Runaan looked up and swallowed dryly.
"This place…"
It was a dark room, like a night without a moon.
No, it wasn't a room. It was a vast space, too broad to take in with a single glance, and everything was shrouded in darkness.
From the rippling darkness came an intense smell of blood that made her spine tingle. Her fingertips trembled with an unknown fear.
"Ugh…"
Runaan bit her lip and turned around. In contrast to the darkness in front of her, there was a clear, blue space.
There was a small house that seemed to be made of ice, and inside, there were dolls lined up as if made of ice cream.
At a glance, she could recognize them. Dolls representing her father, mother, Raon, and the Light Wind division were standing, each showcasing their distinct individuality.
Finally, her sword, Seolhwa, was floating in the air. Unlike when she faced the darkness, just looking at it made her heart feel warm.
"Come here."
When Runaan extended her arm, Seolhwa slowly descended into her grasp.
'What is this place?'
She couldn't figure out why she was here or where this place was.
She only instinctively knew that she shouldn't approach the darkness.
"I was eating with Mom and Dad… Ugh!"
As Runaan stroked Seolhwa, she groaned softly. Memories from before flashed back along with a headache as if someone were crushing her head.
'The helmet!'
Right. She had worn Baphomet's helmet.
She recalled Syria forcibly putting Baphomet's helmet on her. The answer was clear. The dark space was undoubtedly Baphomet's domain inside the helmet.
Boom!
When Runaan gripped Seolhwa's hilt with trembling hands, a rough vibration arose from the darkness.
Rumble!
The black ground cracked open, and something surged from the deep darkness.
Screeech!
It had goat hooves that stood on the ground, a thin, upright human-like torso, and a goat's head with spiraled horns from which a child-like cry emerged.
Roar!
Baphomet raised its gaze. Black flames burned in its long, oval pupils.
"Ugh…"
Runaan clutched her chest with her left hand and shivered. Just meeting Baphomet's gaze made her feel nauseous as if she had suffered internal injuries. Its presence was overwhelming.
Thrum!
Baphomet pressed down on the darkness and approached. With its massive strides, it seemed like it would reach her in no time.
"Aah…"
Runaan took a step back, her lips trembling. Baphomet seemed to grow larger. No matter what she did, she felt she couldn't win.
She knew it was a powerful monster, but she didn't expect such an overwhelming difference in strength.
'What should I do…'
Buzz!
As Runaan's lips turned blue, Seolhwa let out a clear cry. It was a dignified sound that erased fear and raised her spirit.
Hum!
Seolhwa shook its blade as if telling her to enter the ice house.
"Go into that house?"
Hum!
Seolhwa's vibration grew louder as if to confirm.
"Alright."
Runaan nodded and struck her thigh with her fist. She forced her body, stiffened by Baphomet's presence, to move and entered the ice house.
'It's warm.'
Even though the house was made of ice, the interior was warm and cozy as if a fire had been lit.
But there was no time to enjoy that comfort.
Boom!
Baphomet approached the ice house, revealing a grotesque aura.
When its hooves stepped on the blue ground, darkness began to seep into her space like black ink on white paper.
"Hiding is meaningless."
Human words flowed from Baphomet's mouth. Its voice trembled thinly as if the goat were speaking.
"The more you resist, the more painful it will be."
Its body grew as large as the darkness, finally swelling as if it would touch the sky.
"Fine. I'll crush you like the insect you are."
Baphomet lifted its leg and stomped down on the ice house with a house-sized hoof.
"No, absolutely not!"
Runaan gripped Seolhwa tightly and shouted that it must not collapse.
Boom!
The moment Baphomet's leg struck the ice house, it felt like a hammer was striking her head from the inside.
"Aaagh…"
The pain, as if her brain were being torn apart, forced her to her knees.
"If you come out now, I will kill you painlessly."
Baphomet tilted its head, holding a crimson whip.
"No, I don't want to."
Runaan shook her head. If she left the house, she would be devoured by Baphomet and her body would be taken over. She had to hold on to the end.
"Foolish creature."
Baphomet frowned and swung the whip that had been slung over its shoulder.
Whip-crack!
The whip fell on the ice house, and a shockwave swept the surroundings as if the ground were twisting.
"Aaah!"
Runaan screamed in agony as if she had been directly struck by the whip.
It wasn't just the ice house; it felt like she was being whipped herself, and the pain was so intense that she wanted to tear off her flesh.
'I, now I understand…'
This house is my mind, and the dolls inside are the people I cherish.
Right now, I am waging a war with Baphomet for my body and the values I must never lose.
"Come out."
"Ugh…"
Runaan stood up, relying on Seolhwa.
'Never.'
I have things to do.
I must cut down Syria, save my mom and dad, and repay Raon for everything I've received from him.
Finally, I want to spend more time with the Light Wind division, so I can't fall here.
She stood up, determined to hold out even if it meant death.
"You're unbelievably foolish."
Baphomet laughed and swung the whip again. The rain of whips mercilessly battered the ice house.
Crash!
Each time the whip struck the ice house, it felt like her bones and flesh were being torn apart.
"Ugh!"
The pain was so severe that her hands and feet convulsed, and her head felt dazed. She even considered going outside to die.
"Even if you regret it, it's too late. I'm just getting started."
Baphomet seemed to enjoy Runaan's screams, swinging the whip entwined with thicker malevolence and even using magic.
Rumble!
The whip felt like a heated knife cutting through her flesh, and the magic felt like a cold spike stabbing her vital points.
The overlapping pain began to split her spiritual body, and blood started to flow.
"Ah…"
Runaan looked up at the ceiling of the ice house with a pale face. Large and small cracks had formed on the sturdy house.
'It's because of me.'
The ice house was cracking because her mind was breaking under the pain.
'I have to hold on…'
She knew she had to endure, but she couldn't see an end to it, nor did she know how to defeat that monster.
Runaan bit her lip and lifted her head. The entire space was dyed with Baphomet's darkness, and even the ice house was on the verge of breaking. She felt everything was over.
'Still, I must endure…ah!'
Just as she resolved to hold on again, Baphomet's whip struck the center of the ice house.
Crash!
The ice shattered, and the ceiling collapsed.
"Now I see you."
Baphomet pressed its eye into the hole in the ceiling and grinned ominously. It reached inside with its finger.
"It's all over."
"Ah…"
Runaan knelt as Baphomet's finger approached.
She wanted to hold on until the end, but with the ice house collapsed, enduring was impossible. Her mind broke, and the ice that maintained the house melted away.
Rumble!
Baphomet's gigantic finger completely collapsed the ceiling and approached.
"Sorry."
Runaan turned around. She hugged the adorable dolls and closed her eyes.
"There's nothing to apologize for."
Just as she thought of death and bit her lip, Raon's clear voice came from the dolls.
"You did well, Runaan."
"Huh?"
When she opened her eyes, the Raon doll she was holding leapt into the air.
Slash!
The Raon doll drew a toy-like sword and cut off Baphomet's finger as it broke through the ice house.
"Gaaah!"
Baphomet's finger, thicker than the pillars of a castle, was split, and it recoiled.
"Let's fight."
The Raon doll landed on the ground and turned around. He nodded confidently, like the real Raon.
"We can win."
Raon looked away from the bewildered Runaan and glanced at his own hands.
His fingers were like those in mittens, and his arms and legs were short. He had literally become a doll made of ice cream.
'Because I entered Runaan's mental world.'
Since this was Runaan's mental world, it seemed he had turned into the form she had placed in it.
-Uhehehehe!
Wrath pointed a round finger at him.
-That hideous form suits you well! It would be great if you looked like that in reality too!
Wrath laughed out loud, ignoring the serious situation, as if genuinely enjoying himself.
'Just laugh at your own appearance.'
Raon shook his head. Since Wrath didn't exist in Runaan's mental world, he had become a tiny cotton candy floating in the air.
Honestly, he looked like a speck of dust.
-Huh?
Wrath blinked at his own body.
-What, what is this! Why am I so small!
-Hehe, don't worry. From now on, I, the Monarch of Wrath, will help you!
"Are you really Raon?"
Ignoring Wrath, Runaan approached Raon.
"Yes."
Raon nodded calmly.
Runaan clenched her fists, trembling. Transparent tears welled up over her blurry pupils.
"You really held out well."
Raon tapped Runaan's shoes with a smile. It wasn't just a comforting remark.
It was remarkable that Runaan, who hadn't yet fully opened her mental world, had endured so far. He was genuinely impressed.
-Of course, as expected of my subordinate! She did well!
Wrath praised Runaan and patted her shoulder.
"But what is that?"
Runaan pointed at Wrath with her finger, tilting her head as if she couldn't hear Wrath's words.
"…"
Raon looked at Wrath blankly and then shook his head.
"I don't know either. Seems like some kind of dust that got dragged along."
-Yaaaah! Explain properly!
Wrath flailed his tiny arms and screamed.
"Anyway, the important thing now isn't that dust."
Raon pushed the screaming Wrath away and looked at Runaan. The height difference was so significant that he had to look up.
"If we don't deal with Baphomet, we can't get out of here."
"Right. Then let's…"
"No, you have to defeat him."
Raon shook his head.
"Me?"
"This is your mental world. You are the master, and I am just a guest. Only you can truly kill that monster."
"Ah…"
Runaan trembled, looking at Baphomet who was slowly getting up. Her expression showed she was severely traumatized before Raon arrived.
"I don't know how to beat him…"
"It's okay."
Raon leaped up and stood on Runaan's shoulder. He infused her with the energy of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation while smiling.
"As I said, this is your world. Here, mental strength is more important than Aura, physical body, or martial arts."
"Okay…"
"If you were able to overcome Syria's brainwashing by yourself, you can definitely win."
It was no lie. Although Baphomet was indeed a formidable opponent, Runaan's mental strength was no less.
With a little push and some support, she could surely win.
"Really?"
-That's right! That thing is just big and empty inside! Like mint chocolate without the mint!
"That thing is just big and empty. Like mint chocolate without the mint."
Raon encouraged Runaan by repeating Wrath's words.
"Hoo…"
Runaan's lips curled up. She gave a small smile and tightly gripped Seolhwa.
"Okay. I'll trust you."
"Then let's go out."
"Okay."
Runaan nodded, opened the broken ice house door, and stepped outside.
-Yaaah!
Wrath screamed as he approached Raon.
-That was my line! Consider copyright!
'Who said it doesn't matter. What's important is that Runaan gained courage.'
-Urgh…
Wrath was frustrated but couldn't argue, biting his lips.
"How dare you!"
After regenerating its hand, Baphomet swelled its body even more. It looked as if the entire world was being swallowed by Baphomet.
"Ugh…"
Runaan let out a low groan, seemingly overwhelmed by Baphomet's dark dominance.
-It's always the empty ones that swell up. Just think of it as cookies and cream without the cookies!
"Runaan. Remember, it's just an empty threat. Like cookies and cream without the cookies."
-Stop copying me!
Wrath grabbed Raon's collar and shook him.
"Got it."
Runaan seemed to overcome her fear as her sharp eyes nodded.
"I'll crush you!"
Baphomet lifted its enormous foot and stomped down on Runaan.
"Runaan!"
"Yes."
Runaan sprang forward, her steps light and mysterious, pushing away the sticky darkness and granting wings to her back.
Crash!
Baphomet's massive foot struck only the empty ground.
Boom!
Runaan, stepping on the cracked ground, moved to Baphomet's left side.
"Think of the strongest martial artist you've seen. Or imagine your future self, stronger than now."
Raon gave advice he had realized from his own experience with mental worlds, guiding Runaan's mind.
"I already know who it is."
Runaan answered firmly and stepped forward with her left foot. In an instant, she closed the distance to Baphomet and unleashed a fierce sword strike.
Slash!
Seolhwa's blade emitted a frosty aura that continuously surged, tearing through Baphomet's ankle.
"Graaah!"
Baphomet's ankle tore, and darkness, not blood, flowed out.
'That move…'
The movement resembled the Supreme Harmony Steps, and the swordsmanship looked like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation's Swift Flame.
'Is it me?'
Right now, Runaan was envisioning a powerful martial artist, and it seemed to be him.
'I wonder why…'
There were countless martial artists stronger than him, yet she envisioned him.
Though he was curious, he didn't want to distract Runaan, so he just cheered her on.
"You're doing great! A bit faster, a bit stronger!"
"Yes."
Runaan, with her usual sharp gaze, dodged Baphomet's whip and sliced through its shin.
Boom!
Baphomet couldn't withstand the shock and stumbled backward.
"Now's the time."
Runaan nodded and thrust Seolhwa's blade at Baphomet's heart. The icy blade, soaring like a tower, drew a semicircle and descended.
"Disappear!"
Baphomet exploded with malevolent energy, and the powerful wave pushed Runaan back.
Buzz!
Baphomet's size rapidly decreased. It returned to its original form, its face full of wrinkles. It seemed furious.
"I'll kill you!"
Baphomet gnashed its teeth and swung its whip. Though its power had diminished, the speed was incomparable to before, and savage martial arts techniques were integrated into the attack.
"It's mixed with the techniques of Quickness, Transformation, and Illusion. If you watch the tip of the whip carefully, you can avoid it."
"Got it."
Runaan nodded and dove into the whip filled with malevolent energy. She slipped through the rain of whip attacks and approached Baphomet.
"I won't be defeated anymore!"
Baphomet retreated, realizing the threat of her sword. It unleashed a barrage of whip attacks and magic to keep her at bay.
Rumble!
Raon narrowed his eyes, watching the space filled with magic and energy fluctuations.
'If this continues, Runaan will be at a disadvantage.'
Runaan had expended most of her mental strength protecting the ice house. If this dragged on, her concentration would falter first.
'Then I need to help her in another way.'
Raon covered his mouth with his hand and gathered strength in his abdomen.
"No matter how much you struggle, it's useless! Your partner is already dead!"
Raon raised his voice, claiming that Syria outside had already died.
Considering the previous encounter with the Draconian, there should be some level of communication between the monster inside the helmet and the Eden spirit outside. It should work.
"Lies!"
Baphomet dismissed his words and swung the whip even more viciously. The sinuous energy relentlessly tore at the ground.
"Think about it. If your partner were outside, how could a stranger like me enter here?"
Raon continued, smirking.
"There are no lies. Your partner is dead by my hand."
"Shut up!"
Baphomet's movements grew larger, and the scale of its magic expanded. The terrifying power was an overwhelming offense, but it also revealed previously unseen gaps.
Boom!
Runaan didn't miss the moment and kicked off the ground. Holding Seolhwa with both hands, she pierced through the darkness and stabbed Baphomet's neck.
"Gugh…"
Baphomet tried to pull out the sword and retreat, but Runaan bit its arm, refusing to let go.
Crash!
The frost emanating from Seolhwa spread down Baphomet's neck, freezing its entire body.
"By humans… how could I…"
Baphomet trembled, watching its body freeze from the cold.
'It worked.'
Baphomet had more mental strength than Runaan, but it couldn't leverage that advantage due to the shock of hearing Syria's death.
The psychological warfare had worked perfectly.
Slash!
Runaan bit her lip and slashed through Baphomet's neck completely. The monster crumbled into dust as if it never existed.
Buzz!
The darkness that had filled the entire world dissolved into particles and disappeared.
"You did well."
Raon descended from Runaan's shoulder and tapped her ankle.
"…"
Runaan didn't respond. As Baphomet died, the remaining energy descended on her, bestowing her new strength.
It reminded Raon of when he defeated the Draconian Lokta and gained enlightenment.
"It's good."
Raon smiled, watching Runaan enter a state of enlightenment. He was relieved that his plan to give her a gift for enduring the pain had succeeded.
-Remarkable indeed.
Wrath sniffled, looking at Runaan.
-Seeing that child grow and overcome hardships makes me feel proud…
"Huh?"
Raon blinked at his own hands. The energy Baphomet left behind wasn't just descending on Runaan; it was also enhancing his own power.
-Why are you absorbing it!
'It seems to be the energy that Runaan couldn't fully absorb.'
The energy Runaan couldn't process seemed to be flowing into him, making his mental world bigger and stronger.
"It's true, good deeds do come back to you…"
-I also did a good thing!
'But you're not human.'
-But I, the Monarch of Wrath, also did a good thing! All the words that comforted the ice cream girl were mine! Why are you the only one benefiting from it?
'Because you're not human.'
-That's species discrimination!
'Now you're finally speaking correctly. Yes, it's species discrimination, not racial...'
-Shut up!