I walked straight along a relatively wide passage.

My body was trembling violently, and my bare feet had gone numb, possibly frostbitten.

Maybe because this body belonged to a previously injured child, it felt like my condition was worsening by the minute.

Did I walk for about twenty minutes?

At last, with the scent of the sea, I heard the sound of waves.

The cavity was connected to an extremely high sea cliff—a spot so exquisitely hidden that it couldn't be seen from atop the cliff or from the seaside below.

Why had the demons been in a place like this?

Were they planning to cross over that ocean?

What could be beyond that sea?

There was a rope, but given my poor condition, I figured I'd just fall if I tried to climb down.

Besides, there wasn't a single piece of wood below the cliff that could be used for a fire.

In the end, I went back into the cave.

I found a place where the wind was a little weaker and dumped out everything in my backpack.

I had to survive first.

I decided to burn everything except the food. By soaking them in oil and lighting a fire, I figured I could warm myself up for maybe thirty minutes.

I sat in front of the small bonfire I'd managed to create.

After a while, I warmed myself by the fire, then took out the blue orb.

Its color shimmered even more beautifully in the light of the campfire.

Even seeing it like this, it still didn't feel real.

Players all over the world scoured the entire continent, desperate for just one of these.

Although I'd gone through some hardship, I truly never imagined I'd obtain it so easily. If my guild members found out, they'd faint.

But something was strange.

This cave was supposed to contain the Essence of Rage, so why was this here?

I'd traced the place presumed to be where guildmaster had acquired it, so my guess hadn't been wrong.

I racked my brain, pondering the reason.

Had I overlooked something?

Or was there something I simply didn't know?

Well, information about the demon's essence was extremely limited—only six people even knew about it.

Even those six couldn't properly explain the essence they had consumed. guildmaster included.

That meant everything I knew was speculation.

The fact that only six demon's essences existed was just because only that many had been discovered so far, and even the traits were unclear.

Let me theorize.

First, perhaps there was another essence here besides the Essence of Rage.

Second, it was originally a blue essence but turned red because of guildmaster's characteristics. Or, it turns red when obtained by a person.

Third, guildmaster lied.

Fourth, the Rac in the game and this Rac are different worlds.

5th, all demon's essences were originally blue.

I came up with five hypotheses.

It seemed the second and fifth were the closest to the truth. If the fifth was true, then so was the second.

In other words, all demon's essences start out the same, but depending on who or under what circumstances they're acquired, their attribute shifts.

Guildmaster became the Essence of Rage because of his berserker tendencies.

"Ha...!"

My mind felt clearer than ever.

[Rage] [Flame] [Lightning] [Storm], etc.—in truth, the known attributes of the demon's essences were just the nature of the person who consumed them.

Guildmaster, who was originally of the rage type, simply gained a tremendous power.

That is, there was never really an "Essence of Rage" to begin with.

All demon's essences hiding across the world are just sources of pure strength.

It was only a theory, but I was convinced it was the truth.

Otherwise, there would be no way to explain why there was a blue essence in this cave—unless guildmaster's necklace wasn't here.

If only demon legion commander-class demons left behind the demon's essence, then there couldn't be many.

Rac, the game, is only twenty years old. But people have lived in this Rac for ages.

So, it's highly likely that someone found and consumed it in the past.

Unless a person dies and leaves behind the essence, it'd be hard to count even a handful of essences still left in this Rac.

At most, maybe three or four.

It seems certain that Art Syren of the Syren grand duke's family consumed one, and the others must also have been consumed—by monsters or people.

If there are any still hidden, they're likely in places as hard to find as this cave.

In the game Rac, the rest of the demon's essences couldn't be found for over ten years either.

The six places they'd been discovered:1. Northern Arshaire Continent.

2. Western Arshaire Continent.

3. Eastern Beltern Continent.

4. Southern Beltern Continent.

5. Somewhere on Taiki Island.

6. Northeastern Yan of the island-continent.

That meant the demon legions had invaded worldwide.

Yan, the island-continent, is home to the Yan tribe—they say their skin and civilization differ from those of white people.

Of the six places, two are in Arshaire Continent. I found one, and Art Syren seems to have consumed the other.

Beltern is a hostile continent, so I probably can't go there.

If I look up the regions that waged war with demons in ancient times, I could roughly figure out where the demon's essences might be hidden.

Such info is probably known only by high-rank nobles.

Let's take it slow.

I only found this demon's essence because I was lucky with the location, but finding another seems impossible for now. Same for anyone else.

After sorting out my thoughts, drowsiness washed over me.

The fire had already gone out.

If I dozed off like this, I'd definitely freeze to death.

I curled up and bundled my coat as tightly as I could.

If this body were an adult's, I could endure somehow, but I had no idea how much longer this frail body would last.

I'd already pushed it to the brink.

/ / /

At some point I dozed off.

I don't know how much time had passed, but my body was frozen stiff. For a moment, I thought I was dead—my body so paralyzed!

'Ugh... I can't fall asleep...'

Even trying to cry out, my mouth wouldn't open. Even when I ground my teeth, my eyelids kept drooping.

Was this hypothermia? My dying body couldn't overcome it by willpower alone.

"Get a hold of yourself... If you fall asleep, you die...."

Forcing myself to speak was useless.

My body drew closer to death, and only my mind struggled to survive.

After struggling so hard to find the demon's essence, if I died like this...

Should I use the demon's essence?

Should I endure by using mana's power?

I tried to be cautious about gaining power, but what's the point if I die now?

I'll just use it here. Whatever the power is, however I gain it—I just have to survive!

"Uaaaah..."

I strained to move my body.

Really, only after using up every ounce of my strength could I finally move my arm.

Then, I reached toward the demon's essence.

My arm trembled violently. The blue orb was beside my knee, but my hand couldn't quite reach it.

No matter how desperately I stretched, my arm just kept falling lower and lower.

'Please!'

Even my mouth had frozen shut.

Now my body had lost all sensation.

Just being able to extend my arm was already a miracle. But that was all. My arm wouldn't reach!

Thud.

My arm fell, unable to stretch any farther.

'Ah!'

It was a moment of utter despair.

I had no more strength left.

Maybe I shouldn't have even tried reaching out.

My body was tilting over, slowly.

Ah, so this is how I die.

Such a meaningless end.

Thud.

Crunch.

My frozen body collapsed onto the ground.

I heard some noise—but it didn't matter now. Is this how death feels? My body felt hot.

The wind was raging. My body shook. Somewhere in my paralyzed body, I felt a strange power.

It felt both searing hot and icy cold.

Was I dreaming?

Or was I just feeling weird as I died?

Why was a storm raging through my body?

A flash of light.

I felt my body floating like a feather.

It didn't matter anymore. This moment was just so peaceful.

/ / /

Caw. Caw.

Caw. Caw.

I heard birds chirping somewhere.

Was I still alive?

It felt like I'd just taken a deep, restful sleep.

I opened my eyes easily.

Lying down, I looked up.

It was the cave where I'd collapsed.

What?

How did I survive?

I sat up.

I'd definitely been close to death, but now my body felt light.

My clothes were the same, and there were still icicles hanging from the ceiling.

But had it suddenly turned to spring?

Why was it so warm?

No, perhaps I just wasn't cold anymore.

"Huh?"

I'd taken off my coat.

Did I sleep in this freezing place without a coat?

Why had I taken off my clothes?

I put on my coat again as if shedding an old skin.

Once I put on the leather coat, it actually felt hot. I must've taken it off while sleeping from the heat.

Even with icicles hanging from the cave ceiling, I felt hot?

I was so confused, I just looked around.

Now I realized—the demon's essence had vanished. At first, I thought someone had stolen it, but that wasn't it.

I had consumed it.

I don't know when.

Whether it was a dream or a hallucination I couldn't tell, but I'd definitely eaten it.

I don't remember how I gained the power.

Anyway, it seemed I survived thanks to mana.

That familiar power of mana was surging throughout my whole body.

I had no idea how strong it was. Didn't even know what kind of power.

I stood up.

Now that it was bright outside, I had to look for my companions.

Whatever power I gained, I'd figure it out later...

The moment I took a step—

I was startled.

My footprints were left behind.

Bare footprints, leaving white frost.

What was this?

I pressed my hand against the wall—same result.

Wherever my hand touched, white frost appeared.

I pressed my hand and injected a bit of power.

At that moment!

Crk-crk— With a harsh, cracking sound, coldness swept out. The wall froze over instantly.

The ceiling and floor too. Everything around me froze—except for my body.

Coldness was emanating from my body.

What...what had I become?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=(ㆆ.ㆆ )

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