Chapter 41: The Trial of Ice and Fire: Confronting Ryujin Tetsu

"Snow Sky-Dog, Snow Sky-Dog, are you awake? Snow Sky-Dog, please wake up!" Mizuchi Haruka tried to rouse Snow Sky-Dog as he lay unconscious outside the "challenge room".

"Mizuchi Haruka, I'm awake, stop shaking me! You're being too loud!" Slowly opening his eyes, Snow Sky-Dog greeted Mizuchi Haruka with a charming smile. "Mizuchi Haruka, I've missed you so much. Seeing your beautiful face again brings me such joy!"

"You're so smooth! All you're good at is flattering me! What about Seraphina Frostwind? You entered this challenge room to gain new magical powers to fight Ryujin Tetsu and protect Seraphina Frostwind, not me, right? What does it have to do with me? Go flatter Seraphina Frostwind instead! Remember Seraphina Frostwind, not me!" Mizuchi Haruka pushed Snow Sky-Dog's arms away, annoyed.

"Just let me hug you for a moment, Mizuchi Haruka!" Snow Sky-Dog teased, his playful demeanor even carrying a hint of exploitation towards women.

"How did you feel in that challenge room, Snow Sky-Dog? You faced terrifying challenges in there, didn't you?" Kurogami Masayuki asked with concern and high anxiety.

"Here's the answer to your question, Kurogami Masayuki!" Snow Sky-Dog transformed his body, becoming a deity possessing both ice and fire powers. One half of his body, from head to toe, was ice, while the other half was blazing fire, ready to consume everything. "Now in my second form, my other name is The Ice Fire Celestial Canine," Snow Sky-Dog smirked, a victorious grin rather than one meant to charm women.

"This is truly amazing! Congratulations, Snow Sky-Dog!" Mizuchi Haruka joyfully embraced Snow Sky-Dog, despite refusing his embrace moments before.

"Haizza! No matter what form you take, you're still just a dog, Snow Sky-Dog!" Kurogami Masayuki teased, showing his friendly banter even as Snow Sky-Dog had just awakened from unconsciousness.

"Brother, stop it! Can't you see how tired Snow Sky-Dog is? He just woke up from unconsciousness, and yet you're still teasing him?" Mizuchi Haruka scolded Kurogami Masayuki, her tone carrying a hint of anger.

"I was just joking, Mizuchi Haruka! Do you need to be that angry? Perhaps you've forgotten, but I've always been your reliable ally in the war for Snow Sky-Dog's affection between you and Seraphina Frostwind." Kurogami Masayuki defended himself, although he was just as smooth-talking as Snow Sky-Dog.

"Snow Sky-Dog just escaped the brink of death in that challenge, and you're still joking with him? I really can't understand you, Kurogami Masayuki!"

"I met a deity from the realm of the dead in that room, indeed I faced and overcame the challenges of life and death!" Snow Sky-Dog calmly stated, regaining his usual strong and confident demeanor.

"A deity from the realm of the dead? Are you serious, Snow Sky-Dog?" Both Kurogami Masayuki and Mizuchi Haruka asked, genuinely surprised by Snow Sky-Dog's words.

"Yes, Mizuchi Haruka, Kurogami Masayuki! Everything I said is true. I encountered a deity holding a significant position in the world of the dead."

"Who is he, Snow Sky-Dog?" Mizuchi Haruka asked, her sparkling eyes as rare and valuable as diamonds.

"He is The Black Judge of Hell!" Snow Sky-Dog answered, gently stroking Mizuchi Haruka's flowing hair. He was indeed a skilled player, his words were always accompanied by tender gestures. What's puzzling is why, with his ability to charm women and his handsome appearance, Snow Sky-Dog only seemed to get into trouble with two beautiful women instead of ten or more. Based on his seductive abilities, looks, and personality, this hypothesis could very well be true!

"The Black Judge of Hell? If that's true, then you're really lucky, Snow Sky-Dog! Even our master wouldn't dare to directly confront this deity!" Kurogami Masayuki expressed regret and a hint of envy, wishing it were him who entered the "Challenge Room" today instead of Snow Sky-Dog.

"Lucky? Are you kidding me, Kurogami Masayuki? I think you're saying this because you don't know what I faced and overcame in that dreadful room. If it were you, Kurogami Masayuki, who entered that challenge room today instead of me, you probably wouldn't regret it, would you, Kurogami Masayuki?" Snow Sky-Dog retorted, feeling a bit frustrated by Kurogami Masayuki's attitude towards him.

"Is that so? What challenges did you face and overcome in that room, Snow Sky-Dog?"

"My greatest fear! How about that, Kurogami Masayuki? Are you still as excited as before, Kurogami Masayuki?"

"Oh, no! If I had known this, I wouldn't have been excited to hear about entering that room and gaining immense power after overcoming my greatest fear!" Kurogami Masayuki replied, replacing envy with sincere admiration for Snow Sky-Dog. "This time, that wretched Ryujin Tetsu won't be able to boast anymore! This time, he'll get a taste of defeat from you. Snow Sky-Dog, I bet you want to use your fiery fist to punch 'Steel Dragon' Ryujin Tetsu in the face! And I bet you'll do it to protect Seraphina Frostwind, Mizuchi Haruka, and even me, right, Snow Sky-Dog?"

"Of course, big brother! Do you even need to ask, big brother? I'm sure I'll do that, and I'm eager to do so! Oh! How long do I have to wait to beat that wretch Ryujin Tetsu to a pulp?" Snow Sky-Dog exclaimed excitedly. But suddenly, a strong sensation arose in his stomach. "Well, I'm hungry now, let's go eat, everyone!"

"The stomach of this snow wolf is indeed big!" Kurogami Masayuki continued to tease Snow Sky-Dog, even though he had just been scolded by Mizuchi Haruka. He was truly Snow Sky-Dog's good friend!

"Don't tease him anymore, big brother, Kurogami Masayuki!" Mizuchi Haruka once again defended the professional womanizer Snow Sky-Dog, even though he loved two women at the same time. Mizuchi Haruka was indeed a good girl!

Then all three deities went to have breakfast.

The weather was warm, but Snow Sky-Dog's mood was not. He felt an emptiness inside, like a ray of sunshine extinguished in a thick rain. The words of Kurogami Masayuki and Mizuchi Haruka still echoed in his mind, but they didn't diminish his dissatisfaction. Amidst the laughter and conversation of his friends, Snow Sky-Dog felt a strange sensation, a heavy responsibility hidden behind the apparent leisure of the gathering.

The scene of breakfast became quiet, no longer filled with the joyful laughter of close friends. Snow Sky-Dog, Mizuchi Haruka, and Kurogami Masayuki, each carried their separate thoughts, but ultimately shared one goal: to defeat Ryujin Tetsu, and protect the world, and their loved ones.

However, in the darkness of daunting decisions, an unforeseen event was about to unfold. The door of the tavern opened, and a stranger walked in. With cold eyes and an unfamiliar figure, the newcomer did not bring a sense of safety to Snow Sky-Dog and his friends. In the silence of the space, they felt a dark presence, a new challenge awaiting them, and the next journey would not be as easy as they thought.