The howling winds in the "Frost Galaxy" were unlike any winds known to man; they were like invisible blades slicing through flesh to reach the bone. Amidst this white hell, Hwan advanced with steady, heavy, and rhythmic steps, as if the laws of gravity and weather did not apply to him. A few meters behind him, the boy, Rein, struggled for every breath; his vision wavered between the swirling white snow and the faint shadow of his master, which was his only lifeline.
Suddenly, the earth split open to reveal a precipitous abyss, and a towering mountain pass appeared that had no trace on ancient maps, as if it had sprouted from the womb of the earth only that night. Hwan stopped abruptly, inhaled the cold air deeply, and whispered in a low voice:
"This place... it wasn't here before. Is nature reshaping itself, or is there someone imposing their will upon it?"
A Cry in the Heart of the Storm
Hwan had barely finished his words when the air hissed with a sharp whistling sound. A massive claw, like a blade of cold steel, streaked past Rein's face so fast that the resulting air pressure nearly blinded him. Rein recoiled, terror paralyzing his limbs, only to find himself surrounded by three towering shadows of the "Frost Fox Triplets"—monsters shrouded in fur as white as a shroud, their eyes glowing with a pale blue light.
Hwan stood with a chilling calmness, looking at the beasts and saying in a mocking tone:
"Hmm... monsters in this bitter cold? This breaks the monotony of the journey. You must be very hungry to risk approaching me."
The eldest brother of the foxes, a beast twice the size of a horse, growled in a thick, human-like voice that made the skin crawl:
"What a foolish old man! The scent of your human blood pierced the storms to lead us to you. We've heard that human flesh seasoned by the frost is the most delicious. You and the boy will be a warm meal on this frozen night."
Hwan replied with a faint laugh that shook the corners of the pass:
"Pathetic... Since you speak our language, this will save us the trouble of explaining. But before we begin..."
Hwan turned toward Rein, and with a fluid, circular motion of his palm, bright orange tongues of flame erupted from the ground. They swirled around the boy to form a glowing fireball. Hwan said in a firm tone:
"Rein, stay inside and do not move. This sphere is your fortress; it will protect you from the outside and will not harm you from within because your master controls every spark. Anyone who tries to touch this boy, I will turn their body into dust scattered by the wind."
The Silent Combat
The monsters were enraged and launched a coordinated triple attack at a speed the human eye could not follow. Rein saw only flashes of blue and white colliding with the spot where his master stood. But strangely, the strikes passed through Hwan's body as if he were a ghost or a mirage.
The eldest fox stopped, panting in rage and confusion, and looked at his brothers:
"What is this? It's as if we're fighting a ghost! Our claws tear the air but never touch his skin!"
Hwan stepped forward slowly and extended his palm toward the beast: "I am a human of flesh and blood, don't you believe it? Try to touch me."
The monster cautiously extended its claw and touched Hwan's palm. At that moment, it tried to betray him with a fatal blow to the neck, only to find that Hwan was still in his place, having not moved an inch.
Hwan said coldly: "You have delayed my journey long enough. The fight begins now."
The beast screamed: "You dream! We are the Frost Foxes, I will cut off your head and hang it in my home..."
He never finished the sentence; the massive head fell onto the snow before the body's nerves even realized they were dead. The head was severed in an instant, so fast that the blood froze before it could spill.
The middle brother realized the power of the old man before him and wanted to tell his brothers to flee, but it was too late. He tried to attack with claws that could split mountains, but Hwan parried it with a single finger, saying:
"Deliver your final attack, and if you fail... you shall join your brother."
In that moment, the fox saw his end in Hwan's eyes; he saw a fire that never goes out and a death that was inescapable. Instinct drove the fox to flee, but before he could move, searing tongues of flame surged, turning him into ash in a fraction of a second.
Dialogue Under the Cover of Night
The youngest brother fell to his knees, stunned: "Is this the strength of humans whom we considered mere cattle? How can he control flames when the temperature is 200 degrees below zero?"
Hwan said: "You are next... I apologize for the delay, you will join your brothers."
Rein screamed from inside the fireball: "Leave him!"
Hwan turned toward the boy and realized he could not bear the brutal and bloody sight he had witnessed. The fox seized the opportunity, fled, and vanished behind the snowstorms. Hwan extinguished the fireball and said:
"My son, I appreciate the feeling stemming from your kind heart, but in this place, you either fight and survive or you die. These foxes are the weakest breed here, and on your path, you will meet those who are hundreds of times stronger. Stand up.. we shall continue, night has fallen."
Truth in the Hollow of the Tree
The two found a massive tree. Hwan carved a hollow inside its trunk, where he and Rein hid and lit a fire. Hwan asked his apprentice: "Do you remember your past?"
Rein replied: "No, all I remember is that I was in an orphanage that forced us to work. Because of my eyes and my disability, the owner kicked me out because I was no longer of use to him."
Hwan replied: "What a truly corrupt world, where the strong eat the weak. We are humans, not monsters."
Hwan placed his hand on Rein's shoulder and said: "No matter what, continue your path even if it is blocked by a thousand mountains. Dig through them and keep going; do not stop. One day, you will possess the strength." He then placed his finger over Rein's heart and said: "Make your heart beat with determination, for it is the fuel for success. I am optimistic about you."
Rein was heartened and asked: "What is your past?"
The master replied: "My past is like yours... My parents died when I was young and I suffered from slow reflexes. I was pitiable because I was truly disabled."
Rein was stunned: "You?! No, impossible! You are so strong and calm in the most dangerous situations!"
Hwan laughed: "Perhaps." When Rein asked how he became strong, he replied with a smile: "That is a secret I will not tell you now."
Rein was disappointed, so Hwan laughed and said: "Do not be sad, one day you will surpass me in strength by miles."
Rein replied, laughing: "Only in dreams.. I will sleep now, I am tired."
Hwan told him: "Yes, sleep, it was a tiring day.. Rest, for tomorrow, the real training begins."
Rein slept in the Frost Galaxy as the journey of grueling training began.. What secrets will be revealed with the rising of tomorrow's sun?