Infinite Skill Devourer
Chapter 44: First Yokai Encounter I

Chapter 44: First Yokai Encounter I

Ryuen strolled deeper into the cave, his boots crunching against the shattered ice shards and crystals he hadn’t picked up.

As he walked deeper into the, the air grew colder.

The once cozy and cool cave was now silent, except his movements and the faint howling of wind and distant wolves.

The glowing stones had dimmed, replaced by an eerie blue light emanating from the cave’s depths.

"A way out already?" Ryuen muttered, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

He had expected something more interesting to happen.

But nothing.

He exhaled and continued forward, ignoring the subtle movements within the cave walls.

His mind drifted to the system notification—he was supposed to face a Yokai.

And maybe, if the opportunity presented itself, put it under his control.

Deep down, what he truly wanted was to encounter a shadow demon, a reaper, or maybe even the Gashadokuro.

Anyone that looked human yet was anything but—those were the beings he desired under his command.

Perhaps even a few Pufflings.

The thought made him chuckle.

Stepping past the exit, he found himself in a vast, frozen field.

The ground, trees, and every other surface were coated in ice or blanketed in snow.

There wasn’t a single trace of green—just black, white, and gray.

Ryuen raised a brow in confusion, scanning the environment for a gate or passage.

Instead, he spotted a lone figure in the distance.

The figure waved once before turning and moving deeper into the forest.

He already had a good idea who it was, if it wasn’t, then he was curious and excited by the surprise he would get.

Without hesitation, Ryuen followed, kicking and weaving through the thick snow.

At the center of the field, he noticed a shimmering barrier—the figure had passed through it effortlessly.

Curious, he reached out. His hand slipped through with ease.

Smirking, he stepped forward.

The moment he crossed the threshold, the environment shifted.

The barrier vanished, replaced by a massive door. Ryuen turned toward the direction the figure had gone, only to find himself inside a grand chamber.

Crystals hung from the ceiling like chandeliers, casting an icy glow across the vast room. Intricate snowflake patterns adorned the floor and walls.

And at the far end, a blue throne sat upon a raised platform, reminiscent of the previous dungeon.

Then he saw it.

No—her.

She stood there, clad in a flowing white silk dress with a high slit, revealing the white leggings beneath—an unexpectedly modern choice for such a being.

Her long, silk white hair cascaded down her back, blending seamlessly with the mist swirling at her feet.

Pale skin, flawless as porcelain.

Blue eyes as cold and piercing as a winter storm. And a blue sea all together....two words, ocean blue.

Yuki-Onna.

A legendary being. A specter of winter. A beautiful nightmare.

She slowly opened her eyes, locking onto him with a gaze filled with curiosity and amusement.

"You do not belong here," she said, her voice cold yet captivating.

Instead of fear, Ryuen felt only fascination.

A being people prayed never to encounter—yet here he stood, unmoved, head held high.

With amusement in his eyes.

However, he knew the reality of the situation.

He had to kill her.

Or, if by some miracle, find a way to tame her.

Which, as things stood, was impossible.

Ryuen chuckled softly and slipped the bag off his back.

The dagger appeared in his hand again, glowing even brighter from the mana surging within.

"Your puff balls back there also thought I wasn’t supposed to be here, but I sent them packing instead," he said boldly, aiming to rile her up—or maybe even provoke her.

A small smile appeared on her lips as she leaned her head against her hand on the armrest, then she crossed her legs.

Causing Ryuen to ask, wasn’t she an ancient legend, how could be act modern.

Or maybe, she was just adapting to the recent times.

Something he found funny, he even almost laughed, when he imagined her with artificial nails and lipstick on.

Or maybe a phone in her hand.

"Foolish human. You believe that because you defeated my pets, you stand a chance against me?"

Before he could respond, the chamber trembled, and the air grew even colder.

Jagged spikes of ice shot up from the ground, all aimed directly at him.

Ryuen didn’t flinch. Instead, he simply chuckled, gripping his dagger tighter.

"We should end this as soon as possible, Yuki," he said, emphasizing her name.

Her eyes instantly dilated. Then, she glared at him and sat up.

"What did you call me?"

"Your name... Yu—"

Before he could finish, the ice spikes shot out smaller shards at him.

Ryuen reacted on instinct, leaping into the air to dodge the spikes heading his way.

Twisting mid-leap, he barely avoided being impaled by the spikes above before landing on the balls of his feet, sliding across the frozen surface.

Yuki-Onna raised her hand, halting the attack.

She rose to her feet and the mist swirling at her feet expanded, spreading across the chamber floor until it reached Ryuen’s waist.

He glanced down briefly, then smiled.

In his free hand, an axe materialized, glowing with mana.

Then, she moved.

Like a gust of wind, she charged at him—fast.

Faster than anything he had ever faced.

And yet—he smirked.

Nothing she did seemed to move him, nothing at all, not even when she shot him gazes that screamed imminent death

’This is going to be fun,’ he thought as he lunged forward to meet her.

Inches away, he smiled and hurled his axe straight for her head.

She dodged—just barely.

A few strands of her silken hair were, however, cut off, floated to the ground before burning up.

She watched the strands vanish, then shifted her gaze back to him, eyes blazing with fury.

She dissolved into mist, blending with the ones already already there, then she reappeared several feet away.

"Stupid, relentless human," she spat, raising her hands.

Shards of ice formed around her in an instant—then hurtled toward Ryuen.

He scoffed and sprinted straight toward them.

Left. Right. Jump. Backflip. Cartwheel.

He dodged every shard with effortless precision and, in seconds, was standing right before her.

She retaliated instantly.

With a flick of her wrist, a sword, made with just ice, but as sharp as metal, appeared in her grasp.

She wasted no time.

Swinging the blade down, she aimed for his head.

But Ryuen countered, raising his dagger to meet the strike.

One should have struck the other.

But just before impact, she smiled knowingly.

Her blade vanished.

His dagger, mid-swing, slowed—then stopped, suspended in the air by an invisible force.

Ryuen leaped backward almost immediately, knowing she had the upper hand now that he was unarmed.

And the axe was not close enough to reach before she would attack.

Yuki-Onna exhaled softly, her breath visible as mist, and then settled with the mist around her.

She had let herself get carried away, by a mere mortal.

A human to be precise.