Vampire Bats (Hupyul Pyeonbok).

The name belonged to a type of mystical beast I had heard of—a massive bat species.

Their fangs were said to pierce deep, causing bleeding that wouldn’t stop once bitten. They roamed in packs within dark caves, and there were tales of humans who entered only to be reduced to skeletons by the time they emerged.

“If you’re not confident, we can just forget it. No harm done,” the blacksmith said.

“...”

“Number 30, if the story about the vampire bats is true, this is practically suicide. These creatures have claimed the lives of countless martial artists.”

Number 29 wasn’t wrong. It was a perilous suggestion.

I fiddled with my sword. Bloodstone.

“...Is there really no other way?”

“There isn’t,” the blacksmith confirmed. “If there were a decent substitute, I’d suggest it, but the best chance for success is with bloodstone. Do you know why it’s called bloodstone? When it reaches a certain temperature, it seeps into metal like blood, filling the cracks and making the bond stronger. It’s a precious material for repairs. Once it’s mixed with another ore, it can’t be reused and becomes useless. That makes it even harder to come by.”

“...How much do I need to bring?”

“I’ll lend you a pickaxe. Bloodstone glows red, so it should be easy to spot. You’ll need at least a piece as large as your arm to fix your sword. But to be safe, bring back twice that amount.”

He handed me a sack and a pickaxe.

I accepted them.

Number 29 voiced her warning.

“This will get you killed, Number 30. If the blacksmith is telling the truth, you’re throwing yourself into a death trap.”

“If there’s a way to save the sword, I’ll try.”

“It’s just a sword!”

“It carries weight and meaning. If possible, I’d like to keep it with me longer.”

I slung the pickaxe and sack onto my back.

“Number 29, stay here. Could you show me the way?”

“I’ll sketch you a rough map. I’m too busy to guide you myself. It’ll be dark, so I’ll lend you a fire starter and some oil-soaked cloth. You can make your own torch.”

“Thank you. Also, about a sword...”

“I’ll lend you one.”

“Number 30! Are you out of your mind?!” Number 29 exclaimed.

“Number 29, if I don’t return in three days, you’re free to leave on your own.”

“You’re really going to go in there?”

“If I think I can’t win, I’ll retreat.”

“And if you realize you’re doomed the moment you encounter them?”

“In that case, I’ll resist as much as I can.”

“You’re saying this sword from a friend is worth more than your life?”

“Of course not, Number 29.”

I stepped out the door.

“But it’s worth enough to me that I’m willing to make the effort.”

***

I followed the path downward. Fortunately, the map was easy to understand.

After walking steadily for half a day, I arrived at a dim, pit-like location. The entrance stretched downward, half-hidden by dense vegetation.

The blacksmith’s doing, perhaps? Concealing the entrance to keep it all to himself.

The interior was barely visible. I snapped a nearby branch and crafted a makeshift torch using the fire starter and oil-soaked cloth I’d been given.

The flame ignited quickly, and I stepped cautiously inside, holding the sturdy torch aloft.

After sliding down a short, slick incline, I found a passage stretching forward. The narrow tunnel was tight but still navigable.

A musty smell permeated the air, accompanied by faint, indiscernible sounds. I drew my sword with my free hand and carefully advanced.

---Step, step...

...Were my footsteps always this loud?

It felt like I was buried in silence. As I swung the torch around, the passage began to widen, its ceiling gradually rising. Though it seemed level at first glance, the slope subtly descended.

Stalactites hung from the uneven surfaces, and a faint, watery scent brushed my nose.

Yet, mixed within that scent was something else.

...The stench of decay.

I held the torch higher.

“...!”

A corpse, shrouded in tattered rags, lay before me.

Its identity was impossible to determine, as only bones remained. Someone had disturbed the body, but its fate was unmistakable.

The blacksmith. He must have turned back after seeing this skeletal remains and deduced the existence of the mystical beast.

Seeing this fleshless corpse, it was clear.

Vampire bats.

Nothing else came to mind.

There was nothing of value on the corpse. Still, on the off chance, I tore off a scrap of dry cloth and stuffed it into my sack.

I ventured deeper into the increasingly convoluted cavern. The sound of flapping wings echoed intermittently. Raising the torch, I saw nothing.

The source of the sound seemed to move closer, then farther away. It felt as though I was being watched.

The only silver lining was that whatever was flying around didn’t venture into the light’s reach.

Were they afraid of the light?

Or were they wary of me?

Unsure, I kept walking.

The passage narrowed again. Though the ceiling remained high, navigating further became more challenging.

Judging by the rubble scattered across the floor, part of the wall had recently collapsed.

Faced with a choice between a newly formed space and the original path, I deliberated briefly.

...Sticking to the current path seemed wise.

I continued forward. Luckily, my decision proved correct as the passage straightened out once more.

Bloodstone.

Where could it be?

“...Ah!”

Just as the torchlight began to wane, I finally found what I was searching for.

A crimson glimmer reflected in the flickering firelight. Its vivid hue left no doubt—I had found the bloodstone.

I hurriedly raised the pickaxe. The sound of metal striking stone reverberated through the stillness.

The material was dense, forcing me to channel my energy into the pickaxe. After several swings, a fragment broke loose and hit the ground.

The bloodstone was massive. Even the detached pieces surpassed the length of my forearm. Following the blacksmith’s advice, I collected two pieces, which filled the small sack to capacity.

This should be enough. Things were going smoothly.

I turned to leave the cavern.

That’s when a shadow flickered across my vision.

“...!”

Clinging to the cave walls were grotesque creatures, their forms resembling winged rats. They emitted eerie, guttural noises.

Their claws and fangs were unnaturally long, gouging deep grooves into the rocky surfaces they clung to.

The entrance I had used was now obscured by a swarm of vampire bats.

I had to break through.

Gripping my sword tightly, I prepared for one decisive strike.

As I dashed forward, my blade flashed like lightning.

Gucheon Blood Demon Art.

Second Form.

Single Soul Hammer.

---Slash!

Several vampire bats shrieked and fell away, but the walls came alive as countless others emerged, far outnumbering the ones I had just cut down.

“Damn it!”

I threw myself toward the breached exit, sprinting with the torch in hand.

The sound of flapping wings was right behind me. Several bats latched onto me, sinking their fangs into my neck.

---Squelch.

I felt my blood being drained.

Sheathing my sword, I swung my hands wildly, swatting at the bats. Blood flowed freely from my wounds. Staggering forward, I pressed on despite the growing darkness.

The torch in my hand was extinguished. Colliding with a mass of bats, I rolled into the pitch-black depths.

“Gah!”

I couldn’t see. My disoriented body tumbled aimlessly.

They tore at me, ripping into my flesh. Still, I bit down on a bat that flew toward my face, tearing it apart with my teeth.

I would get out of here. No matter how much pain I was in, giving up wasn’t an option.

This suffering...

...was nothing compared to the torment of heavenly tribulations!

I rose to my feet again, relying on my senses to navigate the unseen terrain.

The darkness of this cave, without a torch, was even more suffocating than the sect’s pits. Yet, I could still faintly make out shapes.

Focusing my internal energy, I heightened my vision. The training from the sect, combined with my energy, allowed me to perceive the cave’s contours faintly.

I brushed past jagged walls, feeling them with my fingertips. Though drenched in blood, I refused to stop.

Closer. The exit was getting closer.

Through the narrow passageway, I pressed onward.

Further.

And further.

“...Light!”

A glimmer of light appeared ahead.

Panting, I reached out toward it. My clothes were shredded, my body a mess, but I was still alive.

I lunged into the light, tearing free from the bats’ cries.

I rolled onto the ground, ripping off the last bats clinging to my body and crushing them. Though my body was in shambles and my mind felt ready to collapse, I staggered to my feet.

I looked like a wreck. But the bloodstone in my sack was intact.

“...Ha!”

I laughed weakly. Success. Confirming my safety, I collapsed back onto the ground. That’s when I noticed something strange.

“...?”

The surroundings were unfamiliar. In the cascading sunlight, a frozen waterfall stood before me.

A bizarre sensation washed over me. Turning back, I realized even the cave entrance looked different than it had before.

Where... am I?

Had I lost my way and stumbled into a completely different area? But the passage seemed to lead straight...

...Ah!

That crevice that had looked like a collapse!

The proximity of the exit made sense now. I shook myself off and stood, grateful for the light.

But what was this frozen waterfall?

It felt like I had fallen into a massive pit. The light streaming in came from a canopy far above, covered in thick foliage.

Beside the shadowy icefall lay several lifeless bodies. Gathering them in one place, I examined the icy cascade.

The air was cold, but not freezing enough to create ice.

The temperature here was far from conducive to ice forming.

What was this? How could such unnatural ice exist?

I peered into the frozen waterfall. Something seemed to be trapped within the transparent ice.

Drawing my sword, I struck at it, but it didn’t shatter. The ice was so thick it felt like metal, damaging my blade instead.

“...Hmm.”

Wait. I had a tool for breaking stone, didn’t I?

Grabbing the pickaxe again, I channeled energy into it and swung it with all my might at the ice.

---Clang!

A clear, ringing sound echoed as cracks formed on the icefall. I struck it repeatedly.

I could see it now—something beyond the ice. A small space hidden behind the frozen cascade.

Clearing away the shattered ice fragments, I revealed what lay inside.