them in the hands of evil."
"Step down, I'll handle the mountains and it's people. Take your rest as the warden."
Ri-hyun walked outside, ready to turn the mountain's blessings into a sea of finance.