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Chapter 49: Real Chill

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Sunlight graced the beach, stimulating their vision.

Tranquil water from the lagoon sparkled, its blue waves lightened the eyes. Morning mists freshened their lungs and body, their mind clearer. Chirping and whistling of birds soothed the ears, calming these youngsters standing in formation.

In eight rows, each represented a team.

Krone stood in front, while Kristine stood to the side.

After informing them of their destination, everyone was silent. It was a mountain cabin in the Aaron Mountain, a place well-known for the numerous wild bison, attracted to the place due to its geysers. He called the logistic team forward, to bring their bags to the front.

Using his spatial ring, he took all the bags in.

“Alright, aside from logistic team, all of you, strapped your bags tight onto you. I have the ropes here, should you need them.”

They strapped their bags onto their body, tight.

This was to prevent the bags from slowing them down. All of them already anticipated this, so they only brought their absolute essentials. When Krone used his spatial ring to store the bags from the logistic team, some did want to ask.

Yet they refrained.

That was because it was clear why.

The logistic team consisted of those who were the slowest, with Kristine and Doran going along with them. Krone already set them to be the last team in the procession. While they were expected to be late, he had to reduce the time difference.

From his spatial ring, Krone took out over forty bags with liquid, each as big as his arm. Everyone exchanged looks, looks of worry.

Seeing everyone fidgeting, he said;

“Water, I put a little lemon in. Everyone, take one.”

“Oh…”

They sighed, it was not medicine.

After Kristine handed each of them a bag, he instructed everyone to use this sparingly. The destination would be around 30 km, but the last five kilometres would be a little bit challenging, since they were going to run uphill.

Again from the ring, he took out over forty wooden poles, each 1.5 metre. He handed one to everyone. Seeing them a little confused;

“Pretend this to be your weapon while moving. You may use this in any way, even as your support. Just familiarize with holding them, and know that having this during this march might be helpful,”

It was to familiarize them with holding poles, even when moving. Whether they were sword or spear user, having poles while marching would be useful in many ways.

He took out a large shield, then strapped it tight to Doran’s back. Making sure the boy knew how to open the straps, he patted his shoulder.

“Doran, I’ll leave guarding the logistic team to you.”

“Eh? Ah, y-yes!”

“If anything happened, Kristine will inform me, so protect them until I come.”

“Leave it to me!”

He patted his shoulder again, then called for Lisha.

As leader of Team 1, she was responsible for scouting. All while he was chatting with her during these past days, he confirmed her knowledge with scouting. He also added up more precautions for her to consider. On the fifth day, her team was tasked with the problem of Long Journey.

They presented why scouting the front and the surroundings were important, how to do it, and what possible problems could occur during the time.

It was good enough, for youngsters.

As for device to act as signal, he handed her five signal mirrors, each engraved with magic formation. Using this, each member would be able to send simple signals using their mana, kilometres away. Soon, he handed everyone from other teams their own mirror.

Having her team demonstrated its use, he dismissed them.

For this march, Krone ordered them to use a certain variation of Air Sliding.

He had taught them how to do this on the third day, before they went for a run around the beach. It was the variation used most during the war, combining light run and Air Sliding. While it was nowhere as fast as pure Air Sliding, it conserved mana and stamina well.

Using this would reduce travel time in a long march.

“This march will bring us to our destination. However, this is also training in itself, so keep using this version of Air Sliding. The frontline teams, Team Two to Seven, I expect all of you to keep up with me. We will stop only if necessary on the way, to wait for the logistics and scouts,”

The preparation was all done.

Finally, he made sure everyone understood what to do during emergency, and not to separate themselves from their respective team. Each team leader was responsible for counting heads.

With everything set in place, they marched.

The route towards Mount Aaron was rather desolate.

From Saint Aurenburg, they crossed through the plains, passing the farms and guards patrolling the area. Past five kilometres from the city’s gate, they entered the pine forest. There had been sightings of tigers and other beasts in the forest, so the scouts from Lisha’s team took positions on the trees along the route.

Krone was leading the front.

His speed was really fast, but not too fast for them to follow. Refraining himself, he set his speed just fast enough for them to force themselves, pushing their limit.

Whenever their stamina was lacking, he slowed down.

With that, it continued to be a cycle of speeding up and slowing down.

On the way, they met some bisons. Several bulls did charge at them along the way, but Krone’s sword made short work of them. These were not wasted, he put all four inside his spatial ring.

At the back, Kristine’s team struggled to follow. Seeing the logistic team falling behind, Krone stopped. The distance between him and the back was often around two or three kilometre, but he had no worry. The scouts were keeping check of the route.

Any sightings of danger, he would be given prior warning.

But in actuality, he already scanned the whole area. The reason why he still put the scouts, was as training. Preparing them for future eventualities was his responsibility.

On a clearing along the route, he gathered Team Two till Seven.

“Alright, we’ll wait for them here. However, you guys still need to move. We’ll do a little spar,”

“Spar? One by one?”

Still gasping for breath, the twins asked.

Smiling, he shook his head.

“Just me, this weapon, all of you, all your weapons,”

Raising the short pole, he issued a challenge, directing it towards all of them.

It was a clear indication, that he would take them on, all at once.

They were puzzled, hardly believing it.

The chance to beat Krone up, came so fast? Could this be a dream come true? No, not possible.

They could not believe their luck, many still thought he was not serious.

Until;

“If you can beat me up during sparring, even if you’re ganging up on me, I vowed – I won’t get back at you.”

A vow, a solemn vow.

His vow, energized them all. Within them exhilaration, excitement, thrill. A vow was meant to be kept, that was the Kharlussian way.

Krone had just dug his own grave!

“So all of you, come!”

It was a chance. A chance to beat Krone up.

Holy! None of them would pass this up. Even the twins, saliva was coming out. Exchanging looks, they communicated without talking. Not just the sisters, Athea’s eyes were burning, everyone’s eyes were shining.

Ganging him up with their weapons, thirty against one, they felt they had a chance. After all, the pain from his so-called medicine still lingered, they could not possibly forget it.

Within their heart, they vowed upon their name, to enact justice.

…

Nevertheless, they were still prudent.

None dared take the first step.

“What, you guys chickened out?”

His words, his smirk, provoked them.

It was as if telling them, all of them, would amount to nothing. Just by his expression, everyone’s eyes twitched, face twisted. The memory of having everything coming out of their being, came to mind in full blast.

As they were about to rush him, Ron raised his hand, stopping them.

Kyril did the same, a sign for them to halt. As to why, they already knew. Should they rushed him without proper command, without proper unity, without proper coordination, it would only result in failure.

No doubt, even if they went at him all at the same time. That happened before.

Even without anyone explaining, everyone came to the same realization.

Ron voiced out, firm;

“Guys, let me take command, any objection?”

Ron had the most influence among these youngsters.

He was a natural leader, been polished thoroughly by capable Masters. Physically fit, highly skilled, with good looks and background, he was armed with sharp intellect and iron resolve. The fact that he was not arrogant, even to them child of peasants, only earned him their respect.

Many times over.

Everyone exchanged look.

Looking at him, all confident, none objected. Everyone nodded. With him in command, then perhaps... No, definitely, the time had come!

Even imagining how wonderful it would be, the boys stood erect, the girls swayed wet.

It is time, we say.

Time to make this public enemy, pay.

The sun stood quite high in the sky.

Everyone was gasping, greedy for air. Cold air chilled their inside, but they were used to it. They ignored the cold, pain and exhaustion dominated their being. Many of them, their eyes were black and blue, their body was aching all over. Ron, was among the worst. His head seemed bigger, somewhat.

Seeing the culprit's satisfied smile, his eyes twitched.

This Krone, really was inhuman…

How could a human moved like that.

And how could one beat up his peers like this, even girls!

No mercy!

After beating them all up, he forced them to move ahead.

Fortunately, Kristine protested, in fury.

Against her, even he had to relent.

Hearing her protest, everyone shed tears. This Krone had no heart, but Kristine… They sobbed, warmth filled their chest. Resting a little more, only after she healed them all did they continue.

Knowing her mana restriction, everyone, even without prior agreement, kept her healing to a minimum. Each kept telling her that it was enough, saying they were fine after a few seconds of treatment.

Looking at her tired yet concerned face, it was enough to soothe their heart.

The second time they stopped, the same thing happened. Some 'sparring' happened.

Seeing Kristine’s exhausted face, they dared not spar with Krone anymore. ‘Let’s wait until we’re a bit stronger,’ was the agreement all of them reached.

Something they agreed, by just exchanging glances.

The last five kilometre, as mentioned before, was an uphill climb.

It was really something else, many of them thought of fainting, of their heart stopping. Yet being pushed by the tyrant leading them, they had no other choice. During training, Krone was not the nonchalant version of himself.

He even pushed his own sister, the nerve!

There was barely any rest.

Pushing their limit, they arrived to their destination, together.

It was a large, two-story log cabin placed at the foot of the mountain, with snow and hot geysers further at the back. Wooden railings enclosed it, both on the ground and on the second floor where an open corridor was. The cabin was designed with two triangular roofs with a chimney, and many windows, guarded by iron grilles.

Some snow covered the cabin’s roof and the upper opened floor. Nearby, a river was flowing from high up the mountain, completely avoiding the geysers.

The cabin had a wonderful view of the forest and open field, but these youngsters did not care.

Looking at the log cabin, they could not feel their legs.

Finally, they reached their destination.

They fell on the ground, all too tired to care.

'I'm dying, thank God it's over,'

'Sleep, just, sleep,'

'Uhh, my whole body's stinging!'

'W-water..."

Seeing that they finally arrived, Kristine passed out. Krone took her inside, and for awhile, everyone was glad.

The twins, each had a blank face.

"Sis, you're alive?"

"Ah, I dunno... Is it over?"

"Must be,"

As they thought hell was over, the devil whispered.

Rather loud though.

“Good job, everyone… So, you’re all exhausted, having muscle pain and strain, am I right? Oh, poor children. My heart bleeds. Well, fortunately, I know just the right medicine.”

Hearing the word medicine, everyone’s pale face turned colorless.

Oh how much they wished they could run, only to be dragged by the devil.

Wailing, cries for mercy pervaded the area.

Yet the devil was deaf, and with their angel already in heaven, he continued to drag them all down.

…

Down, to hell.

The hell called river.

Mountain river.

…

Chapter 49 ‘Real Chill’ End