Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Gizzle blinked. His eyelashes were frosted over and had turned white. The wind beating against his face felt like it was freezing the surface of his eyeballs. His toes had lost sensation, surpassing mere pain.

'Everything is white.'

He gazed at the snowy expanse. These were the white peaks he always only saw from afar.

Gizzle clutched his cloak with trembling hands. He felt nauseous and dizzy. Each step made the world spin around him.

"There are no such things as evil spirits..."

Gizzle had climbed one of the countless peaks of the Sky Mountains. The ground below seemed incredibly distant and tiny. The sky viewed from the peak was much clearer and purer.

Swoosh.

He stretched his palm upward. His fingertips couldn't reach all the way to the sky.

'So much for the name Sky Mountains.'

The sky remained a place untouched by human hands.

"Huff."

He took a deep breath, alternating his gaze between west and east.

'A new world.'

He looked west again. His homeland stretched endlessly.

'Home.'

Gizzle blinked again. His body trembled incessantly. His teeth chattered, making a clacking sound.

'Urich, you turned your back on your homeland to head to the new world.'

He lifted his quivering fingers to force his eyelids wide open. His body was in agony, but his heart was at peace.

'I've also seen the same landscape as you.'

Gizzle scooped up a handful of snow and melted it in his mouth. After wetting his throat, he looked up at the sky that looked ever so high.

"If there are indeed people living beyond the Sky Mountains... where is the destination for our souls? Where are the spirits of my father and ancestors...?"

There was no answer. Only the wind blew. The sky was as indifferent as ever.

'I guess Ill know when I die.'

Gizzle walked to the edge of the peak. It was time to make a decision.

'West and east. Home and the new world.'

Gizzle twitched his frozen lips. He pushed the corners of his mouth up with his fingers, forcing a smile.

"I'm not like you. I won't abandon my tribe. I am the chief, after all."

Gizzle turned his back to the east without regret. He went back down the way he came.

'A defeated chief, enemies beyond the mountains, enemies right in front of my eyes, a powerful warrior vying for my position.'

Pain was the only thing that was waiting for his return. He could already hear the tribe's reproach. He, as their chief, had failed to protect them. No matter who blamed him, Gizzle had no excuse. The crushing weight of duty and responsibility was enough to make anyone want to flee.

Step, step.

Gizzle walked down, stepping on the snow. He didn't shirk his responsibility. No matter how torturous or painful, he was the chieftain. To do his best in his role until his last breath: that was Gizzle's honor.

* * *

Urich followed Gizzle's trail. As it was a mountain range devoid of human traffic, finding Gizzle's tracks was not difficult. He followed the trail of broken branches, as tall as a person, and the trampled underbrush.

Signs of camping and fire were scattered around. Urich looked up.

'It's getting higher. The Sky Mountains are not easy to climb without any preparation.'

Urich gritted his teeth.

To cross the Sky Mountains, one needed both luck and skill on their side. Even Urich, with his exceptionally robust physique, had to risk his life each time he crossed the range.

'I feel dizzy.'

Urich tapped his forehead and continued climbing. Gizzle's path was obvious. There were only a few climbable paths from Gizzle's campsite. He must have avoided the steep terrain, and taken the gentler paths.

"I don't think this worked out in my favor at all."

Urich muttered to himself. He was now stepping on the snowy path.

'I will become the chief through the tribal council. It shouldnt be like this. Don't die on me before that, Gizzle.'

Why did it have to be Urich?

Urich, who was dozing off after getting Gizzle back to a stable condition, opened his eyes at Gizzles voice.

"Why did you climb the mountain? Climbing it without any preparation is madness, you dumbass."

"That's none of your business."

"Hah? Is that how you talk to the person who saved your life?"

Urich crossed his arms and laughed. Gizzle was speechless and just scowled.

"When did you return to the tribe? Ugh, I didnt think Samikan would let you go."

Gizzle spoke but then gasped for air. His mind was alert, but his condition was still poor.

"I made an oath of brotherhood with Samikan."

Urich stirred the campfire with a stick and tossed a heated stone to Gizzle.

"Are you out of your mind? You became brothers with Samikan?"

Despite Gizzle's anger, Urich remained calm.

"In exchange, I secured the release of our hostages. Our women and children were returned to the tribe."

"If you dont take revenge on Samikan and the Blue Mist Tribe, our deceased brothers wont rest in peace."

"The dead dont matter to me. I only care about the living. The dead cant say nothing."

Urich added more dry wood to the fire.

"And that's all? Just by making a brotherhood oath, you freed the tribespeople?"

"There was also the condition that I become the tribal chief."

Upon hearing this, Gizzle drew his dagger. He tried to stand but collapsed, feeling pain in his foot. As his body warmed, his damaged soles screamed in agony.

"Are you after my position? You must have come with that intention from the start!"

"Think whatever you want. I'll take you back to the tribe and hold a formal council meeting. Whether by vote or combat, I'm going to get that chief seat."

It didn't make sense. If Urich wanted the chief's position, he could have just left Gizzle to die. Naturally, Urich would become the next chief, having recently risen in prominence.

'But that's not our way.'

Gizzle understood Urich. Although he disliked Urich and kept him in check, he never banished him. That was a warrior's pride.

"Let me help you. Lets go home, Gizzle."

Urich extended his hand, and Gizzle, stumbling, leaned on Urich's shoulder.

Supported by Urich, Gizzle walked. He looked back and muttered.

"I climbed up to that peak over there."

"Thats pretty impressive. If you managed to go up there without any proper preparation, maybe next time you could cross the mountain range."

"Hah, I wont climb again even if you told me to. People should keep their feet on the ground. Its wrong to covet the sky."

Gizzle laughed aimlessly, and Urich sneered.

"You sound like an old man. 'Crossing the Sky Mountain will bring a curse!' 'Oh, you mustnt break the taboo!' Bullshit."

"I wont hand over the chief's position just because you saved my life. Many warriors still follow me. The elders and shamans will support me over you."

"Then Ill take it by force."

"You'll regret underestimating me, Urich."

"Sure, sure. You've always been all talk. 'Dont mess around, Urich!' 'Im the son of Chief Stezo!' 'I, not you, will be the chief!' all that talk."

Gizzle suppressed the urge to stab Urich in the heart. He sighed and looked down. The gentle slope ended, and a steep, rugged path appeared.

"Get on my back from here. You cant go down with that leg, even with help."

Urich crouched and patted his shoulder. Gizzle, preferring to jump off a cliff than to be carried by Urich, reluctantly complied.

"Ugh."

Gizzle clenched his teeth and grunted.

"What are you doing? If you want to beat me, you have to stay alive to return."

Urich laughed and beckoned, flicking his finger at Gizzle. Gizzle extended his arm around Urich's neck. Even with a grown man on his back, Urich hopped down the rocky path with ease.